Chewie has a sore shoulder
- Thread starter MrChew
- Start date
Naya
Moderator
- Location
- Bristol, UK
Hope they manage to help him with his pain. Big hugs to you all and sending lambies 
I just spoke to the neurologist. The first thing he said was that Chewie is "a lovely chap." He is feeling much better on fentanyl (who wouldn't?) and is going for his MRI soon. They will call later today to discuss a plan. He thinks it's likely a cervical disc. Fingers crossed. We will need to think about ways to stop jumping. Has anyone had success teaching their dog to use a bed ramp/stairs?
Snowie uses a step to get onto our bed. It’s just one very firm heavy foam block, covered in canvas. We actually got it years ago when he slipped his disc. Then, he just leapt straight over it! 
But now he’s weaker in the hindlegs (old age) and needs it to get onto our bed. It took all of one training session to teach him how to use it. I actually stepped on it and then onto the bed to show him. He was hesitant at first. He put one paw on it. Then backed away. Did that a few times. Then I stepped on it and onto the bed. Then he did it. And voila. Now, he stands at the bed waiting for it to be placed there (we don’t leave it there, no room in the bedroom to keep it permanently at the foot of the bed).
We also bought a fold-up ramp for the car. We used treats to get him to first walk on it while it was laid flat on the ground. Then put it on one step in the house. Got him used to it. Then up two steps, and so on, making it steeper. He learned very quickly. It has a very rough grippy surface.
Actual steps are better than a ramp. A ramp can be quite steep and awkward for a dog to use.
But now he’s weaker in the hindlegs (old age) and needs it to get onto our bed. It took all of one training session to teach him how to use it. I actually stepped on it and then onto the bed to show him. He was hesitant at first. He put one paw on it. Then backed away. Did that a few times. Then I stepped on it and onto the bed. Then he did it. And voila. Now, he stands at the bed waiting for it to be placed there (we don’t leave it there, no room in the bedroom to keep it permanently at the foot of the bed).We also bought a fold-up ramp for the car. We used treats to get him to first walk on it while it was laid flat on the ground. Then put it on one step in the house. Got him used to it. Then up two steps, and so on, making it steeper. He learned very quickly. It has a very rough grippy surface.
Actual steps are better than a ramp. A ramp can be quite steep and awkward for a dog to use.
Last edited:
The neurologist has had a look at the scans (still waiting for the radiology report) and there is a small disc herniation at c6-7, no nasty surprises. They are happy for him to come home this evening. A month of rest, short on lead walks (will stick to odd times to begin with so we don't bump into his friends! Chewie is a bit of a local celebrity) and regular pain relief.
The neurologist has a black Lab of his own and was quite taken with Chewie.
Such a relief that he is ok and it wasn't anything terrible. He gave us quite a fright last night.
The neurologist has a black Lab of his own and was quite taken with Chewie.
Such a relief that he is ok and it wasn't anything terrible. He gave us quite a fright last night.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
This is really encouraging, and explains why poor Chewie must have been so uncomfortable. Good news it’s not too daunting and hopefully has a really strong prognosis.
Leave ramp out flat on the ground, build positive associations and comfort with it by scattering treats along it, slowly encouraging sniffing it, then front paws on, progressing to walking along it.
Then slightly elevate one end and repeat, making sure it’s completely stable at every step.
Finally, build in a tiny bit of instability training - this won’t be for Chewie for now, but once he’s recovered - by e.g. putting a folded towel under the slightly elevated end (drop the height of elevation to reduce the slope), making sure it’s safe and not going to fall, so Chewie gets comfy with just a little movement. I like to add this step for a bit of real life future proofing/resilience - when we use the ramp in the car, sometimes it needs to be at an angle or on slightly uneven ground. As long as it’s safe, I want the boys to be comfortable with a bit of a wobble and so this step really helps.
Let me know if you’d like more detail or photos.
We’ve taught Kipper to use a bed ramp, with great success - and my OH built a rather natty platform with nonslip covering to add to the stability and surface area for Kipper to get up and down. Makes it a bit of an obstacle course for us as we have very little space round the bed, but we manage! I can happily send photos if useful. We’ve trained both Kipper and Stilton to use a ramp for the car, which we did in tiny steps:
Leave ramp out flat on the ground, build positive associations and comfort with it by scattering treats along it, slowly encouraging sniffing it, then front paws on, progressing to walking along it.
Then slightly elevate one end and repeat, making sure it’s completely stable at every step.
Finally, build in a tiny bit of instability training - this won’t be for Chewie for now, but once he’s recovered - by e.g. putting a folded towel under the slightly elevated end (drop the height of elevation to reduce the slope), making sure it’s safe and not going to fall, so Chewie gets comfy with just a little movement. I like to add this step for a bit of real life future proofing/resilience - when we use the ramp in the car, sometimes it needs to be at an angle or on slightly uneven ground. As long as it’s safe, I want the boys to be comfortable with a bit of a wobble and so this step really helps.
Let me know if you’d like more detail or photos.
That’s really normal post-GA as I understand it, but it’s horribly distressing for you. We had similar with Kipper the only time he had GA and it lasted about 24 hours, fading in severity from ~6 hrs for us (but obviously individual variation, dose, weight etc makes a difference). I found it really upsetting, but I hope for them it’s more like humans experience with GA - disorientating and dreamlike, but not too horrible.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Lilly isn't a great patient post op either.
So sorry you have all been through this, and hope Chewie is back to his more normal self pretty quickly
So sorry you have all been through this, and hope Chewie is back to his more normal self pretty quickly
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Hoping Chewie feels more comfortable very soon , what a worry you have had xxx
- Location
- Welsh borders, near Chepstow
What a relief for you that it wasn't something worse. Difficult enough though keeping a labrador from jumping around when they begin to feel better. Hope poor Chewie feels more comfortable very soon. Perhaps you can relax just a little bit now.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
It is horrid when they are so upset from the GA, feel they must be in pain. However, they do recover well. I hope Chewie feels more comfortable today.
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Just catching up, I hope dear Chewie is having an ok night. That feeling of dread and helplessness when they are unwell is the worst 
- Location
- East Sussex
Glad to hear that Chewie is safely home again and hope he's beginning to recover from the GA. x
