Retirement

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Jamie
This peanut therapy ball is part of Risa's ongoing rehab.

This peanut therapy ball is part of Risa’s ongoing rehab.

Risa has been free from confinement for 2.5 weeks now and has had two physical therapy appointments. I’ve been doing a lot of her therapy at home spending about a half hour twice a day doing massage, stretches, and various exercises to strengthen her body and help her move better and pain free. She’s back on three pain meds after I stopped the muscle relaxer and weaned her off the nerve pain med. She seemed painful again on just the two pain meds and the return of cold weather hasn’t helped so she’s back on the gabapentin (just twice a day instead of three times). I’m hoping to get her on just two pain medications for long-term pain management. At her age, it’s unlikely that physical therapy will be enough to keep her pain free. Ideally, I’d like to have her on the Novox long term and just use the gabapentin as needed. Once the warm weather finally sticks around, I think she’ll be okay with less pain management. The cold really seems to affect her negatively and I hear that’s not uncommon. 🙁

She’s still doing really well. Last night was our first official training session since I called it quits mid-January. I carried her into the basement training space (she can’t do long sets of stairs anymore) and she was ELATED to be back down there. I kept things very low-key and easy for her since it’s been so long and she’s still recovering. I could tell she wanted to do more but I didn’t want her to overdo it. She was exhausted afterward.

I discussed her long-term prognosis with her physical therapy vet at her appointment on Monday. Much to our dismay, the doctor recommended avoiding activities that involve running and lots of twists and turning. It’s with a very heavy heart that I’m pretty much retiring her from canine freestyle. I already had to retire her from lure coursing but I was hoping we might be able to keep freestyle and Rally Free. Unfortunately, it looks like those activities might be too taxing on her body and put her at risk of reinjury. My heart is crushed. This was our first sport. The first one we tried. Where we first stepped foot into the competition ring. Our favorite thing to do together. The sport where our bond together was palpable. Where she smiled and grinned from nose to tail from start to finish. Done. Just like that. No fanfare. No reflection on the journey. . .just over. I’m crushed but I know it’s in her best interest to hang up her dancing shoes competitively. It’s possible I could choreograph a routine with movements she’s still cleared to do but it’d be difficult and I’m not sure I want to put that pressure on us. She loves freestyle and, despite her issues, is the type of dog who will do it because I asked her to not necessarily because she wants to (or can). In this case, the problem is that she does still want to. Her body just isn’t going to be capable of doing it anymore. As is the case with lure coursing, I can’t ask her to do something that might put her quality of life in jeopardy. I think we’ll still dance for fun in a very modified form. But her competitive journey in freestyle and Rally Free is probably over. 🙁

Fortunately, her vet thinks she should still be okay to compete in obedience and rally if she wants to. I have two titles in progress in both sports. She has one leg towards her Preferred Novice in AKC obedience and one leg towards her Novice title in ASCA rally. My goal at this point is to finish those titles this year and retire her. We’re starting a class in nosework later this month and I think she’s really going to enjoy that. It’s a great sport for dogs who are reactive, injured, or aging. Risa fits all three! She also loves to use her nose so I think this will be a good fit for her. I’m unsure if we’ll ever attempt to compete in a trial in nosework (or in barn hunt which she has also enjoyed). I just want to keep her mind and body active as she ages since she’s always enjoyed participating in various activities with me.

Depending on how she does in regards to recovery and other factors, this may very well be her last year in competition. I knew it was coming but I hadn’t expected it just yet. However, with her serious back injury, it has to come soon. It’s been an incredible ride trialing with this dog. A dog who, for all intents and purposes, shouldn’t have been as successful as she was. We’ve struggled with her fears, dog reactivity, focus, and just training things! I have learned so much and we’ve both come so far. We’re not ready for it to end but the end is definitely near. It’s sad, for sure. But we have so much to be proud of and happy for. I’ll try and keep that in mind moreso than sadness that comes with knowing we’re nearing the end of what has been a fun and challenging journey.

