Pets
Related: About this forumFinally my stubborn dog allowed me to pamper her
So I have been posting off and on about my extremely stubborn Lab/Chessie mix - Jazz has hip dysplasia and arthritis and has been receiving acupuncture and laser therapy since July.
Now that it has gotten colder, she is a little stiffer than usual. In the summer she would just lay in the sun and bake and I am pretty sure the heat felt soooo good (she has black fur so it just soaked in).
She is super stubborn. Recent example: we have 5 large dog beds just in our living room (we have had 4 dogs at once a long time ago) - some soft and a couple of firmer ones. She had a few weeks where she had diarrhea off and on (fish oil pills don't agree with her) so it was easier just to put down sheets, blankets etc in case of accidents - easier to wash than to try to steam the carpet.
One of the blankets is a ratty old comforter from my college days (20+ yrs ago) that for some reason the two dogs are drawn to like its a magnet. When I washed it, they were sad...when I put it back down on the floor they kept stealing it from each other.
I put a nice fluffy large dog bed in her favorite spot - which caused her to not only grab it and drag it away from the spot, but also drag it across the living room to the front door. This is an unwieldy heavy bed (XXL) and she is 15 and arthritic. But she would rather lay on the hard shitty carpet then give in to comfort.
Tonight I filled up 2 fluffy socks with rice and lavender essential oil and microwaved them to use as heat packs. I waited until she laid down and packed them on each side of her poor hips....and surprise!! She let me - I thought for sure she would throw the sock at me.
She is currently on a firm dog bed in her favorite spot, with relaxing scented heat packs around her and she is snoring deeply. It is honestly the most magical sound and sight in the world for me.
Of course I can't move - if I get up, she needs to chaperone me even if it's to the bathroom.
Here they are blocking my path to bathroom the other night...on the magic old comforter ignoring the dog beds available
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Ng6PQy][img][/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/Ng6PQy]
Ruth Bonner
(192 posts)and that she's enjoying them.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)❤️
shenmue
(38,506 posts)OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)When my old cat could barely walk I got him a heating pad which I kept on low. He used it almost all the time. They make big heating pads that are about 3 feet long. Maybe your sweetie would lie on one if you put the old comforter over it. Worth a try. And if she doesn't like it, you can always put it on the couch and lie on it yourself this winter.
nadine_mn
(3,702 posts)but I think a heating pad would be nice for either dog (or us)
She loves the lavender which is so adorable
OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)minute I get off the couch. I mean literally, I'm gone 10 seconds and when I come back they are trying to get my spot. Your baby might love it.