11 Months! And She’s Getting Even Sweeter.
Here we are, 11 months out from Roxy’s amputation. A point I know most tripawd parents don’t ever think they’ll reach when the journey first begins. I know I didn’t. But we’ve made it! Sadly there isn’t much time for celebrating since it’s tax season. But I’ll be sure to do something special for my girl this weekend. I’m so proud of her….and so thankful she’s still with us.
I have to admit, I’ve been worried about her lately. She seemed to be slowing down a bit and licking her front wrist more. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized… I’m crazy. Not everything she does has to involve that nasty “c” word. So I decided to (finally) get her on a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. She really seems to be picking up after starting that, and paying less attention to that wrist. (My husband agrees, so I know it’s not just in my head) I’m going to get her in to the vet hopefully this weekend to see if maybe she has arthritis or something.
Speaking of the vet. Early January I was driving Ms. Hops to the vet. It was a saturday, 9am, and 14 degrees outside. The vets office is a 30 mile hike down the interstate and Roxy tends to get a little anxious on long car rides. My husband had unfortunately talked me in to taking his car because it’s leather interior, easier to clean the dog hair out. i won’t make that mistake again. It’s not really an old car, it’s a 2002, but we have put nearly 180,000 miles on it, so it’s getting a little rough to drive…and the heater doesn’t really work all that well. Anyway, Roxy starts showing signs of getting anxious and wanting fresh air. So I decided to roll the window down a few inches to let her get the air she needed. I knew it was only 14 degrees, but I had my coat, and hey, anything for our pups, right? Rox got her air, but the window wouldn’t roll up! So I go the rest of the drive to the vets office with the window down about 5 inches! When I was leaving I still couldn’t get the stupid window to roll up. So I decide I’m just going to bite the bullet and fly home as fast as I can. Little did I know the vibrations would knock the window the rest of the way down about 5 minutes into the ride. Oh, Roxy LOVED it…me, not so much. One thing’s for sure, I was awake when I got home.
If you’ve read much of Roxy’s blog in the beginning, you might remember that Rox had a rough start. She loves attention, but was never overly affectionate like my other boxers. My other boxers are most content with their overly large hinies plopped squarely in your lap. Roxy would come over for some ear rubs and then hop off to lay on her own. She has slowly made progress through the last few months, getting slightly more affectionate. But in early January, for the first time EVER, Roxy jumped up on the couch and laid her head in my lap!! This might sound completely silly, but I love that I have earned her trust that way. It may have taken nearly two years, but progress is progress.
All you tripawds and pawrents are always in my thoughts.
Til next time!
Leslie
on February 2, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Hahahaha your window story was great! I’m sure you were freezing, but like you said “anything for our pets!”. Glad to hear Roxy is doing well and that she is celebrating her 11 month ampuversary! Next month is the big ONE year!!!!
-Chloe’s mom
on February 2, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Awesome update Leslie. 11 months is great! And how wonderful that she is getting more affectionate. I’ve had my rescue quad pug Obie for 7 months now. He is pretty outgoing at home, but is still painfully shy around other people and dogs. I guess there is still time for him to get better.
Also- could you check out Rio’s Story, a new Blog: http://riosmom.tripawds.com/
Her mom just joined and is dealing with MCT- not many of us here. I gave her a link to your blog. She could use some insights from you I think.
Go Roxy!!!
Karen and the pugapalooza
on February 2, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Thanks for the update and best wishes for many more Hoppy Ampuversaries! 🙂
on February 2, 2011 at 2:55 pm
roxy, way to go!!! and finally climbing up on the couch to give your ‘sister’ leslie some long deserved loving….you are so good. we’ll celebrate your ampuversary here in ET, ice cream and cheese for all!!
charon & gayle
on February 2, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Happy, hoppy 11 month ampuversary Roxy! Great report! I LOVED the window incident! A girl after my own heart 😉
Signed, Maggie(who also loves hanging her head out the window for some air time).
on February 3, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Happy ampuversary, Roxy! How heartwarming that must be for you that she’s becoming more affectionate. That’s simply lovely. 🙂
In the past year since Catie’s amputation there have been changes in both Catie’s and her bro Riley’s behaviours. Riley used to stand aside for Catie to go through doorways first; not now. He insists on proceeding before her. Catie is friendlier to human strangers; she used to be quite fearful actually! She’s even more tolerant of other dogs.
She too has days when she seems extra tired, which spontaneously spikes the anxiety levels and obsessive scrutiny behaviour for a brief time until I remind myself that any mobility (even getting up from a reclining position) requires way more effort from her and she’s allowed to have lazy days. 🙂
Love the window story too!
Wishing you many many more ampuversaries, Roxy!