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” –Charlie Chaplin

Posted in AKC, ASCA, Back Problems, Barn Hunt, Dog Sports, IVDD, Laser Treatment, Lure Coursing, Nosework, Obedience, Physical Therapy, Rally, Rally Free, Reactivity, Training, Veterinarian | Tagged | Leave a comment

Stop Being So Happy!

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Jamie
So happy to be free!

So happy to be free!

Risa’s 6 weeks of confinement are over and we couldn’t be happier. It wasn’t fun for either of us. Ris is a dog who likes to do things and I’m a person who likes to do things with her dog. It also feels like not having a dog when she’s stuck in a box. There are no random moments together; everything is by choice. She can’t just walk into the room to say “Hi.” She’s just there in that one spot. Always. Restricted. Choosing to interact with her was hard, too, as she tended to get overly excited about it which was counterproductive to her healing. I kept her entertained with food puzzle toys, bully sticks, and low-key training sessions but it wasn’t quite enough to keep my active girl happy.

Fortunately, it’s all behind us. I let her out Sunday morning. The first thing she did was empty the contents of her toy bin onto the floor and start playing. It’s only Tuesday and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve told her to relax, calm down, or take it easy. She hasn’t moved much in 6 weeks yet she’s perfectly content to race around the house, pounce on toys, spin like a whirling dervish, and bring me a tug toy to play with (I had to decline her offer). While she appears to be feeling great and I’m so so so so so happy to see my smiley face dog again, I don’t want her to overdo things and hurt herself. She is weak and uncoordinated and it would be easy for her to re-injure herself.

She may be free again but she’s still under restricted activity. No stairs. No opportunities to jump up onto furniture (my living room looks super stylish with boxes up on the couch). No walks. Limited access to the slippery floors in the kitchen. No roughhousing. No deliberate encouragement of crazy fun behavior (this is hard!). I have taken her for brief walks around the yard to sniff but she has yet to leave the house for adventures beyond the vet’s office. She’s no spring chicken and this was a serious injury she sustained. We need to be careful.

Fortunately, we start physical therapy on Friday to help her regain lost strength and stability. If she weren’t so afraid of going to the vet, I think she would really enjoy this. She already loves climbing on unstable objects and clicker games associated with it. She also likes to walk in the water. It’ll be interesting to see if she ever starts to look forward to her visits there. She’s already absolutely sick of going to our regular vet’s office. We’ve been to so many veterinarians over the past three months it’s no small wonder. It will be nice to finally be able to take her other places again. It broke my heart to see how excited she was to leave the house only to arrive at the scary stressful vet’s office!

I’m hopeful we’re finally on our way to happy days ahead. I’ve missed my dog so much. Whatever the future holds, I just want her to be happy and pain free.

Posted in Back Problems, Dog Sports, IVDD, Laser Treatment, Physical Therapy, Training, Veterinarian | Leave a comment

Ya Never Know

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Jamie
It's tough taking it easy so you can get better. Especially when you finally feel good again!

It’s tough taking it easy so you can get better. Especially when you finally feel good again!

Risa is 12 years old. She doesn’t need to sleep in a crate in the house; she gets free access. We have a fenced in yard so I don’t have to go outside with her to potty. Even if it’s cold out, it’s up to her to decide when to go and when to come back in. We do compete in dog sports so she’s comfortable in a crate and knows to wait for permission to exit. Though she’s a medium-sized dog and isn’t picked up often, she is comfortable with it when I have to lift her. We used to live together in various apartments so she’s comfortable pottying on leash and will pee on cue. I’ve also always just let her do her business on a schedule rather than waiting for her to let me know she needs to go so she’s used to knowing how long she has to hold it.

None of these things is particularly important to most people as far as training goes. Even to me, I tend to pay little attention to these aspects of Risa’s behavior. I have spent more time on her fearfulness, reactivity, and sports training. Right now, however, I’ve been made fully aware of just how important these little things are.

Risa is on strict crate rest due to her recently diagnosed back problem. She is not allowed to go down stairs, walk around, or move much at all. She is confined to an x-pen all day and goes outside only to potty. Potty breaks are done on leash and she has to be carried inside and out. I have never fully appreciated how well-trained she is in such mundane tasks.

