Oh Dudley…This winter has been a bit up and down with getting outside. He has a love affair going with his bed, blankies and heating pad right now. I have witnessed him stretch his neck out as far as possible while remaining on his bed to reach a piece of kibble. We do get out for walks on the weekends but sometimes he just wants to go down the road into the woods and do his business and get back home. I get so worried about his back leg losing strength but when we do our real walks, he is a trooper. I pay attention to when he starts to look like he’s slowing down and turn him around to finish our walk.
As we head into spring out here at the Oregon coast, there will be more opportunities for adventures, even if it is raining. He does love the cold winter weather and the wind. I don’t know what magical little layer of fur that he has hidden under his regular coat, but he seems to do just fine when it is 32 degrees out. Fortunately, I get cold and force him to go home at some point! I just get worried that I’m not doing enough for him physically. I do see his body adjusting to being an amputee of one year now. His shoulders and neck have bulked up since he’s been with me and his back leg seems to have muscle definition. He definitely is the King of Sloth though 🙂
Dudley says that being a sloth is A-OK! Especially in winter. He found his happy place on the coast!
You are being so good about managing his activity, watching for pain signals, and making sure he has everything he needs for a good long-term quality of life. I can tell you are definitely going above and beyond, and he is going to do great.
I just get so worried because he is so comfortable being in bed all day…and we are in a little trailer, so you know the limited amount of space. I’ve stopped fighting with him to go out to do bathroom business and that seems a lot better. After my acupuncture vet said “if he needs to really go out, he will let you know.” When he does go out in the early morning with me before work, he makes sure to empty everything! I know we will be more active as we head into spring and summer. Lots of fun planned with the nephews now that the youngest one has transitioned to a booster seat instead of a car seat. Dudley does love lounging in his bed and lots of blankets and pillows. He doesn’t get caught up in them!