Rehabilitation
When Dash's cast was finally removed, it was cause for great celebration about the land. And of course inevitably, the short dog jokes... Aunt B. informed us that we need to Zamboni the back yard, as we wouldn't want him to fall in any more divots. 
The first two days - he used that foot less than 20% of the time. Not good for a show/performance dog.
On April 26th we went to VetHab in Raleigh for a consult. I was hoping that a few chiropractic adjustments might solve the problem of him not walking. Not to be (and realistically, I knew this...). Dash made new friends. We started a course of physical therapy on Friday the 28th - Dash was in Raleigh 3 times a week for the next 4 weeks. Provided Dash agrees - the plan was to use the underwater treadmill and swimming to help him rebuild the muscle and ligament tone. Happily, he agreed and took to the treadmill like a fish to water. At home he is on pen rest for the next two weeks so that he doesn't undo the work he will do in therapy. His movement restrictions were more stringent with the cast off than with it on.
After the first week, he started to use his foot, but was swinging it out when he did use it and overall, prefered to hop three legged instead of actually walk. Very little semblance of a gait at this point - or at least not one that I recognize.
May 11th - Dash completed his sixth intensive therapy visit. He is pooped when he gets home. Dash was given homework - 10 minute walks at a very slow steady trot. Which is tough because he has lots and lots of puppy energy. He also graduated to the land treadmill. So no longer reeks of chlorine.
On May 13th, we were given instructions to build Cone Cavaletti for the next stage of PT. I spent some time on the porch with our new drill bit, drilling lots and lots and lots of holes in traffic cones. And then let Dash meet the cones so that he didn't think they were going to eat him. May 16th we started trying to walk over the poles at the lowest level. The intent is to build muscles to support his knee, hips, and spine so that he doesn't injure himself again in a moment of brilliant stupidity.
May 23rd, we got the wonderful news that Dash graduated from his thrice weekly visits to Raleigh. He is to spend the next month increasing the lenght of his walks with Cavelleti time as well. Unfortunately, this coincided with me coming down with a hideous summer cold that sidelined me. So during that month he did not get as much time walking as I would have liked. On June 17th we had a follow-up visit and were released from care. We are still to work on longer walks with Cavelletti time to keep up his conditioning. Often his walks are after 9:00 p.m. as the summer heat arrived.
During the past two months, Dash had to stay in his laundry room, his ex-pen, or his crate whenever he was not on a leash. Mike was very glad that Dash was released from full confinement on the 17th, though we left the ex-pen up for two more weeks as it provided a handy refuge from a silly puppy.
During the four months of healing and rehabilitation, I developed a little more patience than I initially possessed. Onwards and upwards...
Dash was placed on restricted movement for the next two weeks (includes
leashes inside the house) so that he will not "run with reckless abandon" and
screw things up. We go back for a follow-up x-ray on May 3rd. I'm also
going to contact the rehab vet next week as he is not using the foot much -
though I'm assured that he will go back to using it in a few weeks...
The first two days - he used that foot less than 20% of the time. Not good for a show/performance dog.
On April 26th we went to VetHab in Raleigh for a consult. I was hoping that a few chiropractic adjustments might solve the problem of him not walking. Not to be (and realistically, I knew this...). Dash made new friends. We started a course of physical therapy on Friday the 28th - Dash was in Raleigh 3 times a week for the next 4 weeks. Provided Dash agrees - the plan was to use the underwater treadmill and swimming to help him rebuild the muscle and ligament tone. Happily, he agreed and took to the treadmill like a fish to water. At home he is on pen rest for the next two weeks so that he doesn't undo the work he will do in therapy. His movement restrictions were more stringent with the cast off than with it on.
After the first week, he started to use his foot, but was swinging it out when he did use it and overall, prefered to hop three legged instead of actually walk. Very little semblance of a gait at this point - or at least not one that I recognize.
May 11th - Dash completed his sixth intensive therapy visit. He is pooped when he gets home. Dash was given homework - 10 minute walks at a very slow steady trot. Which is tough because he has lots and lots of puppy energy. He also graduated to the land treadmill. So no longer reeks of chlorine.
On May 13th, we were given instructions to build Cone Cavaletti for the next stage of PT. I spent some time on the porch with our new drill bit, drilling lots and lots and lots of holes in traffic cones. And then let Dash meet the cones so that he didn't think they were going to eat him. May 16th we started trying to walk over the poles at the lowest level. The intent is to build muscles to support his knee, hips, and spine so that he doesn't injure himself again in a moment of brilliant stupidity.
May 23rd, we got the wonderful news that Dash graduated from his thrice weekly visits to Raleigh. He is to spend the next month increasing the lenght of his walks with Cavelleti time as well. Unfortunately, this coincided with me coming down with a hideous summer cold that sidelined me. So during that month he did not get as much time walking as I would have liked. On June 17th we had a follow-up visit and were released from care. We are still to work on longer walks with Cavelletti time to keep up his conditioning. Often his walks are after 9:00 p.m. as the summer heat arrived.
During the past two months, Dash had to stay in his laundry room, his ex-pen, or his crate whenever he was not on a leash. Mike was very glad that Dash was released from full confinement on the 17th, though we left the ex-pen up for two more weeks as it provided a handy refuge from a silly puppy.
During the four months of healing and rehabilitation, I developed a little more patience than I initially possessed. Onwards and upwards...
posted by Kirsten at
4:47 PM
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