Can't Keep My Dog Warm

[persephone]

The wallybed looks great for littlies! :)

[persephone]

These look fantastic. Not cheap ..but very appropriate and comfy ..wonder if they come in human size ? :p

almost ! :D HERE

Edited April 9, 2014 by persephone

[dogbesotted]

You asked for it dogbestottled! :)

(Everyone else can skip to the * to not get bored)

I suspect she ruptured both cruciates at around 18 months of age, clinically her only symptom in the beginning was an odd pacing gait that didn't happen overnight but gradually as the months went on got more pronounced. I took her to a dozen different vets & specialists then to a physio & a chiropractor & acupuncturist. In the beginning no one could get any pain response from her in any area & I was either told she was normal, had wobblers or to repeat X-rays (she had spinal, pen hip, all four legs & toe X-rays). However, I started her on anti-inflammatories & while her gait didn't improve she seemed happier.

After about 6 months she stared being grumpy with the other household dogs & when I saw another specialist he got pain response along her lower spine. X-rays had already been done so we proceeded to an MRI of spine & hips. Normal. I gave up looking for a diagnosis & kept her on rimadyl & on lead walks only. I'm not sure exactly when the teeth grinding started in the beginning, maybe 6-12 months after her gait changed but then it was only maybe one grind every so often.

6 months after the MRI the grinding increased & more X-rays taken. Nothing obvious but possible degenerative changes to her stifles. Booked in for exploratory knee surgery only to find moderate arthritic changes, complete acl rupture & meniscal tear. 3 months later we did the other leg which had more de & full acl rupture. N

1st surgery post op & far too little pain relief on board later (these vets weren't big on pain relief & I didn't know better at that time) the grinding was constant. Second surgery better due to fentanyl patch + everything else under the sun but still some grinding, especially at night.

Skip forward almost 12 months post op & overnight she went 3 legged lame. Fluid in stifle & hock but X-rays showed nothing & stifle felt stable. Strict rest instructed & increase pain relief. 2 weeks & no improvement. Ultrasound leg & ultrasonographer suspected joint infection. Remove cruciate implant & flush joint. Nothing grown on swab of joint or implant so thought foreign body reaction to implant. Continued abs for 1 month anyway. Some improvement after surgery but 4 weeks later still not even 70% better & swelling now present along hock, vets suspect gastroc muscle tear - ultrasound finds nothing, theory was fluid from stifle because of instability without the implant. I then took her to a specialist to confirm. He got massive pain response (normally she gives nothing away) on palpation of Iliopsoas muscle, likely tear/strain.

That was 7 weeks ago & you can hardly tell which leg is the problem one but since the change in weather I hear her grinding early in the morning. She doesn't grind any other time and it only coincides if she's cold, if I manage to get a blanket on her before the temp drops she's ok.

*I did shorten all of that history honest! Anyway since the new crate no problems. She' feels super warm even without a coat & so far no grinding :). At least when the weather drops I can add a coat in too. Thanks so much everyone for all your help & thoughts. Much happier dog & human now :).

OMG poor dog poor you!!!! what an awful nightmare of a time. Delighted that the warmer environment is helping!. There is very little that is worse than knowing your dog is in pain and not being able to pinpoint what is the cause.

h

[Scottsmum]

SO grateful for this tread. We live in a terribly cold house (often in winter the only thing to do it go to bed with the blankie turned on).

Scottie feels the cold and I'm so worried as he's not a sunggler like my old girl was. She'd get into bed - actually you'd have to force her to get out of bed - where as he'll prefer to just sleep on the floor. Doesn't like things over him either.

Lots of great links and ideas. Thank's everyone :)

[sandgrubber]

A flat pillow/mattress type bed might look wonderful to us ... however , dogs are diggers/ den sleepers , and in cold weather love having their backs protected from cold , so they can tuck themselves around and snuggle . Heat rises, too..so a hooded, curved cover will reflect body heat , and THESE look wonderful- hamlet would have been so happyto have had this to climb in :) .they do make a LARGE !

I suspect you could do as well by taking a normal dog crate, preferably with a low roof, and throwing a pile of doonas over it. Alt., bend a piece of weldwire mesh. Advantage: uses stuff you've already got and relatively easy to clean.

[persephone]

A flat pillow/mattress type bed might look wonderful to us ... however , dogs are diggers/ den sleepers , and in cold weather love having their backs protected from cold , so they can tuck themselves around and snuggle . Heat rises, too..so a hooded, curved cover will reflect body heat , and THESE look wonderful- hamlet would have been so happy to have had this to climb in :) .they do make a LARGE !

I suspect you could do as well by taking a normal dog crate, preferably with a low roof, and throwing a pile of doonas over it. Alt., bend a piece of weldwire mesh. Advantage: uses stuff you've already got and relatively easy to clean.

The beauty of those is that there is no mesh/steel/straight hard walls ;) I am presuming that when a dog curves/stretches that a surface which moulds and moves is more comfortable than mesh ;)

I make my own "dog rolls" from foam bed toppers ..rolled into a cylinder , and filled with bedding :)

[sandgrubber]

A flat pillow/mattress type bed might look wonderful to us ... however , dogs are diggers/ den sleepers , and in cold weather love having their backs protected from cold , so they can tuck themselves around and snuggle . Heat rises, too..so a hooded, curved cover will reflect body heat , and THESE look wonderful- hamlet would have been so happy to have had this to climb in :) .they do make a LARGE !

I suspect you could do as well by taking a normal dog crate, preferably with a low roof, and throwing a pile of doonas over it. Alt., bend a piece of weldwire mesh. Advantage: uses stuff you've already got and relatively easy to clean.

The beauty of those is that there is no mesh/steel/straight hard walls ;) I am presuming that when a dog curves/stretches that a surface which moulds and moves is more comfortable than mesh ;)

I make my own "dog rolls" from foam bed toppers ..rolled into a cylinder , and filled with bedding :)

True, but as someone with a foot ailment that hurts badly when anything presses down on it -- usually covers or a dog resting its head -- I think an ailing dog might be better off with a 'cave' than with heavy covering. Nature has long had canines in dens.

[persephone]

Nature has long had canines in dens.

yeah- sorry - guess I'm too used to our dogs who dig dens/sleeping holes in the sand ..so there is always a rounded softish, flexible surface wherever they touch ..one which they can form to their shape , and which they often prefer to a sturdy wooden kennel with bedding ..... ;)