When I open the door to the x-pen, she waits. I loop the leash around her head and she waits patiently for me to lift her. She rides calmly outside where I put her down and cue her to go pee. She pees immediately. When she’s done, I ask her to wait so I can pick her up again. Then I place her in the x-pen, remove the leash, and close the door. All those seemingly minor things I taught her in her youth have been a godsend.

It’s something to keep in mind when we own dogs. You may have a fenced-in back yard and not need to potty your dog on a leash. You may not compete in dog sports and decide you don’t need to teach your dog to be comfortable in a crate. Someday, however, those skills might come in handy!!!

Posted in Back Problems, Dog Sports, IVDD, Thoughts, Training | Leave a comment

Peace of Mind

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Jamie
Risa's not exactly thrilled with the new routine but it's what she needs to get better.

Risa’s not exactly thrilled with the new routine but it’s what she needs to get better.

I need answers. I wasn’t happy with what I was seeing with Risa. Despite being on various pain meds and having seen an orthopedic specialist, she still seemed to be getting worse. While I finally knew it was a back issue (not knees or hips), I still wasn’t sure what was going on. I did online research and everything I read made me think this was a herniated disc. I know I’m not a veterinarian and I certainly value their input when it comes to my pets’ health. But something wasn’t sitting right with me. I was noticing neurological changes in Risa that had me very worried. Even though our regular doctor didn’t seem to think there was anything to worry about.

Granted, I’m a worrier by nature (it’s no wonder Risa and I get along so well) and I’ve certainly worked myself into an anxious flurry over nothing before. But I’ve also disagreed with vets before, sought diagnosis elsewhere, and finally pinned down the problem.

Perhaps influenced by my anxiety, I like to learn about what I’m dealing with. When Ris was having gastrointestinal issues, I did all the research I could on them and consulted with friends who’d experienced similar issues. I went to that appointment with the new vet armed with information and a plan of action. That was 9 years ago and nothing has changed; I’m the exact same way now. I research and become informed so I can have a one-to-one conversation with my vet about what we think is best for my dog. I want to have a discussion about what’s going on. Pros and cons of treatment options, etc. And I don’t appreciate getting the brush off.

I had an appointment scheduled with our regular vet on Tuesday to discuss the changes I was seeing and possibly just pretending she did have a herniated disc and treating her as if that’s what was going on. I had no intention of a surgical fix so an MRI confirming what was going on was not on my list of diagnostics. I had planned to do crate rest and meds and hope that it was enough to allow her body to heal. In fact, I came home from work on Friday and immediately put her on crate rest to avoid further injury. (Since no one had specifically told me “No stairs at all” or “No long walks” I hadn’t stopped her from doing those things.)

My anxiety and worry won, however. After several friends suggested seeing a neurologist or taking Risa to the local veterinary college, I decided I didn’t want to wait until Tuesday and have to argue my case with our regular vet. I already knew the college was booked out until mid-March on neuro consults so we’d have to be admitted as an emergency. Going on the weekend, I wouldn’t have to miss any more time at work. I called and discussed what was going on and they agreed she should be seen.

Risa about went crazy when I put her in the car she was so excited. She even fell off the seat which I didn’t want to see! The staff at the hospital was great and they were very good with Risa (and me, for what it’s worth!). They took a thorough history in addition to what I’d covered over the phone. The student did a physical on Risa and a couple quick neurological tests. Then she took Risa into the back for a more extensive battery of neurological exams to help pinpoint the problem. Without even seeing Risa’s x-rays (I showed them to both of them later), she knew where the problem was originating. She said there were three possible causes. The first was unlikely since Risa is neither a young dog nor a long and low dog. The second would be a tumor though neither the orthopedic vet nor the clinician we saw today saw any evidence of that on her x-rays. The third cause is intervertebral disc disease. The likely culprit. She recommended several additional medications and 6 weeks of crate rest. Exactly what I had anticipated.

