Jake

A little over one month has past since Jake had his surgery.  His recovery has been fantastic.  We have had to put some safety barriers in place and block off stairs, close doors and for the first few weeks Jake was kept very close by in small quarters.  Lisa was kind enough to give us a very large roll of what they call grip line. It is that rubber stuff you put under your rugs so they don't move. We put it in our kitchen and other places so he could walk without slipping. He is much better now and is really good about listening when we tell him he can't jump up.  We carry him up and down the stairs. We only have one step outside of our front door so potty time has been real easy.  He will not need another cartrophen injection until about August 8th.  Walks have been short at about 10-15 minutes on flat ground.  Today we took him up the hill a bit and we could tell it was just about enough.  It will take time for him to build up muscle again. His weight is excellent and maintaining a health weight will be very important for Jake. In the morning he has Honest Kitchen (Fish) and in the evenings Fromm (Fish).  He is getting some Krill Oil which is very healthy.  We do not want him to be heavy because it is too hard on his knees and we really want to avoid surgery on the other hind leg.  He will be a loving pet but agility is not in his future.  Just lots of love and he is very much a cuddle bug. Because he can't jump up I have decided that I would make a big fort in our basement and he can sleep in there with me.  It summer and this is lots of fun.  Jake likes it too! Thank you to everyone who keeps reading my blog.

Guard dog

"Give me my food"

"Where did it go?"

Too CUTE

                                     

My fort for the summer

                                                       Swaddled up just like a baby.

Jake in my fort

Darby decided to join us

Jake

This has been a very busy week.  On Monday and Tuesday Jake had his last walks on the beach for a while.  Tuesday night Dr. Sukhiani phoned my mom to go over Jake's surgery on Wednesday.  Wednesday morning we took him into Vancouver Island Veterinary Surgery.  This was at 9:30.  He had his surgery and we picked him up at about 3:00 p.m.  Dr. Sukhiani and Tara (his assistant) went over Jake's post-operative care. When we brought Jake home he was very drowsy and he did not like his crate ride home.  The first night was rough and he cried and kept my mom up.  Once she put her hand on his head inside his pen he would stop.  He just want to be sure that someone was with him.

He has a pain patch and we also give him antibiotics and pain medicine.  This will continue over the next few weeks.  He will also have to have a Cartrophen injection which will help with his recovery.

Today he ate twice and went outside to do his business without the aide of someone holding him up.  He does not really like to be in his crate but this afternoon my mom held him for about 2 hours and gently stretched his leg and gave him some ice. We have not seen any swelling but it is coming.  He did like his cuddle time!  We don't want to get into the habit of picking him up or he will spend the next 18 weeks being in our arms.

I thought for a change of scenery I would get out my Littlest Pet Shop tent and he seemed to like that.

I am sure each day will get better and better.  I will try to post on a regular basis.

Thank you to all of Jake's well wishers......

Jake in my tent

Jake and Oscar

Lazy Boy

Escape artist

Jake

These past few weeks have been really busy.  Jake is having lots of fun playing outside in the sun and going to the beach. Jake is booked to have his knee surgery with Dr. Sukhiani this Wednesday, June 18, 2014.  Jake's recover period is approximately 18 weeks which will bring us to October 22nd.  In preparation for this we have made some changes in our home and my mom will be moving into the basement bedroom to be with Jake at night for about the next two months.  He will be restricted to 5 and 10 minute "pee breaks" and will not be allowed to be very mobile until about week 6 where he can increase his time to 15-20 minutes walking gently in the backyard.  He will require daily physio which we will be giving him 3 to 4 times a day.  I have set up a "spa" area so Jake can have some quiet time and a calm space to recover.  Jake has two spots to be, one crate upstairs for daytime and a smaller crate downstairs where he will be sleeping.  His sleeping area has easy access to the backyard where we can carry him out.  After Wednesday we have to take him every week for a shot to help his recovery and then after one month every month for 4 months.  The more we can do for Jake now the better his prognosis will be.  It will be a quiet summer at our house with few outings but we have all agreed that we want to give Jake the best care possible after his surgery. We have purchased some "no slip" boots for Jake to wear so he does not slip on our hardwood floors.

Because Jake lives with an "only child" he has no choice but to do what he is told so last weekend he helped me organize my closet. You see Jake with Winnie the Pooh ears but his are much more fuzzy! Here are some photos.

Please say a little paw prayer for our friend this Wednesday.  It is going to be really hard to see him down and out but I know that this will make the quality of his life so much better and together with my mom and dad we can all work to make his recover as pain free as possible.

Thank you to all of you who have donated to his surgery. Donations can still be made to Angels if you like. I know that the surgery is about $2,700 and donations are still being accepted. 

Darby in his new harness

Jake with Winnie the Pooh ears on

Jake playing peek-a-boo

Jake and my Stuffies

Jake showing off his new

socks:)

Jake

This has been a very busy past few weeks.  We found a beautiful garden complete with waterfall "Charlie's Garden" at Royal Roads University.  It is a wonderful walk and very beautiful.  We have been told to be careful about spear grass which grows in the lower part of Royal Roads.  It is important for all dog owners to make sure they check the areas they walk their dogs.  If you are new to an area sometimes you can ask your local vet or at a pet store. Spear grass is very dangerous for dogs and can cause considerable pain.

This past weekend we took Jake to the Pet Expo at Pearkes Arena. He met lots of people and really took a fancy to a fellow cocker named Mylee.  They are both very quiet and just kinda hung out. 

