Border collie Jack passed away on February 28, 2022

[CarolW]

Re: Jack the project!

Just curious whether that's a Bite-Not collar you're using. Those seem to work well without irritating the dog too much - not half as bad as the cones/lampshades!

Sorry you're having this trouble; it can be really tough.

Wish you and Jack lots of luck. I think shaved patches get VERY itchy as the hair grows back in - at least I think that kind of itching only lasts a few days - but that's long enough to make the dog (and us) really miserable!

Keep us posted on how things go!
Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:37:41 (PDT)

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack the project!

It is a Bite-Not collar. It's one I had on hand that I tried with Chris back when he was having eye problems - Chris hated it worse than the e-collar though so we didn't use it with him.

It's a little too short - Jack's neck is longer than it is - which makes it more comfortable for him but less effective. He can reach his leg with the short Bite-Not on if he tries hard. But so far with it on he mostly doesn't try to get at his leg and it is finally drier. I'm going to pick up some other materials for wrapping it today so he doesn't have to stay in the Bite-Not all the time.

Natalie

[eyelostit]

Re: Jack the project!

Aw, poor Jack , is the limiting of exercise sort of hard on him or has he just slowed down because of his problem.

Was he ok after the spinal tap? I had one of those and had the most horrible headache in my life for 2-3 days I had to actually lay down for 2 days & asprin wasn't helping, maybe its different with dogs.

With Pip, I used the Coban Wrap on her leg, she just would not quit the licking of a cut on her leg, if it rained tho I had to keep applying new.

dolly

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack the project!

Hi Dolly,

He self-limits his exercise in the sense that he's panting heavily and acting like he just ran a marathon instead of having walked at a modest speed for about 18 minutes. The timeframe is very consistent. He will keep going, ever more slowly, if we don't head back to the car but it's obvious that he is uncomfortable and he doesn't complain about stopping.

But I think his brain is very frustrated by the limitation.

We try to make every 18 minute walk a special one - we go somewhere where there are interesting things to sniff and preferably some squirrels and bunnies. So we almost never just walk him around the neighborhood anymore - WAY yoo boring. Plus the car ride out and back to where we walk him is good for him mentally. He absolutely loves car rides.

I can wrap his leg but part of my concern is the skin is sticky and moist and I'm trying desperately to give it a chance to dry out. So I'd rather not cover it with anything. But none of the neck-based barriers and working and he really balked at the e-collar. He has had issues with anything looming over his head so the e-collar is definitely not a great choice for him.

So finally this afternoon I cut out a sock and taped it top and bottom. At least it's not completely wrapping up the shaved area. Still probably warmer and stuffier than ideal but better than him getting the opportunity to lick it throughout the day. If it doesn't look better in a few days, I'll have the vet check it in case it's gotten a yeast or other nasty non-normal infection.

Natalie

[BestBuddy]

Re: Jack the project!

What about a cohesive bandage?

I used this on Luke's dew claw and it was great. It sticks to itself not the hair or skin and is breathable.

It wasn't expensive and you only need to wrap around once or so to cover.

Jenny

[pgcor]

Re: Jack the project!

Hi Natalie - I just had to ask, but could Jack have allergy/asthma problems that could affect his breathing? Could that explain his exercise intolerance???

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack the project!

I finally had to abandon all of the collars and put a bandage on it. It's in a spot that's difficult to keep anything on for long - socks and wraps tend to sag down, exposing the wound again. But it has finally dried out... or it was until he got past the bandage today when no one was looking. But I think it's past the worried-about-an-infection stage.

Pam, as far as I know it is not allergy related. Without Metacam, he actually limps, rolls his back right leg, and sometimes bunny-hops when running. And if he overdoes it, he will do the same while taking Metacam. Like if he does any extensive running or jumping, even inside the house. It only takes a few very energetic leaps before he seems to be pretty sore.

I figure it's like a back ache I can get from certain types of walking. If you were to press down on my spine, it wouldn't physically hurt. It only hurts when I do that particular activity and shortly after I stop that activity it stops hurting. Similarly, the neurologist did a really rigorous exam and put some intense pressure on his back and didn't get a response. So he can't localize the pain.

Jack's exercise tolerance has been limited ever since we adopted him. At one year of age, 30 minutes at the dog park, where he loped around but didn't tear full out with other dogs, and he was done. And as far as I know his heart, etc. are all fine. I would guess that the two discs that are damaged were from some kind of an injury and that he lost that top front tooth at the same time. So my guess is that he's had this problem as long as we have had him.

Which is sad for a young dog. Who knows what might have happened to him.

Natalie

[buddingartist]

Re: Jack the project!

Natalie, I am just catching up on your boy Jack. It feels like a bad news/good news scenario. You now know and are satisfied that you have explored the situation as best as you could and it is now a question of learning to manage and live with the condition.

