Another Sparks Problem-Getting Up From His Bed

[Wonder]

Sparks can't use his left, rear leg so trying to get up, he struggles and has fallen and thunked his hip twice.

Yes, I can help him up if I know he's getting up but he's trying when I'm not in the room or when I'm sleeping. I do try to listen and I run over to him if hear him moving around but he's already fallen twice.

 

I think it's hard for him to get up from this bed. It's a square Costco bed.

 

Any suggestions? Do I try another bed?

I'm going to put a few rugs around his bed so that it's not slippery on the floor.

 

I can't use blankets, too slippery

 

I just remembered that I have a crib mattress in my room so I'm going to see if that works better.

 

 

 

[rascalsmom]

No suggestions, just

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

Morgan had more trouble with thicker beds. He had better luck with a 2" thick foam type bed in the end. We did add a blanket to it. You said the blanket was slippery. Is that because of the wood floors? Could you put a large area rug under the bedding area? We have wall-to-wall carpet so we didn't have that issue.

[krissn333]

Kari, see if the crib mattress helps I have a large rectangular bed that is pretty firm and about the size of a crib mattress...it definitely was easier for Sutra to stand up from laying down and also to get situated on the way to laying down when using that big bed

[Guest Adrianne]

Oh Kari, I am so sorry Sparks is having such a tough time. A couple things I learned from Wilbur & Larry: Wilbur could get up pretty good, but he couldn't get back down. His broken leg was useless, and as he circled, it would twist around his good leg and trip him up. We had to lay him down to prevent this. So I HAD to know when he was getting up, even in the middle of the night. I put his collar on him (3 or 4 tags, so lots of jingling) at night when I would lie down to sleep. The noise of him getting up and moving around always woke me up. I couldn't stop him from getting up (and goodness knows there were times I wished I could--tramadol made him very very restless, so the few days he was on that saw him up & down, up & down a dozen times an hour; my back was killing me), but I could be aware of when he was up.

 

With Larry, I learned the value of the 5x7 area rug. Non-slip backing--it ain't pretty, but it is extremely useful. Perhaps one of these under his bed, so he won't slip on the floor. You can find them cheap at WalMart.

 

 

[Wonder]

Thank you all!!

 

I do have the crib matress down. He's not impressed with it at all but he's laying on it.

 

Adrianne- he won't lay down unless I help him so thank goodness for that! And I'll dig up some tags to add to his collar. I haven't slept much in the last 2 nights (not complainingI) because I keep 1 ear open. Im still sleeping on the couch with a tv on so that I can see right away and he's just steps from me in the living room. My back is killing me from sleeping on the couch since the beginning of Oct but I'll keep doing it for him.

[krissn333]

Kari, I posted this in the ABT too but if you find yourself in need of multiple crib mattresses, Walmart has one for $36...and I'm off to buy one right now for Ace

 

Be sure to take care of yourself too, girl!

[Guest Adrianne]

Thank you all!!

 

I do have the crib matress down. He's not impressed with it at all but he's laying on it.

 

Adrianne- he won't lay down unless I help him so thank goodness for that! And I'll dig up some tags to add to his collar. I haven't slept much in the last 2 nights (not complainingI) because I keep 1 ear open. Im still sleeping on the couch with a tv on so that I can see right away and he's just steps from me in the living room. My back is killing me from sleeping on the couch since the beginning of Oct but I'll keep doing it for him.

 

 

I can still remember the exhaustion and how hopeless I would sometimes feel after not sleeping well for several days. One good night's sleep was worth more to me back then than all the gold in the world. I could think more clearly. I felt ready again to deal with whatever we had to face. Is there anyone you could call on to sit with Sparks for a single night just to give you some uninterrupted sleep?

[Guest kar]

Hope that Sparks and you are feeing better soon. You are in my thoughts and prayers. White light coming your way.

[Wonder]

Kari, I posted this in the ABT too but if you find yourself in need of multiple crib mattresses, Walmart has one for $36...and I'm off to buy one right now for Ace

 

Be sure to take care of yourself too, girl!

 

 

Thanks.

I have 1 more crib mattress (benefit from working at the preg clinic, they threw a lot of them out) and 1 foam mattress but I think that isn't firm enough.

