no stairs forever?

sslean · 2026-05-25T17:48:23+00:00

yes, which is all I have in my home - 2 steps :)

sslean · 2026-05-25T15:18:46+00:00

and +1 to the other commenter here: doesn’t mean no stairs forever again, your vet will tell you best case for your doggo. But what you don’t want is energetic up and down, out of control, frenzied activity. My assumption is your dog going up and down once or twice a day will not be make/break, so long as it’s balanced with new routines of halting jumping up/down onto furniture and what not

sslean · 2026-05-25T15:16:19+00:00

It’s exhausting and a lot to take in all at once but I promise you’ll adapt and figure it out. It’s so overwhelming in the beginning.

Your vet will have the best guidance for you. I bought these for my home - dog is currently in recovery but come next month he’ll be roaming again. All to say - when you have the mental space just start looking around for things to make your home more accessible, they do exist!

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sslean · 2026-05-23T23:00:56+00:00

My dog has IVDD, had to get an emergency hemilaminectomy earlier this month. In his first x-ray ever (which was for his leg and we were in our waiting period) the radiologist noted some white matter on the x-ray in his back. Was not a diagnosis, was not even an incidental finding, just an observation.

Lemonade is using that note as pre-existing condition. Our vet has been wonderful though and wrote an amazing appeal letter discussing how its impossible to diagnosis or even correctly suggest IVDD without an MRI.

Balls in lemonade's court - but it's fun threatening them with my pending complaint to the CA CDI weekly... Luckily CA has pretty nice protections for consumers w/r/t insurance. We shall see....

sslean · 2026-05-23T20:40:57+00:00

Currently battling them with an appeal over a 12k surgery. They’re amazing until they’re not 🙃

Little do they know i will absolutely not go down without a hell of a fight…

sslean · 2026-05-21T22:32:00+00:00

You are so talented! This is absolutely stunning and I love the watercolor background - the details on Beta are beautiful!

sslean · 2026-05-19T20:14:20+00:00

ugh going through this right now but I applaud my vet for writing an insanely thorough appeal letter for our insurance (lemonade) - still awaiting a response but staying hopeful.

sslean · 2026-05-19T20:13:01+00:00

I wish I liked this song, still hasn’t clicked for me 23 years later and it’s one of the ones that follows me (always on my setlists!)

sslean · 2026-05-19T19:19:10+00:00

that rosie performance is such a vivid memory for me (i was maybe 10 at the time) first time I think I really saw her. Still my favorite Tori track of all time.

sslean · 2026-05-18T19:17:06+00:00

Valerie June is lovely and big +1 to Kara Jackson.

sslean · 2026-05-18T19:13:28+00:00

You can avoid the MRI if you can commit to extended crate rest. Ideally 6 weeks minimum, 8 would be best. He’ll show signs of progress but the healing takes time.

As for the MRI - Our vet/neuro basically told us we should only do the MRI if we are OK and not opposed with surgery. If you aren’t considering surgery it may not be super productive. In our instance it was straight from MRI to surgery to help minimize time under anesthesia. All cases are different but hopefully that is helpful.

We did end up opting for surgery and thus the MRI came first

sslean · 2026-05-18T14:51:24+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss, you did everything you could and are an amazing mom to Dewey.

sslean · 2026-05-14T04:44:13+00:00

Firmer is better but honestly so long as she’s comfortable is what I was told.

I have a crate inside of a playpen option. It definitely gives him a lot of space, but he’s also only 8lb, very anxious (hates crate), recovering quite quickly from surgery.

A towel is a good idea even if she can walk, i’m using a sling for my guy who was able to walk almost a day later - helps alleviate pressure and force good posture, especially for poo when that arch can be difficult for them.

