Last weekend, Ideal Pet Stop, Penny's home away from home, had a sidewalk sale to get rid of stuff that had been cluttering the back room. Penny and I helped out!
The weather on Saturday was unpredictable. Like so many spring days this year, it rained. We stayed inside, sorting the sidewalk sale items into boxes for birds, reptiles, small animals, cats, and dogs. The best easy deal was a $5 retractable leash. If you had time to rummage through a box, you could find a $5 leash or collar. There were great deals in that box: original prices ranged from $15 - 55.
Today, Kirstin gave me my portion of the sale: $545. We are so close to meeting the goal of $23oo for her second surgery. We may do another sale or I might have a bake sale.
I wouldn't mind if we earned a bit more than $2300. It would be lovely for Penny to have a few aquatherapy sessions.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Penny gets to leap and play
Penny and I had an appointment with Dr. Walker and decided to hold off the surgery on the right leg. First, she still has lots of atrophied muscle on her left leg. Second, she's not limping that badly. Third, it's summer in Seattle.
Of course, it's raining cats and dogs and we still need to use the furnace, but it's June! I'm looking forward to hikes and other outings with my beautiful red dog. We'll schedule surgery once she starts limping constantly.
Of course, it's raining cats and dogs and we still need to use the furnace, but it's June! I'm looking forward to hikes and other outings with my beautiful red dog. We'll schedule surgery once she starts limping constantly.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Penny walks Greenlake
Every month, I try to meet with three other women who took the UW's Marketing Communications certificate program at the same time I did -- over ten years ago. We meet on the first Sunday of the month. Generally. There are times when it was too rainy, my back hurt too much, or when life became too busy for all of us. But we meet at 10 am, walk around Greenlake and catch up.
This past week was the first Sunday of the month. We all could make it at the regular time. I was looking forward to it.
Penny woke me up at 4:30. She really had to pee, she whined. Now, I know that as the Alpha I decide when we get up, but I could tell that this girlie really needed to pee. I touched her belly -- it was hard. So I slipped on my fleece-covered crocs and threw a coat over my flannel pjs (I am still wearing them even though it's April), grabbed her and her leash and we headed out.
After she did her "bidness", I went back to bed. I don't like to get up before 6. Penny zonked too. Next thing I know it was 9:45!
I threw clothes on, grabbed Pennny, and called Tina as I was walking out the door. There was no way I could stop at Ideal Pet Stop and still be at Greenlake anywhere near the time. So, I decided to take her with me.
And you know what? She did just fine. She started out a little surly, forgetting appropriate behavior for dogs walking around Greenlake. Rules include no snarling, lunging, or barking, even at the most irresistable looking fox terriers and pitbull pups. After she relearned the rules, we had fun walking. Of course I couldn't carry on a conversation -- that was when she'd start to act up (we will again work on this). But, she walked and barely limped, even the day after the outing. Yay! That means we can take luxorious walks, not only around Greenlake and Seward Park, but maybe do short hikes.
We do have an appointment with Dr. Walker tomorrow to see if we should continue the recovery process or whether she is ready for her second surgery. It would be really fun to have her active in the summer; on the other hand, it would be nice to get this over with.
This past week was the first Sunday of the month. We all could make it at the regular time. I was looking forward to it.
Penny woke me up at 4:30. She really had to pee, she whined. Now, I know that as the Alpha I decide when we get up, but I could tell that this girlie really needed to pee. I touched her belly -- it was hard. So I slipped on my fleece-covered crocs and threw a coat over my flannel pjs (I am still wearing them even though it's April), grabbed her and her leash and we headed out.
After she did her "bidness", I went back to bed. I don't like to get up before 6. Penny zonked too. Next thing I know it was 9:45!
I threw clothes on, grabbed Pennny, and called Tina as I was walking out the door. There was no way I could stop at Ideal Pet Stop and still be at Greenlake anywhere near the time. So, I decided to take her with me.
And you know what? She did just fine. She started out a little surly, forgetting appropriate behavior for dogs walking around Greenlake. Rules include no snarling, lunging, or barking, even at the most irresistable looking fox terriers and pitbull pups. After she relearned the rules, we had fun walking. Of course I couldn't carry on a conversation -- that was when she'd start to act up (we will again work on this). But, she walked and barely limped, even the day after the outing. Yay! That means we can take luxorious walks, not only around Greenlake and Seward Park, but maybe do short hikes.
We do have an appointment with Dr. Walker tomorrow to see if we should continue the recovery process or whether she is ready for her second surgery. It would be really fun to have her active in the summer; on the other hand, it would be nice to get this over with.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
A late spring evening
As I sit here, typing this, Penny is lying at my feet, breathing heavy on Rick's fir floors. She is tuckered out. We spent the day at Ideal, me getting trained on ringing the cash register, while she lay panting on her circle bed.