Sure it was a bit out of my way and definitely more pricey than keeping our regular appointment on Tuesday. But neurologic issues shouldn’t wait. And, despite being on NSAIDs and a muscle relaxer, Risa was still in pain. I’m glad I took her. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me. I have answers. I have a plan. I should be able to stop the worry train in its tracks for now. 🙂

She’s not out of the woods yet. I still have to monitor her for adverse reactions to the meds or for paralysis. But I think she’ll be okay. She’s done with lure coursing for sure, though. I know how taxing that is on her back and I know she is incapable of controlling herself in the presence of those plastic bag bunnies. It’s just not worth the risk.

Posted in Back Problems, IVDD, Lure Coursing, Veterinarian | Leave a comment

Think Horses

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Jamie
Her orthopedic issues went from bad to worse after earning her RAE.

Her orthopedic issues went from bad to worse after earning her RAE.

Risa quickly deteriorated after earning her RAE at our club’s rally trial. While she’d been clearly sore and uncomfortable before, she was now downright miserable. She yelped in pain and her back muscles were tight. She struggled to get down off the bed even using the makeshift steps. She no longer followed me downstairs and moved gingerly around the house. Laser therapy and pain management with Tramadol had not helped alleviate her discomfort. I took her to get some acupuncture as well and her TCVM vet commented on how sore she was on the left side. After almost 2 weeks of having a lethargic, painful dog whose pitiful looks were breaking my heart; we finally saw an orthopedic specialist. X-rays revealed no arthritic knees as I had expected to see. In fact, Risa’s knees looked downright spectacular! Instead, it was clear her source of pain was a severely bad back. She has some arthritis in her lumbosacral area along with some spondylosis (small bone spurs on the vertebrae causing stiffness). The major problem, however, is in the vertebrae just where her ribcage ends. Where there is normally space and nice cushy cartilage. . .there is nothing. The two bones are smushed up against each other. This is the source of her pain and sinking rear. 🙁 She’s always had back problems; I should have foreseen this.

I was thrilled to finally have an answer. Unfortunately, this means an end to some of the things we enjoy together. There will be no more jumping competitively (I’m thankful we finished her RAE when we did!) and jumping will be limited as much as possible in her life. Stairs and anything requiring up and down movement of the back will also be challenging for her. Her immense joy racing after the lure may be over. She’s also going to have difficulty making tight turns which puts her future in freestyle and Rally Free in jeopardy. Once she’s feeling better, we should still be able to compete in obedience and continue with rally as long as we stay in the lower levels without jumps. Right now, however, this is all up in the air.

The source of Risa's pain and discomfort circled in red.

The source of Risa’s pain and discomfort circled in red.

Her competitive future, however, is less of a concern at the moment. While that is a thought weighing heavily on my mind (I’m not ready for her to retire!), the more pressing matter is getting her comfortable again. Then we can assess her future in dog sports. 🙂 Fortunately, she’s responded well to taking NSAIDs (Novox) and her spirits are high again. I had missed seeing my smiley face girl and her helicopter tail. Both have returned in full force even if her agility and rear end strength haven’t.

Right now, we’re just trying to figure out what therapies would be best to help her to return to form. She’s never going to be 100% again. At 12 years old with a back as bad as hers, that’s too optimistic to expect. She had a chiropractic adjustment this week and some deep muscle massage (her sides are still so tight) and I’ll have a Back on Track jacket for her to start wearing later this week. Next Tuesday, I have an appointment to talk with her regular veterinarian again to discuss treatment options aside from pain meds. Maybe laser therapy will still be an option now that we know the proper area to treat. I certainly will continue with chiropractic adjustments (the orthopedic vet thought they would be beneficial and Ris has always done well with chiropractic care for her back issues in the past) and add in acupuncture as needed. I just need to find a plan that works best for her with minimal stress (just going to the vet is a stressful event for her and she’s gone in so much as of late!). It still breaks my heart to see her like this even though she’s clearly feeling better. And I know change will not happen overnight. It’s frustrating seeing our beloved friends like this and not being able to help them find relief.

Posted in Acupuncture, Back Problems, Chiropractor, Dog Sports, Laser Treatment, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Training, Veterinarian | Leave a comment