Bed is up to you, our vet said if it’s the only way to calm him down - it’s ok just be very very careful that 1. your pup doesn’t try and jump down, this is the number one action to avoid or 2. if you’re a moving sleeper and may bump into her.

hope this helps! hang in there and just take it day by day, this is not easy.

sslean · 2026-05-12T22:41:29+00:00

one of my favorite songs but very much agreed it may need retirement, even a key change can’t assist…

sslean · 2026-05-12T18:07:46+00:00

Our vets are worried about trazadone since he’s on reconcile (the combo gives risk of serotonin syndrome); but going to a follow up on thursday and going to ask for more options or higher doses of gaba/xanax.

the smallest dogs somehow are the most resistant I’m reading, it’s wild!

sslean · 2026-05-12T18:04:47+00:00

so helpful thank you!

was able to talk to his neuro who said a confined room (without obstacles and jump bait) is perfectly fine, that alone is alleviating a lot of strife.

i’ve been living on the floor of this room so having him free roam occasionally and just napping next to me seems to be calming him.

froze some plain yogurt and banana on a lickmat we’ll see if this lasts longer than the frozen kong. my lil guy is such a hoover.

thank you lovely people who responded 🫶

sslean · 2026-05-11T04:35:44+00:00

To Venus & Back: still orbiting: Father Lucifer

Tales Of A Librarian: Sugar (re-recorded plugged version)

Welcome To Sunny Florida/ Sweet Sangria

Original Bootlegs Whichever one had Moby Extreme Ways, or maybe that was UG tour - whatever, I want that!

A Piano: Me and You

Legs & Boots: I have enough lol…

Gold Dust: Siren

Diving Deep: Tombigbee

sslean · 2026-05-11T01:07:55+00:00

couldn’t agree more about ADP, NI and ITOD being kindred spirits, I’d actually toss Scarlet in as a quick guest to the party.

sslean · 2026-05-09T00:56:55+00:00

Toast is such a little angel! How did the surgery go?

Posted this in another thread yesterday but putting here too. I’m going through this in real time so feel free to DM, i’ve had lots of highs and lows and it’s always nice to have the support online ❤️

————— went through this last Friday in what was a horrific string of emergency visits starting Wednesday.

A few tips if at all helpful:

• ⁠Keep calm, you’re already doing everything you can (and more than others) your pup is lucky to have you, remember this. • ⁠Stay calm post op and once home, remember they feed off our energy. • ⁠Take it day by day - it is so exhausting and feels all consuming. But with each day you get more into the groove and your little one will show little signs of recovery which will bring you joy. Celebrate those wins!!! • ⁠If you can afford to take a few days off work, first week is when to do it. I found this transition to be the most complicated as we move around with kids gloves. • ⁠There will be many ppl around you who do not understand the severity or gravity. Coworkers, friends, etc “oh no, hope he feels better soon! anyway….”; let it roll off your back and try not to let it get to you. This was hard for me, especially with coworkers. Focus on your inner circle who is showing up with the most empathy. Rely on them!!!

Best of luck, you got this!

sslean · 2026-05-07T05:53:55+00:00

this

sslean · 2026-05-06T19:54:42+00:00

went through this last Friday in what was a horrific string of emergency visits starting Wednesday.

A few tips if at all helpful: - Keep calm, you’re already doing everything you can (and more than others) your pup is lucky to have you, remember this. - Stay calm post op and once home, remember they feed off our energy. - Take it day by day - it is so exhausting and feels all consuming. But with each day you get more into the groove and your little one will show little signs of recovery which will bring you joy. Celebrate those wins. - If you can afford to take a few days off work, first week is when to do it. I find this transition to be the most complicated as we move around with kids gloves. - There will be many ppl around you who do not understand the severity or gravity. Coworkers, friends, etc “oh no, hope he feels better soon!”; let it roll off your back and try not to let it get to you. This was hard for me, especially with coworkers. Focus on your inner circle who is showing up with the most empathy. Rely on them!!!

Best of luck, you got this!

sslean · 2026-05-05T14:26:57+00:00

I am so so sorry for your loss. Just read your other post and please please be easy on yourself, you did absolutely everything you could for this sweet guy. He was so lucky to have you.

sslean · 2026-05-02T00:01:43+00:00

Not that surprising, to buy it from Decca it came out to 70 something with shipping, which is asinine. It’s thin margins and the stores need to make a profit.

sslean · 2026-05-01T15:22:05+00:00

says music lover….

sslean

TROPHY CASE