Saturday, October 29, 2011

WARNING: BETTER BE A REAL DOG PERSON

Nigel went out in his cart again this morning.
We need to adjust the stirrups again, because in spite of our attempts, the tops of his back feet still hit the ground.

But what had me excited is that on his journey from out of our yard to the sidewalk, he paused by a tree in Roger's yard (One the dogs water regularly on walks) and.....a few tiny dribbles of urine appeared!!!!
This is the first and only indication I had had that he could, in fact, control his bladder. A few yards later, he did it again. This time I attempted to manually express his bladder and was marginally successful. This is very encouraging. It means once he is in the cart and upright I may not have to catheterize him as I have been, or at least, not as often. Altho I get very little out.

Nigel is not a very friendly Basset. He is an afraid junkie. He is afraid of everything. Last night he said hello to Roger but todayRoger has his truck on the lawn and three men helping him re-roof, and all the noise and changes in the usual scene really scared Nigel, so that I practically had to drag him past Roger's house.
He is also becoming chafed in the stifle, where his leg and body meet. And then his back feet still come in contact with the cement. These are, I trust, matters that can be fixed easily by Nigel's rather unhandy owners.


Nigel, comin at cha.

Nigel has figured out a couple of corners, but not all of them, and not the concept. That he has wheels that stick out further than his legs probably will never catch on with him. As far as he is concerned, it is simply magic. Somehow, this thing we make him wear goes with him when he takes off. Without it,  he is a seal. With it, he is Hermes, Unbound.


Well perhaps not quite. But he is getting it, and I am learning how to get him into the cart and out, by myself. Getting him out is harder than getting him in. His legs stick at the hock and I have to support his rear and use two hands to extricate him.
If this sounds like a complaint, it is not. We are so very pleased we can hardly stand it. Shortly, we will accept this for what it is, and go back to discussing other dogs, other topics of broader interest. Maybe.


OK: For sure

5 comments:

  1. Yes indeed those look like fine off-radin tirees to me. Go Nigel Go!!!
    Yvette & Leia

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  2. Thats off-ROADING
    Oooops
    Yvette & Leia

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  3. lois, buster, miss sally who & lowla the fosterOctober 30, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    uh momperson....what will unsuspecting neighbors think of you as you bend down & help nigel mark things...i am sure that will earn you a visit from the local mental health outreach team! (really i was helping my dog express himself...ok lady)

    oh to be a fly in their car on a drive by)

    yeah nigel...keep working it big boy!

    love the full frontal pix!

    & llewis, conley & sir coop...i still love you guys too!!!

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  4. Congratulations! I'm glad to hear Nigel is working things out.

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  5. Woo-hoo -- look at Nigel go on those wheels!! I am so excited that he might be getting a bit of bladder control and thrilled that his tail can wag! You go boy! Laura (and Geoffrey, Molly, and Henry too!)

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