When Cleo had her surgery when she was around 7-8 months, coupled with a level 4 heart murmur, we learned that when <missy< stopped suddenly during her walk, layed down and panted, we needed to give her time. She lets us know when she is ready to resume her walk and she has let us know for 10+ years when she can't move any further. On the positive side, she has been overall healthy otherwise. We couldn't ask for more. Now, thanks to your suggestion the Metacam in pill form works a lot better than the liquid form and when she has a flare up and she has a greater difficulty to walk, 1/2 pill twice a day for a day or 2 usually does it.

Jack is one lucky boy that you found him. He couldn't be in better hands

Louise

[Dollydog]

Re: Jack the project!

Hi Natalie....I've been following your posts on Jack but haven't had anything to add or comment on.

When Lady had a spot on her front leg that wouldn't heal....can't remember what it was exactly but it was during the last few years of her life....I made a homemade bandage. I cut out cardboard from a cracker or cereal box and rolled it into a shape that would fit up over her foot....it would sit just above her foot so she could walk without a problem. I cut out a few pieces in the cardboard and taped cheesecloth over the cut out spots to allow the air to get at the spot but she couldn't lick it. I had a combination of adhesive tension bandages and duct tape over the top and bottom of the "bandage" and that held it in place. She never bothered it so it stayed there for a day and then I was able to take it off to clean the spot and put it back in place again. Not sure how that would work for a younger bigger dog who would be more active than Lady was then!!
Take care,
Jo-Ann

[Bruno'sMom]

Re: Jack the project!

Hi Natalie, I've been trying to follow up on how things are going with Jack. I know we are built differently than our four legged friends but I suffer from chronic back pain and I actually have to move around more often than I used too because I seem to ache and stiffen up from not moving. Does Jack shift around when he's sleeping? Does he seem more stiff/sore when he gets up from a nap or in the mornings? At least he's in good hands with such loving parents. If anyone can figure a way to help him and/or make him more comfortable so he can live a more normal life it's you!

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack the project!

Hi Jo-Ann! What a great idea!! A toilet paper or paper towel tube would have worked very well I think. I will remember that next time.

His leg has healed up nicely and now I'm just keeping it bandaged to keep him from tearing at it again. I'll unbandage it once the fur grows back in. His butt was shaved too on top from the spinal tap and he looks like the kid from the old TV series... Our Town? He's got this crazy shock of hair sticking straight up.

Kathy, Jack's problems definitely seem to be related more to activity than rest. He does change positions periodically at night but he doesn't fidget or change them often.

He's the most ritualistic dog. Every morning he starts by rolling around on the floor and rubbing on the side of the bed. That's his pre-potty routine. From the bed you just see his white flag of a tail traveling across the end of the bed! LOL

I tell him "Let's go potty" and he goes down the hall and makes a right into my office, checks my desk, and then heads in the opposite direction for the slider to go out into the backyard.

Every meal, he goes into the hall to check on Katie, the cat.

And at night he jumps up on the bed and stays there for just about exactly the same amount of time every night - maybe 20 minutes. Then he gets up like some alarm clock in his head went off and jumps off of the bed and lays at the foot of it with his neck wrapped around one of the legs. In the morning he's always sound asleep in his bed.

He never reverses the night-time routine - always the same order.

Natalie

[CarolW]

Re: Jack the project!

Ahhh, Natalie; I so much enjoyed your description of Jack's rituals and routines! Dogs so totally thrive on these!

Camellia has her rituals and routines, too. She joins me, coming up on Our Bed, moving to the wall-side, because somehow, I managed to teach her that's the side I want her on (so I don't inadvertently knock her off the bed in my sleep!). She'll lie down there, stay for a time, then move down to the foot of the bed (still on it) - and, a short time later, jump off the bed, come out here into the only other room (the Great Room, of course), and sleep on the sofa - her favorite spot since we moved here.

This would make an interesting thread!

Hoping Jack continues to do well - glad his leg is healed up! He is, indeed, a very fortunate dog!

Mon, 4 Jul 2011 02:17:34 (PDT)

[Patty]

Re: Jack the project!

That's so funny Natalie

[Soaphie & Sydney's Mom]

Re: Jack the project!

I LOVE SEEING SYDNEY'S TAIL AS SHE WALKS AT THE END OF THE BED! Such a great description of Jack's tail....

[CarolW]

Re: Jack the project!

Oh, yes, Tami - the vision of this TAIL moving along the end of the bed is a lovely one! Camellia's tail doesn't reach quite that high - she usually carries it curled over her back, less often, just loose and hanging behind her. Very different kind of tail! (Hope Sydney feels better soon!)

Mon, 4 Jul 2011 12:21:18 (PDT)