This is a subject that ranch-owners Julie and Ronn are very familiar with! Some years ago, their Border Collie cross, Roz, sustained an injury. The veterinarian said in no uncertain terms that, to heal and recover properly, she was required to “crate rest” for 10 days. As Ronn was leaving the vet’s office, he pointed out that Roz would not take well to being forced to rest because, breed-wise, she was a working dog. The vet merely shrugged and replied: “Well, it’s time for a vacation.”
As good a vet as he was, clearly he didn’t have a clue how energetic working dogs can be!
If you are parent to a high-drive four-legged child with working dog genes and temperament and if you’ve ever found yourself in the (unenviable) position of having to keep him or her still and quiet to facilitate recovery from an injury or an illness or a medical procedure, you know how challenging this can be. Challenging and stressful. For many people faced with this situation, the only option is to take a vacation from work so that their dog can get round-the-clock care and undivided attention.
But a vacation under these circumstances is certainly not a vacation you would enjoy. Far better to save your vacation time for your own rest, relaxation and battery-recharging — and allow K9 Ranch to help your dog recover in the healthiest, most care-full way possible.
So…What Does “Wellness Care” Mean?
Looking after a sick or injured dog, or one recuperating from surgery, is not always a simple, straightforward matter. In fact, it usually involves many different aspects that may not be obvious at first consideration. Here are just some of the tasks that you, as a dog-parent placed in this caregiver position, would most likely need to attend to:
- ensure your dog is kept in a safe, confined environment that limits his or her mobility
- prevent your dog from licking or biting healing body parts, stitched areas, etc.
- maintain the temperature of your dog’s environment (either warmer or cooler than normal) as instructed by the veterinarian
- administer oral medications as prescribed throughout the day
- administer topical medications (creams, ointments, etc.) as prescribed throughout the day
- observe your dog’s appetite throughout the day, monitoring what is eaten, how much, and when
- observe your dog’s bowel and bladder eliminations throughout the day
- observe your dog’s activity — or desire for activity — throughout the day
Depending on the particular recuperative requirements of your dog, days of wellness care might be necessary — or, perhaps, even weeks. As much as you love your four-legged child and want to be the primary caregiver, personally devoting this much of your time to his or her recovery might very well be completely impractical. For many dog-parents who find that there just aren’t enough hours in the day, K9 Ranch Wellness Care is the solution that lifts a weight off their shoulders.
Convalescing at K9 Ranch
Whether your dog is recovering from an illness, an injury, or surgery, K9 Ranch is the ideal location for his or her convalescence. All wellness care services here are offered on the ground-level, with indoor/outdoor access on that same level. There are no steps or stairs for dogs to negotiate which is particularly important in situations where joints and bones and stitches require minimal exertion for healing.
K9 Ranch staff are skilled at methods to stimulate the healing and recuperation process. These methods are incorporated into various swim programs, stretch programs, and massage programs, all gentle in nature and designed to gradually restore mobility and encourage normal functioning of limbs. Of course, your dog’s specific requirements will determine how the programs will be selected and tailored to suit his or her individual health and recovery.
If your dog has a very special and/or unique recovery care situation, ranch-owners Julie and Ronn will be happy to welcome him or her into their home as a member of their family so that care and attention can be maximized. Of course, availability is limited and reserved for those dogs with critical requirements.
Dogs who are heavier or obese can derive great benefits from K9 Ranch’s weight-loss programs, developed to suit their individual circumstances and health. For more information on these particular programs, see Weight-Loss.
K9 Ranch staff understand that wellness care is a crucial aspect of a dog’s recovery from whatever illness, injury or surgery has brought about a diminishment in their physical capabilities. The ranch provides the perfect care in the perfect surroundings — comfortable, tranquil, safe and secure — to guarantee that canine wellness is always a priority; as a result, successful recuperation and a return to normal life happen significantly faster than if a dog’s convalescence takes place elsewhere.
Wellness Care — Planning is Key
Ideally, if your dog is undergoing, or about to undergo, some sort of recuperation process, K9 Ranch will work with you to devise a Wellness Care Plan. The plan, of course, would be based on instructions your veterinarian has given you at the completion of whatever treatment your dog received. Ranch staff will, with your guidance, document in writing your dog’s care routine, to ensure that all medications, feedings, etc. are administered at the correct time of day, each day of his or her stay.
With the understanding that your dog’s specific requirements will form the foundation for the tailoring of your dog’s individual Wellness Care Plan, here is a sample routine, just to give you an idea of K9 Ranch’s attention to detail and meticulous level of care:
- 7:00 a.m. — Supervised walk outside. Notation of urine and faeces.
- 7:30 a.m. — Administer medication.
- 8:00 a.m. — Feed. Note appetite and water consumption.
- 8:30 a.m. — Attend to special needs: grooming, bathing, checking of wounds and surgical sites. Assist with range of motion exercises, etc.
- 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Observe. Notation of any specific problems or concerns.
- 11:00 a.m. — Supervised walk outside. Notation of urine and faeces.
- 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Monitor.
- 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. — Administer medication. Supervised walk outside. Notation of urine and faeces. Attend to special needs: checking of wounds and surgical sites.
- 5:30 p.m. — Feed. Note appetite and water consumption.
- 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. — Monitor.
- 10:00 p.m. — Supervised walk outside. Notation of urine and faeces.
- 11:30 p.m. — Administer medication.
A Shared Objective
K9 Ranch staff understand that you want your beloved dog to return to you as soon as possible once his or her recuperation is complete — in the best possible health and full of enthusiasm for life to get back to normal. K9 Ranch staff want the same thing. They understand that there is something profoundly heartbreaking about a dog going through an illness or suffering from an injury: for these four-legged children feel the same pains as humans do but are unable to properly express their feelings. As a result, there is a huge sense of satisfaction experienced when a dog is helped through the recovery process by K9 Ranch Wellness Care, and by the loving attention that is its fundamental feature.
To discuss your dog’s special needs and to obtain more information on how Wellness Care can provide significant comfort for both you and your dog at a difficult time, feel free to contact K9 Ranch either by phone or e-mail.
SAVE MY SANITY
We understand that life can get complicated…and you can’t always keep up. One way to deal with some of the complications of life is to have your four-legged responsibilities go on vacation, so you can have a break. K9 Ranch can help here.
Learn More about K9 Wellness Care