Kindredspirits
Ack! I just lost everything I just wrote!
*Sigh* I'll try this again..
It's a "bug" in the board's software -- so what most of us do, when working on a "big" post -- do it in Word or Wordpad and then copy it in when you're ready to post. Trust me -- you'll tear your hair out. It only happens when you don't want it to! *sheesh*
Kindredspirits
I'm still a little weirded out by the idea of him using a bottle.
Ummm - I don't understand what's weird?? Please explain to me? They don't 'suck' on it. There's a tiny ball bearing encased in the bottom of the long tube -- they simply "lick" at it and water comes out.
You still clean it every day -- it simply drips into his mouth and rolls down his throat. The big deal with a collapsed trachea is *any* time he bends is head down it can shut off the airway.
It's really common to give dogs a lick bottle in a crate -- particularly a dog who is prone to playing with or spilling their water. It also gets **far far less foul** because anything on their tongue won't go back up in the bottle.
Kindredspirits
On Thursady when my husband has a day off we are going to go find the Hylands Calms, the new bowls, see if the backpack style list is in and get the new food. And see if we can build that raised feeder.
*Before* you buy anything -- do some experimenting. Like I said -- you may find one thing works better over another. Then once you experiment you can *buy* one thing that will work.
I think I tried three different heights for Socks before I found the *right* height. I never could find anything to *buy* that was the correct height. My husband hated that box, but I told him all that mattered to ME was that it worked for HER.
There will be some things that will be good and some *not* good. You will find out a LOT about what actually triggers the cough -- does any tipping of the head worsen it? Or does turning the head worsen it? That's going to be uniquely Rickards.
Just saying this since money is a concern -- you don't want to buy a bunch of stuff that will just plain NOT work.
Kindredspirits
I'm sort of having a hard time visualizing it, but do you mean something similar to this?
Yeah they are ALL very similar -- what I wound up doing (and I went into Babies R Us intending to spend money and buy one and didn't *sigh*) was I got more brass than brains (*rolling eyes*) and I saw a woman in line at the grocery store with one of those slings. And I walked up to her and ASKED to see it (to see how it fastened) and she was tickled I thot it was cool.
Then I explained the situation -- handicapped dog that needed to be carried -- and SHE is the one who suggested the muslin simply because it made it deeper than the baby versions.
The O-rings fastener are literally just like a belt that cinches down.
Kindredspirits
What you guys do for these kids is amazing. I cannot imagine as a parent what it might be like to have a critically ill child and I pray I never do.
That all comes out of my own background -- not only do I have health challenges myself, but I also used to teach children that were developmentally disabled. 35 years ago I was doing pet therapy with my dog long before "pet-assisted therapy" was any sort of formal concept. That was back when it was called "Taking Prissy to work with me so the kids can play with her!" *grin*
Kindredspirits
but its easier for me to shrug it off, because I think I'm doing a great job with them so it doesn't bug me as much. But I'm always unsure if I'm doing things right with the dogs. Especially with Rickards. I don't want him being so uncomfortable anymore, and this whole thing is so new. I don't think I can afford to make any mistakes with him.
You just nailed yourself in one -- and now that you *see* that you can defeat it.
You WILL make mistakes. We all do. But you're human, and any mistakes will be offset by the love you have for him and your determination to DO the right thing.
It's all a journey of learning. And Rickards just plain wants to be near *you* -- and pretty much everything else will work because you'll make it work. You ARE deterrmined -- and that's 99.9999% of the battle right there.
Kindredspirits
I do not want this to come across as I'm making fun of this woman. But the women laughing at Rickards and I were very over-weight. I don't doubt that they too have been name called and dealt with rude people. So you'd think they would treat people better
You would THINK so, but human nature is often the opposite. You'd think their own challenges would make them more sympathetic -- but some people just react mean -- and a lot of that is upbringing -- they were never taught TO have compassion -- and they probably just respond to criticism of their own physical state with anger and nastiness - or they pretend they don't hear it.
I tend to be the really compassionate sort -- but that's also why when someone really punches my buttons, it's like I hit this magic place where NO MORE and I'll come out with something truly scathing. IT's not often and I'm never proud when I do -- because I always think you make more lasting changes in people by being nice.
You may want to just boil it down to "He just plain doesn't breathe well sometimes and THEN I have to carry him. I'm pushing two strollers here -- trust me -- he'd walk IF he could. Satisfied?"
If you think scenarios out in your head you will develop a little repetoire of come-backs to use.
Kindredspirits
And see if we can build that raised feeder
If your husband is handi with wood -- tell him to keep the pattern and the measurements. Because trust me -- you are NOT alone out there. If if he builds one, he could sell others.
There are actually LOTS of physical ailments that require dogs to use raised feeders. And usually they need to be a specific size.
Kindredspirits
I'm hopped up on meds in bed with the flu *sigh*
*smile* -- try the honey and lemon -- it DOES work very well. *grin* and add a little slippery elm to it. It's a good anti-inflammatory for the lungs too (You should KNOW better than to tell ME you don't feel good -- Aunt Callie is always gonna suggest SOMETHING. LOL It's what I do!! *rotfl*)