Rick, Penny and I celebrated Valentine's day (and Rick and my anniversary) by spending the weekend on Whidbey Island. Penny got to go offleash a couple of times.
We went to Saratoga Woods for a hike. It's listed as a leash walk, but all the dogs that we saw were offleash. I couldn't see a reason for Penny to be the only dog on leash. So, she was unleashed and made friends with a Golden Lab named Charlie. They chased each other through the woods. But, Penny would stop to wait for us. Toward the end of the walk, Charlie vanished, but Penny stayed close to us. Putting her on her leash was easy.
We also went to Double Bluff park. About 500 feet out, it's a dog park where dogs can scamper about unleashed. Penny didn't meet any special friends, but still enjoyed playing in the sand. It was a little cold to play in the waves, although she wet her ankles a few time.
Penny was either pretending to be a cat or pretending to be a lion. When she saw a large dog, she'd crouch on her forarms and extend her neck watching. THen, she'd run at the dog, just like how a cat pounces on a mouse. Has she learned this from the cats? Or is this something that Rhodesian Ridgebacks do? I'll have to do some research.
On Monday, we went to Ebey's Landing. Penny stayed on a leash then. But she still had fun, even though we didn't let her to roll in some foul smelling matter.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Hydrotherapy with Penny
Lately, Penny approaches stairs from the side, which cause her to use more muscles to lift her body and I've noticed that her front elbows bend like she doesn't have all the strength necessary to lift her body to the stairs. So, I proposed hydrotherapy to Dr. Walker when I saw her for hopefully the last time. She said that hydrotherapy would be good for her and would help tone her. (I've also curtailed walking her as much ever since my physica therapist told me I had bunions. I am going to get that checked next week at the doctor's.) She also said that she'd enjoy it.
So, in talking to a woman from the MS Dog alias, she mentioned that she took her dog to PT after his two TPLO surgeries. (It's nice to know I am not alone.) She provided me with the names of the two places she used as well as to a link to the Association of Canine Water Therapy which lists their members and pools by geography. I read through the list and then read each of the therapists web sites and looked at their prices. I really liked how Rema Strauss wrote how she discovered the world of canine water therapy and how she continues to learn as she develops her clientele. She's also a lot less expensive than some of the other people. More than half as much as expensive. Plus, we full time guardians (I do not own Penny) can get into the water if we want, although she still want to do the supporting. I emailed her and we had a delightful conversation about Penny and her recovery. After that conversation, I felt comfortable with making an appointment to go out to Milton for hydrotherapy.
I guess I should explain about geography, too. Many of the well known hydrotherapists live in north Seattle or the East side and it's about 20 miles to go to them. So, when I find out that Milton was about 20 miles away, I thought "What the heck?"and made the appointment, knowing I'd have to drive about that far to go east or west.
I took pictures, but because the little pool is heated, all I saw was steam. Maybe I'll get some better pictures next week.
So, in talking to a woman from the MS Dog alias, she mentioned that she took her dog to PT after his two TPLO surgeries. (It's nice to know I am not alone.) She provided me with the names of the two places she used as well as to a link to the Association of Canine Water Therapy which lists their members and pools by geography. I read through the list and then read each of the therapists web sites and looked at their prices. I really liked how Rema Strauss wrote how she discovered the world of canine water therapy and how she continues to learn as she develops her clientele. She's also a lot less expensive than some of the other people. More than half as much as expensive. Plus, we full time guardians (I do not own Penny) can get into the water if we want, although she still want to do the supporting. I emailed her and we had a delightful conversation about Penny and her recovery. After that conversation, I felt comfortable with making an appointment to go out to Milton for hydrotherapy.
I guess I should explain about geography, too. Many of the well known hydrotherapists live in north Seattle or the East side and it's about 20 miles to go to them. So, when I find out that Milton was about 20 miles away, I thought "What the heck?"and made the appointment, knowing I'd have to drive about that far to go east or west.
I took pictures, but because the little pool is heated, all I saw was steam. Maybe I'll get some better pictures next week.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Latest ACCES visit
Penny got the green light from Dr. Walker, the surgeon at ACCES that has operated on Penny four times now! She can be without her cone, roam the house, and exercise as much as she wants. She can be off leash in a couple of weeks, after she's worked out a few times.
She has hydrotherapy scheduled for 11 am on Saturday morning. A few of these sessions will get her in tip top shape and may encourage me to get back in the water, too.
How did I pick her hydrotherapy pool and canine therapist? I guessed. A woman at work sent me a list of pools and treadmills in Washington and I looked at web sites and compared pool sizes, prices, and regulations. I wanted a pool where I could get in the water too, I wanted it to have wide steps, and I wanted the therapist to be excited about my dog.
I went to some of the web sites. Wellsprings in West Seattle was close to me but I heard they had lots of rules and were expensive. I thought I'd try a little bit further out. I liked the write-up of k9rejevenation and the fact that many of the dogs pictured were big dogs and several were boxers and other bully breeds. I emailed the owner and she was excited about meeting Penny. So, we'll see how it goes.
In the meantime, I'll fold up her x pen and put her cone away.
She has hydrotherapy scheduled for 11 am on Saturday morning. A few of these sessions will get her in tip top shape and may encourage me to get back in the water, too.
How did I pick her hydrotherapy pool and canine therapist? I guessed. A woman at work sent me a list of pools and treadmills in Washington and I looked at web sites and compared pool sizes, prices, and regulations. I wanted a pool where I could get in the water too, I wanted it to have wide steps, and I wanted the therapist to be excited about my dog.
