doggy I know you’re trying really hard to help me but stomach bug time is not your best option for giving kisses

I’ve been so busy worrying about it in real life that I forgot to post about it.

Beck has hip dysplasia.

At first I was really upset when we got the diagnosis, but now that it’s been almost a month, I feel much better (and so does she). Right now, we’re taking a conservative approach, which means medication along with weight and activity management. There’s quite a few factors involved in keeping her happy and comfortable, and we’re still learning them all.

Beck has a few things going for her here, though. She’s an active dog, so as long as we provide her with low-impact excercise, she’s able to keep happy and fit. She’s already in good shape and at a healthy weight, and her hindquarters are well-muscled. That helps compensate for her crappy hips, so it’s something we’ll strive to maintain. She has responded well to medication.

Here’s what we’ve been doing for her:

Several walks a day instead of two long ones. We’re slowly increasing the duration of the walks to make sure she’s not in pain. She’s used to at least 2 miles of hiking a day, so cutting back has been hard for her, but we’re now up to several 30 minute walks a day.

Orthopedic beds and dog-safe heating pads. She grumbles most at night, so I’m making sure she’s comfortable. I also leave my heated mattress pad on for her during the day (it shuts off automatically) because she’s fucking spoiled.

Her food intake is about the same, although treats are slightly reduced while she’s walking less. Dinner is fed in a puzzle toy daily to give her something fun to do.

Dog massage is a thing and I’m trying it. I rub her hips with a flat palm in the evening while we watch tv. She likes it.

At her follow-up with the orthopedic vet next week, we’ll ask about getting a few appointments with the physical rehabilitation specialists. I’m hoping they can come up with some things that we can do with her at home. We’ll ask about some of these excercises- obviously not all of them will be good for a dog with hip dysplasia.

Right now Beck is happy and bouncy again. I feel way less sad about things, cause she obviously doesn’t feel sad.

(Also we are medication buddies- she’s on the same painkiller as me!)