After we left Ideal, we went over to Rick's for salmon and a salad. But first, I thought I'd read a bit of the War of Art in Rick's patio, called the Duwamish Room. It's a cement brick floor with an arbor of grape vines above, furnished with rustic furniture. In my mind's eye, I saw Penny lying at my feet like she does inside a house. So, knowing that Dr. Walker said that she couldn't hurt the plates in her leg, I thought I'd let her off leash.
She became a whirling dervish. Running, moving. jumping. She wouldn't listen to me. I just let her go. She never did sit beside me on the patio. But, she did slow down enough to roll on the grass, dig a few holes, and get a little dirty.
We'll see how she feels tomorrow.
After we left Ideal, we went over to Rick's for salmon and a salad. But first, I thought I'd read a bit of the War of Art in Rick's patio, called the Duwamish Room. It's a cement brick floor with an arbor of grape vines above, furnished with rustic furniture. In my mind's eye, I saw Penny lying at my feet like she does inside a house. So, knowing that Dr. Walker said that she couldn't hurt the plates in her leg, I thought I'd let her off leash.
She became a whirling dervish. Running, moving. jumping. She wouldn't listen to me. I just let her go. She never did sit beside me on the patio. But, she did slow down enough to roll on the grass, dig a few holes, and get a little dirty.
We'll see how she feels tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Stairs again
I changed my appointment with Dr. Walker from next week to this week to see if any serious damage was done to Penny's knee. So, Penny and I went to see her today. She was charming as usual (and laughing at Penny's reaction to the coyotes that are marking the area around the house. Penny doesn't want to go up the bike trail anymore.)
The vet staff took x-rays and Dr. Walker came in to show them to me. We even got to compare the current x ray to the one that was taken when we found out about the hairline fracture to the original one. Penny's leg looks great in terms of the bone. Where the bone had been blocky from the surgery, it's now filled out. And the fracture hasn't shifted, which also could have happened with this sort of complication.
Penny is released to do nearly all activities -- slowly. Still no off leash time, but that hasn't mattered to me. But, we'll again increase the amount of time she's walking (we quit trying to get her to walk in the coyote infested area once she injured herself playing.) What this really means is that I get to sleep in my own bed again, not on cushions next to the X pen. Yippee! I can also have people over without having to explain about the dog, the X pen, the surgery.... The X pen does take up the majority of the walking space in the living room.
In three weeks, I am supposed to check in with Dr. Walker by phone and if all is well, she'll be released to be off leash for 5 minutes increasing to more. Since her come command is still one of her weakest, Rick suggested just having her on a longer leash while we once again work on her come.
Since Penny's been on a diet, she's become more food focused. Maybe that will help with the come command! I am sure I will have more to report on THAT!
The vet staff took x-rays and Dr. Walker came in to show them to me. We even got to compare the current x ray to the one that was taken when we found out about the hairline fracture to the original one. Penny's leg looks great in terms of the bone. Where the bone had been blocky from the surgery, it's now filled out. And the fracture hasn't shifted, which also could have happened with this sort of complication.
Penny is released to do nearly all activities -- slowly. Still no off leash time, but that hasn't mattered to me. But, we'll again increase the amount of time she's walking (we quit trying to get her to walk in the coyote infested area once she injured herself playing.) What this really means is that I get to sleep in my own bed again, not on cushions next to the X pen. Yippee! I can also have people over without having to explain about the dog, the X pen, the surgery.... The X pen does take up the majority of the walking space in the living room.
In three weeks, I am supposed to check in with Dr. Walker by phone and if all is well, she'll be released to be off leash for 5 minutes increasing to more. Since her come command is still one of her weakest, Rick suggested just having her on a longer leash while we once again work on her come.
Since Penny's been on a diet, she's become more food focused. Maybe that will help with the come command! I am sure I will have more to report on THAT!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
More setbacks
Penny has been so calm and accommodating when I ask her to get in her pen or walk slow that you can forget that she's a young dog with a drive that causes her to forget about pain when she gets going.
I try to outsmart her when I see signs of her getting excited. But, I haven't been good at reminding others that she needs to be kept quiet and heal.
On Tuesday, I have class. It's a 10 week class from 6 - 9:45 pm. It's nice to have a structured event. For the past two weeks, I had feldenkrais method physical therapist at 3:30-5, which doesn't leave me time to pick up Penny. The first week, Rick picked up Penny. Two days ago, another friend offered to take her.
While I was at class, this friend went to another friend's house who has a dog that Penny adores. They let Penny run free with this dog, not for five minutes, not for 10 minutes, but for about an hour. When I heard, I was apprehensive, but said we'd see what happened in the morning. Penny seemed all right, but the leg grew more wobbly as the day went on. When I saw the leg, I was sickened. Penny doesn't act comfortable on it.