I went to some of the web sites. Wellsprings in West Seattle was close to me but I heard they had lots of rules and were expensive. I thought I'd try a little bit further out. I liked the write-up of k9rejevenation and the fact that many of the dogs pictured were big dogs and several were boxers and other bully breeds. I emailed the owner and she was excited about meeting Penny. So, we'll see how it goes.
In the meantime, I'll fold up her x pen and put her cone away.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Running in circles
Penny is healing up just fine. She gets her stitches out on the 2nd and hopefully will be told she doesn't need any more antibiotics. at $88 for 10 days, I have lots of hopes!
She is still a little picky about her food. After she quit eating her food, I bought her some Innova Evo Red Meat as some people both at work and off work had recommended it. And it rated high at Dog Food Analysis. She loved it. I bought a big bag. Then, she stayed with my husband for 24 hours while I went out with the girls and did errands. When she came back, she turned her nose up at the food. Rick had fed her Natural Balance Venison and Sweet Potato.
So, after a few days of hand feeding her the Evo, I went back to Ideal and bought a small bag of the Natural Balance. At least it's not poultry.
This may be too much info, but while she was in the Evo, her poops were much firmer than when she's eating the Natural Balance.
She is still a little picky about her food. After she quit eating her food, I bought her some Innova Evo Red Meat as some people both at work and off work had recommended it. And it rated high at Dog Food Analysis. She loved it. I bought a big bag. Then, she stayed with my husband for 24 hours while I went out with the girls and did errands. When she came back, she turned her nose up at the food. Rick had fed her Natural Balance Venison and Sweet Potato.
So, after a few days of hand feeding her the Evo, I went back to Ideal and bought a small bag of the Natural Balance. At least it's not poultry.
This may be too much info, but while she was in the Evo, her poops were much firmer than when she's eating the Natural Balance.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Penny at my feet
As I type this (after reading some reviews about Norm's Eatery and Alehouse, where I want to go tomorrow night), Penny is 6" away from my gas fireplace, staring at the flames. I am still drugging her more than I did with her other surgeries (more tramodol any way) and she's sleeping quite a bit, which I want.
There is no big news. Dr. Walker called and said that there was definitely more bacteria in the specimen that she sent to the lab and that I should reach out to her assistant to find out the results and to know that the Baytril is still the best medication for her infection.
Penny is staying at my house in her X pen while I am at work. Amber is coming to pill her and let her outside. It's nice -- it feels like I can put in longer hours with Amber coming at 2 than when I have her at Ideal during the day. I am sure Penny will get bored quick but at least she's resting a lot.
I cut off her bandage this morning. I wasn't able to keep a plastic bag on her wrapped leg and so the toe quickly got muddy and wet. My release instructions said I could cut off her bandage if it got wet or slipped, so that is exactly what I did. She was sooo good about sitting quietly while I cut it off. Good girl
There is no big news. Dr. Walker called and said that there was definitely more bacteria in the specimen that she sent to the lab and that I should reach out to her assistant to find out the results and to know that the Baytril is still the best medication for her infection.
Penny is staying at my house in her X pen while I am at work. Amber is coming to pill her and let her outside. It's nice -- it feels like I can put in longer hours with Amber coming at 2 than when I have her at Ideal during the day. I am sure Penny will get bored quick but at least she's resting a lot.
I cut off her bandage this morning. I wasn't able to keep a plastic bag on her wrapped leg and so the toe quickly got muddy and wet. My release instructions said I could cut off her bandage if it got wet or slipped, so that is exactly what I did. She was sooo good about sitting quietly while I cut it off. Good girl
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Drugs for Penny
Penny is home and I'd like to say she's resting comfortably. But I don't know. She looks uncomfortable and I've decided to give her more pain killers and anti-inflammatories. She's on Toradol for a few days, which makes her woozy. And she's on Deramaxx as the anti-inflammatory.
Her leg is wrapped in a green bandage that I can take off when it starts slipping (it has) and she has a cone collar on. I took pictures but they're pretty similar to the pictures I took after her last surgery. She's in a cage, she's stoned, and her foot's bandaged.
Her leg is wrapped in a green bandage that I can take off when it starts slipping (it has) and she has a cone collar on. I took pictures but they're pretty similar to the pictures I took after her last surgery. She's in a cage, she's stoned, and her foot's bandaged.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Plate is out, she's coming home
In the ultrasound, Penny's pancreas looked slightly inflamed, but normal so Dr. Walker went ahead and took the plate out. Penny's had a bit of morphine but will be coming home, hopefully, this evening.
An infection was obvious when Dr. Walker opened up the knee. When Dr. Walker took out the plate, she sent a little piece of the flesh and a screw in to the lab to double-check that there's not another bug that's not responding to the antibiotic that she's on.
Dr. Walker wants to wait to see if Penny's eating habits improve before saying she needs to be treated for inflammatory bowel disease. Yay!
I said I'd go to a naturopathic vet for her diet before I put her on steroids. I need to do that for my little Horace, too.
An infection was obvious when Dr. Walker opened up the knee. When Dr. Walker took out the plate, she sent a little piece of the flesh and a screw in to the lab to double-check that there's not another bug that's not responding to the antibiotic that she's on.
Dr. Walker wants to wait to see if Penny's eating habits improve before saying she needs to be treated for inflammatory bowel disease. Yay!
I said I'd go to a naturopathic vet for her diet before I put her on steroids. I need to do that for my little Horace, too.
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