Introduction myself and Milo :-)

[foxcocker-93]

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Hello everyone!
I have an almost 2 year old cocker spaniel named Milo. He is the love of my life.
I've had him since 12 weeks.
He has been the hardest most infuriating dog I've ever had but most rewarding.

It won't let me upload a picture as of yet but when I can I will

 

[JudyN]

Welcome to you and Milo

 

[foxcocker-93]

Thank you judy - who do you have "owning" you ha ha

 

[JoanneF]

Welcome from me too.

I'm 'owned' by Timber, who is a cross between a Jack Russell and a toilet brush.

 

[foxcocker-93]

Hi Joanne.
Timber sounds like an interesting combination!! Lol
How old is he?

 

[JoanneF]

Oh, he's an old boy now. Almost 15. But you know what they say about Jack Russells , they go on forever.

I hope they are right.

 

[foxcocker-93]

Oh yes - they do go on forever!
They are feisty little things. We had a childhood one named max!!

Unfortunately not long ago we were given a sad diagnosis for Milo
He has severe luxating patella in both knees. Grade 2 - bordering stage 3. He's not even 2 yet.
Hes on daily anti inflammatory. He only had one incident of limping but will need surgery.
We are going for a second opinion as we didn't like the way the vets handled the situation.

 

[JudyN]

Thank you judy - who do you have "owning" you ha ha

I'm owned by Jasper, the lurcher in my avatar. He shuffled off this mortal coil almost 3 years ago, but he still has a firm hold on my heart I'm sorry to hear about Milo's problems, and hope that one way or another it can be fixed or managed.

 

[foxcocker-93]

Lurchers are so underrated
I've tried to update my avatar - it won't allow me to. X

 

[foxcocker-93]

Waheyyy!
Here is the little sod - flying saucer head!!

 

[JudyN]

Oh cute!

There is an issue with avatars. Try the method below:

Click on the default avatar at the very top left-hand side of the forum (in the photo below, just above the balloons). When I do that, I get the pop-up in the photo below. Can you get that far and if so, at what point do you get the message?

View attachment 111982041

 

[Hemlock]

Hello and welcome to you and Milo. I hope your second vet is better to work with.

 

[arealhuman]

Welcome to you both

 

[Mum of Ted]

Hello, welcome to this amazing site.
I am owned by Teddy...he's just over 3yrs. He is a mixed bag of madness! His mum was a sprockerpoo and his dad a cockerpoo so both spaniels and a double dose of poodle!
Anyway, my ears pricked ( Ted's didn't as he's currently asleep on the sofa with one eye open incase anybody dare walk by our house!) when I read your info on Milo.
Ted's story....Upto about 7 months old he was a lovely easy puppy who we took out, no worries or concerns..just excitable! Then we noticed he began to bark and lunge at people, cyclists, other dogs all the time..we began to avoid everything, dodge the embarrassing moments and walked alone away from any distractions. We didn't know at the time this was unhelpful as the last 2 1/2 yrs have been walks that nobody has enjoyed, neither my daughters like walking him and I mostly get very upset and anxious.
Anyway, we decided after a few lost causes with trainers to try again and get him sorted. The trainer we booked him in with had literally 3/4 minutes with him in a private area and said 'what's wrong with his back legs?'
We said he's always run that way, bunny hopping one or both legs outwards, quite lanky looking. She said get them seen by a vet, they don't look right. Said no more but she wouldn't begin training until we'd had him seen.
Xray showed both legs were stage 3, one very close to stage 4. We were told every time he runs, his knees dislocate causing him some pain and discomfort. The vet and the trainer at our next meeting said that would probably be why he reacts when other dogs or people about, it's a fight or flight situation if he was feeling pain. He never yelped or limped so we had no idea he was like this. The xrays were very clear though.
So September 24 he had his first leg done and January 25 his second. Thank goodness for dog insurance ( and a good one at that!).
We are now back training and this week he sat on his base with 5 other dogs and we are making improvement. It's not 100% and I think he'll always be a bit excitable but it's getting better. His focus has always been one to work hard at getting but I believe he's much more willing to look at us now as he's not in pain.
he has recovered well from both surgeries and will have a healthy happy life.
It was hard work getting him through the 3 months or so of recovery but we're back to full health now and he loves the hydrotherapy!
Good luck with Milo, let us know how you get on.

 

[Mum of Ted]

Ted

 

[Mum of Ted]

Also, we use a 'perfect fit' harness, Ted's a puller but with new commands of 'with me' and 'back' he's getting better. But if he can see a lamppost or gets a scent then he turns into a steam train!

 

[foxcocker-93]

Hi "mum of ted" ( I don't know how to directly tag)
It's weird isn't it - how one thing can seem off and they can have such a severe disease!!!

How did you manage to crate rest him for 6-8 weeks that's what I'm so scared for, I can barely get him to still for 2 hours

 

[Mum of Ted]

Hi, we used his old pen from when he was a puppy. It has 8 panels but only used 5. The vet said as long as he had room for his water and bed. It was also roomy enough for us to sit in with him and cuddle him as he couldn't obviously jump onto the settee or his normal bed which is off the floor.
It was hard, especially using a harness for his back legs and keeping him on lead every time he needed the toilet. It was definitely a tag team event! We slept on the sofa next to his pen for the first week or so.

 

[JoanneF]

I don't know how to directly tag

Just put the @ symbol before a user's name

 

[Mum of Ted]

I think we were lucky as my husband is home most of the time and Ted was never left alone for the first few weeks while his stitches were healing and when his lampshade came off. Also we sat with him lots and lots so if you have the space and he can be in your lounge or where you are then sit with him. He still got excited when somebody came home or my mum ( his nanny!!) walked in but we made sure one of us was in the pen to keep him calm. Also a cold pack soothed the swelling in the first few days and was handy for us to sit with it on his thigh.