All of this time, all of this money, potentially wasted. I cried in the car. Penny cried the next night. I gave her pain killers. She got diarrhea. I don't know whether it was the painkillers, the nontypical food, or just being out of her routine that caused her tummy to flare up again.
I blame myself. I am ultimately responsible for her. This friend knows about Penny's surgery and has been invaluable in her help in Penny's recovery. She's not stupid -- she just made a spur of the moment decision, which was bad. She was not thinking, which we all do once in a while. And, Penny did enjoy herself. But, I know the consequences. Penny doesn't tie the pain and the jumping around together. So she is suffering.
Once again, she is fasting. I will feed her turkey, rice, spinach, and cottage cheese tomorrow if she doesn't have any more diarrhea. She's hungry and wanting to eat everything.
I will take her to the doc if her diarrhea continues past tomorrow. I will make an appointment with the surgeon if her leg doesn't look better by Monday.
On a positive note, another friend sent a check toward Penny's surgery. I am blessed by people's generosity.
I try to outsmart her when I see signs of her getting excited. But, I haven't been good at reminding others that she needs to be kept quiet and heal.
On Tuesday, I have class. It's a 10 week class from 6 - 9:45 pm. It's nice to have a structured event. For the past two weeks, I had feldenkrais method physical therapist at 3:30-5, which doesn't leave me time to pick up Penny. The first week, Rick picked up Penny. Two days ago, another friend offered to take her.
While I was at class, this friend went to another friend's house who has a dog that Penny adores. They let Penny run free with this dog, not for five minutes, not for 10 minutes, but for about an hour. When I heard, I was apprehensive, but said we'd see what happened in the morning. Penny seemed all right, but the leg grew more wobbly as the day went on. When I saw the leg, I was sickened. Penny doesn't act comfortable on it.
All of this time, all of this money, potentially wasted. I cried in the car. Penny cried the next night. I gave her pain killers. She got diarrhea. I don't know whether it was the painkillers, the nontypical food, or just being out of her routine that caused her tummy to flare up again.
I blame myself. I am ultimately responsible for her. This friend knows about Penny's surgery and has been invaluable in her help in Penny's recovery. She's not stupid -- she just made a spur of the moment decision, which was bad. She was not thinking, which we all do once in a while. And, Penny did enjoy herself. But, I know the consequences. Penny doesn't tie the pain and the jumping around together. So she is suffering.
Once again, she is fasting. I will feed her turkey, rice, spinach, and cottage cheese tomorrow if she doesn't have any more diarrhea. She's hungry and wanting to eat everything.
I will take her to the doc if her diarrhea continues past tomorrow. I will make an appointment with the surgeon if her leg doesn't look better by Monday.
On a positive note, another friend sent a check toward Penny's surgery. I am blessed by people's generosity.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A setback
Penny saw Dr. Walker today. She got a new x ray that showed a crack in her tibial crest. This is the location that the patella tendon attaches to, although the tendon attaches to the entire length of the crest and Penny's crack is about a quarter of the way down.
According to Dr. Walker, this is a not an uncommon complication. And, with Penny's weight (!) and her bilateral deterioration, it is not out of the ordinary. She probably didn't injure it by hopping up and down (although we should keep her quiet for another 6 weeks), but because she probably put too much weight too quickly on it.
I can start walking her for a 5 minutes a few times a day, increasing the time with every week. By the time I see Dr. Walker again, Penny should be up to 20-30 minutes. Of course, if she seems sore, I am supposed to back off.
Regarding her weight, she could stand to lose 5 lbs. In healthy dogs, ribs should be able to be felt easily and Penny has a few extra lbs. Once I start walking her frequently, I am sure this weight will melt off. :)
So the Xpen will continue to be a part of the living room decor. And, we won't talk about the other leg until she is comfortable on this one. We'll get another x ray in 6 weeks.
According to Dr. Walker, this is a not an uncommon complication. And, with Penny's weight (!) and her bilateral deterioration, it is not out of the ordinary. She probably didn't injure it by hopping up and down (although we should keep her quiet for another 6 weeks), but because she probably put too much weight too quickly on it.
I can start walking her for a 5 minutes a few times a day, increasing the time with every week. By the time I see Dr. Walker again, Penny should be up to 20-30 minutes. Of course, if she seems sore, I am supposed to back off.
Regarding her weight, she could stand to lose 5 lbs. In healthy dogs, ribs should be able to be felt easily and Penny has a few extra lbs. Once I start walking her frequently, I am sure this weight will melt off. :)
So the Xpen will continue to be a part of the living room decor. And, we won't talk about the other leg until she is comfortable on this one. We'll get another x ray in 6 weeks.
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