 

 

I can still remember the exhaustion and how hopeless I would sometimes feel after not sleeping well for several days. One good night's sleep was worth more to me back then than all the gold in the world. I could think more clearly. I felt ready again to deal with whatever we had to face. Is there anyone you could call on to sit with Sparks for a single night just to give you some uninterrupted sleep?

 

I don't think I could sleep until he's more pain free. I know you know what I mean.

Thank you though- I'll be able to sleep better this weekend.

 

Hope that Sparks and you are feeing better soon. You are in my thoughts and prayers. White light coming your way.

 

Thank you Karen

 

Morgan had more trouble with thicker beds. He had better luck with a 2" thick foam type bed in the end. We did add a blanket to it. You said the blanket was slippery. Is that because of the wood floors? Could you put a large area rug under the bedding area? We have wall-to-wall carpet so we didn't have that issue.

 

I did just put down a rug so thanks for the reminder to do that.

At this point, I don't want anything on the bed for his feet or legs to get tangled in.

 

No suggestions, just

 

 

Thank you. I really need the hugs too.

[Guest bigorangedog]

 

I can still remember the exhaustion and how hopeless I would sometimes feel after not sleeping well for several days. One good night's sleep was worth more to me back then than all the gold in the world. I could think more clearly. I felt ready again to deal with whatever we had to face. Is there anyone you could call on to sit with Sparks for a single night just to give you some uninterrupted sleep?

 

I don't think I could sleep until he's more pain free. I know you know what I mean.

Thank you though- I'll be able to sleep better this weekend.

 

I know the no-sleep gig well too. It's no fun. If you think he wouldn't be too stressed here, I'd be more than happy to take him for the night. Heck, he's welcome to sleep in the human bed. Everyone else does! Bedroom has a sliding door that is ramped to the yard.

[Wonder]

Thanks Jen but I can't bear to not be with him- have room for me and 5 hounds?

[kamsmom]

Kari, I'm sorry that Sparks is having so much trouble Hopefully the beds will be the trick for both of you. Hope you both get some good sleep tonight.

[krissn333]

Kari - he might come around to liking the crib mattress eventually. It took Sutra a little while for the similarly sized bed to be his bed of choice. I had to place him on it over and over for a few days and then he realized "hey, this thing is comfortable!"

[brandimom]

Just adding my prayers for Sparks and hugs for you.

[carronstar]

No real advice other than moving your own mattress to the floor for both of you to sleep on (but I am sure you already thought of that). Just lots of hugs and good thoughts and prayers for both of you. It is so hard when they are in pain.

[Remolacha]

 

hope you at least get a break with the weather.

[Wonder]

No real advice other than moving your own mattress to the floor for both of you to sleep on (but I am sure you already thought of that). Just lots of hugs and good thoughts and prayers for both of you. It is so hard when they are in pain.

 

My mattress has been on the floor for 3 years already

[Guest kelli123]

When our boy had osteo in his rear leg and could not get comfortable, we bought a full size air bed for him. It worked out great . He had lots of room to lay out and move around i kept it pretty firm. I also sleep with him and keep a eye on him . Praying things get a little better for you both

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

I was just wondering how Sparks was doing...

[RaineysMom]

sorry I missed this :(

 

how is he doing? :grouphug :hope

[Wonder]

He's doing well- eating really well

I made a 14 lb turkey over the weekend so he's chowing on that.

 

The cramp or whatever it is, hasn't happened since. Or at least not when I've been home.

 

It rained yesterday so it's ice today. I've taken him outside twice and been super careful.

 

Thanks for asking.

 

 

[Guest greytbookert]

Thanks for the update Kari!

 

Good boy Sparks... keep eating!

[mychip1]

Thoughts and prayers for you, Keri. He is blessed to be so loved.

[Guest greytfulhounds]

Do you have an x-pen? Maybe putting the x-pen up around him at night would keep him safe while you try to get some sleep. I was also thinking, would putting something like a yoga mat or rubber back mat under the bed keep it from sliding?

 

Having just lost my Danny to osteo in October & currently going through LP tie-back recovery with my Hunter I understand your situation. I have been sleeping on the sofa it seems forever & I awake at every noise & breath. My x-pen has been a great help at times.

 

Sending thoughts & prayers to you & your boy.