Ivy seeks a special kind of family
Important Information
If the right person came forward for Ivy, that home is more important to me than money. I want the very best for her and I need someone who can give her everything she needs.
At 5 weeks, at accident resulted in small transverse hairline fracture on her rear leg bone- for a fracture it wad the best kind (according to the vet). Because she had been on restricted activity and has missed some key socialisation with her litter, we want to make sure she has every opportunity to catch up and she is undergoing physiotherapy, laser therapy and hydrotherapy.
Her fracture has healed and has no pain from that area. Her current rehabilitation is needed due to muscle weakness in the affected leg. Her bones grew fast but her muscles and tendons were unable to keep up. We are working on strengthening that leg and encouraging her to use it and use it in a more normal way.
At home I am doing a variety of things to support her and I am keeping a watchful eye over her legs and weight distribution. Warm compresses before we do our training- it appears to be simple games of sit, stand, down and paws up but I am using those little games to encourage her to get into a normal position and for that leg to bear more weight. I am using different surfaces to encourage her to use that leg and to strengthen her core. Raised dog bowls to she isn't reaching down. Not allowing her to jump up and using "paws off" when needed. Her most recent hydrotherapy session gave me the reassurance I needed- Ivy uses all 4 legs equally when swimming and has a great amount of strength despite resistance. She did exercises underwater and the lady was very impressed. It fits in with what I have seen in the home, garden and on walks. Ivy walks perfectly and continues to bear more weight on that leg, sitting better and when I see her leg getting tired then we stop and pick her up so she can rest at home.
Raven, Eden and Alaska have big roles in socialising Ivy and teaching her canine skills that Ivy missed out on when she could not play with her siblings. Eden's role is monumental. Her teaching skills are beautiful to watch. She will act as a sibling, allows Ivy to "get" her and will switch roles and teaches Ivy to submit. Ivy responds beautifully and she loves those interactions. She follows Eden around, mimics her behaviour and settles when Eden settles- Eden is an incredible girl and I expect Ivy to follow suit. As the days go by, I walk Ivy mainly on her own and sometimes have Eden and maybe another pack member (I like switching things up so Ivy gets accustomed to change). Eden is truly the best dog for me- the way she understands canine social skills and the ability to teach puppies and help them when they are unsure is truly invaluable. Ivy learns at a faster pace as she is able to see and understand Eden's emotional state in what could be scary situations for a young pup.
Ivy is fantastic in the car as she has travelled with us everywhere since the accident. She has never been carsick, has travelled for more than 4 hours in one day without issue and when she could not go safely on the floor, she toileted on a puppy pad in the boot when we stopped for a break. She likes the car seat which is a comfy bed although when it is hot, she likes to have the window down and stick her nose out enjoying the breeze. She has been in a variety of places- cafes, pubs, shops and manages herself well.
Toilet training outside is ongoing. We had to rely on the toilet pads for safety as she could not go outside whilst she had the splint on. She uses the toilet pads but I am working on her toileting outside. We visited family who had grass in the garden- she only used the grass which is great. At home we have just patio slabs and she isn't as keen on using them so I am trying a few things to encourage her. I feel like I am getting there with Ivy slowly making the connections.
I have been told there is an increased risk of arthritis developing In Ivy when she is older. Weight management, good quality food, salmon oil/flaxseed oils, controlled exercise and a motivated owner who enjoys learning about supporting dogs will be beneficial.
I will only allow Ivy to leave when the physiotherapist and the professionals involved give me the all clear- I want and need to her to be fully fit, physically and mentally ready to leave me.