We would to thank everyone who came by the Angels booth and donated money to help pay for Jakes surgery.  We hope to have his surgery in the next month and every amount helps. Emma has been collecting bottle money and our neighbour works at a large facility in Bamfield and he has been collected bags of bottles and cans. Thank you Jack!

Jake

These past few weeks have been great.  Jake is looking better all the time.  We have him on fish oil and a joint supplement to help with his sore knee.  He has met lots of new friends.... including girls and has made himself quite at home.  He has now officially taken over his masters bed.  I have been busy training Jake to sit and wait for his food and lie down and stay.  We are trying to work at "roll over" but his does need work!!!

Jake

This week Jake did some exciting things. One of the things he did was he went to the groomers. He is not big on getting his nails done, but he was good other then that. Thank you to Denise at Island Pet Source for an amazing job. He looks cuter then ever. Today Jake watched it rain outside and barked at a tree. He is sometimes very skittish of every day things. He barks when a red car goes by and when I make a clicking noise. Tonight Jake is going to watch a movie with us. We love how he has made himself fit in just perfect.

Peek-a-boo GQ Dog

Jake

This week Jake did lots of fun things. We decorated for Easter and went on lots of walks. Jake even got his teeth brushed.... He didn't care for it!Today Jake enjoyed an egg hunt and smelling our delicious ham dinner. He is now very tired and ready for bed.

Jake watching Easter Parade

Day 37

We have some exciting news..... we are going to keep Jake while he has his surgery for his floating knee cap! He is going to be here for another 2 or 3 months! We went out and bought Jake a new bed today and he seems to like it. Tonight we took him to the beach. I am very excited that Jake gets to stay longer he is a great dog. Now that things are going to be a bit more crazy here I am only going to be writing weekly updates on my blog every Sunday. Thanks for reading, stay tuned:)

Jake playing with a kong

Jake and Darby waiting for food

Jake hiding between the couch and the table

Day 36

Last night Jake slept with me and Darby. He is a great cuddler. This morning we took Jake and Darby to the beach. The beach was so busy we came home. This afternoon Jake and I coloured and had a rest. Tonight we went out for dinner and when we came home Jake was lying in the living room. He usually lies in front of the door but not tonight. 

Jake underneath the computer desk

Jake and Darby in the car waiting to go!!!!!!

Day 35

Today Jake helped clean. He helped by sitting on the rug while we were trying to move it and dropping his toy on the vacuum. This afternoon he had a 45minute sleep with me on the couch. When he sleeps with you he is like a giant cuddle bug. Today we also found out that Jake will only be with us for 3 more sleeps till he goes back to his foster home:(

Jake in the car the other day

Day 34

Last night Jake slept with Darby on the bed. When I got up this morning at 6 o'clock Darby was resting his head on Jake's back. It was so cute.Today Jake stayed at home with Darby for a bit while I went to the dentist. When I got home he was so excited to see us. This afternoon he sat with us and watched a movie. Jake is a great doctor. 

Day 33

Today Jake came with us to choir and guitar lessons. After supper  we took Darby and Jake to the beach. Tonight they sat downstairs with us and watched a movie. Jake seems to gain 20pounds when he is tired. It was so hard to carry him to bed when he feels like a big furry noodle. 

Day 32

Today Jake came out with us to do our running around. This afternoon he had a sleep.

Day 31

Today it was sunny and warm. This afternoon we took them down to the beach and when we got home they had a sleep. Tonight after supper we went down to the beach again with our friend and her  two cocker spaniels. Tonight we watched a movie and now it's bed time.

Sleepy dog

                     Molly & DarbyJake

                            Molly and 1/2 of Jake 

 Beautiful 

Day 30

Today was a big day.  Jake came to a concert for my choir.  Like I said before he enjoys his car rides and is just happy to be with his humans. 

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.  I know Jake and I did.

Day 29

Today Jake came to my choir concert rehearsal. Tonight Jake went in Darby's bed again so I picked him up and put him on the couch. I then flipped Darby's bed over so Jake couldn't lye in it. Look at what Darby did.......

Silly Dog

Day 28

Today it was sunny so we spent most of our day on the balcony reading. We took Jake and Darby for a walk around the block and Jake watched us garden.

Day 27

Today we took Jake to the beach. This is his first time going to the beach with us. He liked watching the birds and peeing on drift wood. When we came home he had a nap. Tonight he went for another long walk in the forest and took me to badminton.

 Selfie

I came, I peed, I left

"Look at me"

                           Posing

Day 26

Today was crazy Wednesday! Crazy means we were out at nine and home at four. Jake met some new friends and went for a car ride. Jake is now sitting on my lap helping me with my blog! He is a giant teddy bear:) 

Day 25

 Happy April Fool's Day! Jake was very good, he didn't try to scare me or prank me. Today it was sunny. Jake and Darby spent most of the day lying on the balcony. This afternoon we took Jake in the car and he enjoyed some sleep:) Tonight he went for a walk and he is very tired.

                          Waiting to go inside

" I am so cute"

WIGGLE BUMS

                       So sweet

Day 24

Today is Monday and the beginning of another week.  This morning Jake went for an early walk and then listened as we did some school work.  After that he came with us out to Sidney and after we all went for a nice long walk around Latoria Creek Park.  I like when Jake waits for me to get up.  He waits outside my door until my mom lets him in. Today he came in my room and looked under my covers but I was hiding.  It was funny to watch him look for me.  He is such a loveable dog

Jake in his bed

Jake called shot gun

Jake waiting for me to wake up