...............same ole' same ole'

no pictures, they would look the same, dog laying down with old peas on her leg, my toes in the picture or some other part of my body.  nothing new, she is doing well but I know already tired of the process.  today is a treat since it is raining.  not that I mind the rain but she actually doesn't like it much, it gets in her eyes!  follow up for staple removal in a week, perhaps that will step up the pace a little.  No limping, my biggest issue is the patch on her side, or the spot on her side where the pain patch was.  I think that some of the plastic is still on her skin and starting to peel a little but not really.  If I try to pull it she really resists so I'm guessing its uncomfortable - not sure what to do with it.  Have call into trust vet.  I thought it was like rug burn/road burn originally from the patch but now not so much.  Needs to go away I think but don't know how!  If she was a window I could use lighter fluid but I don't think that will work in this case,... yuck

the princess and the pea,.....

More exciting moments in the therapy world.  Haven't been able to find anything else really better then the peas so we are still using these for icing.  Al's been helping this weekend so that is a great help.  She's due for some more passive exercise so off I go.  Pain patch is off.  In between exercising, walks I have been giving Pip rib bones to give her something to do and not have to have the cone on. 

Lucy likes to hang out near the den where Pippi is. 

Pip and her TTA

TaDa, we did it, or I should say she did it and everything is just fine so far.  Its not even been 24 hrs since we got her home but she's doing really well.  No bandage, just about 20 staples (gross) on the inside of her leg.  We are doing icing, which she appears to enjoy, short passive of motion exercises and (2) 5 minute walks a day only, in addition to bathroom checks, short and sweet.  Pip's an awesome patient, maybe they all are, I don't know.  The recent wrist surgery and this are my only experiences in this area with the exception of spaying. 

Just home 10/27/10

Al modified the step outside to the deck and added a ramp off the deck for her in and out pleasure.

this it the modified cone she is wearing.  Al added some additional length by cutting a plastic container and duct taping it on.  The PT at the surgeon was VERY impressed and asked that we send pictures of it.  We are thinking of patenting it!

lucy and izzy

video says it all

a good friend is a good pillow

I have talked off and on to anyone who will listen about how Lucy has changed our houses dynamics and in particular with Pippi.  Well, these pictures are a perfect example of what I have been talking about. 

It started in the morning as it many times does while I am having coffee on the porch.  Lucy comes over and lays on the couch with me/on me.  Pip was on the ottoman.  Lucy and Pip started doing their alligator play, mouth, noises, flea bites, etc.  They at some point I am sure I got tired of being the receiver of much of this play so I told them all done.  Lucy sort of chills out and relaxes, half across the couch and ottoman, as she was when playing with Pip.  Eventually, I think everyone just sort of chilled out and I see Pip actually lay her head down on Lucy.  Now, if this was the other way around I wouldn't be making so much noise about it.  Lucy lays on everyone all of the time, even Pip tolerates it now.  But to have Pippi  be comfortable enough and relaxed enough to just do this, not so much!  I am sure some of it was just the feeling of I am not giving up this ottoman, but some of it is also they have just really bonded in this way. 

And this is why I sit in the porch with the phone/camera.  Because you just never know what might happen.

  

the ocean,...

this week I played hookey from visiting the library with Zenny and instead we went to Hampton Beach in NH.  I have wanted to go back there for a long time and even more so since Sarah has been gone.  Sarah, Sidney and I spent a lot of time at the beach off season and I have one of my favorite pictures of the 2 of them sitting on one of the breaker stones there. 




Sidney and Sarah NH September 1999

 

Sidney and Lucy NH Oct 2010



I tried to find the same rock and do some pictures.  Not sure if I did, we are going to go back with this picture and look again.



Sidney and Lucy NH Oct 2010



positively,.............

I will continue my positive outlook as I head back to the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow with Pip.  On the same day that I received word that the cyst removed from Pip's wrist was benign and that surgery for her rear does not need to be considered unless she was lame,.... I came home in the afternoon to find Pip limping badly, not putting weight on her right rear and when resting it only on her toes/nails.  She was fine in the AM, had spent a good part of the day in the outside kennel with Sidney where they sleep the day away enjoying the sunshine.  So, perhaps it was just time, don't know.  As of today, Sunday, she puts some weight on it but it is swung way out and she is hitching it up when she walks.  Lots of quick head turns back to her leg like "what up with this?".  Was able to get a 10:30 appt with the surgeon and we will go from there.  Cancelled my crown work for this,    not sure which is worse.

Still walking when she wants and wagging her tail all the time, gotta love her.  Perhaps she missed all the TLC we were giving her with the wrist rehab and figures this is the way to get it back.  Clever girl!

quality time,...and Pip Update!

This week was a little quality time for Miss Sidney.  I notice that she is at her age in much better shape then Sarah was at the same (she will be 12 in March).  Now that things have calmed down here its time to make sure everyone gets there 2 cents worth and to keep her moving and active! 

Headed to Bolton Notch with Sidney in tow for some quality hiking.  She's a great hiker because she is not a big wander!

It was pretty wet and that means the off trails would be slippery so I stayed with the Rails to Trails piece.  We had a nice walk, got in some good exercise and Sidney was a happy girl! 

On the Pip front, we went to our first visit back to PT Debbie yesterday since her wrist surgery.  Deb said she felt that the knee was better.  I'm guessing because she was such restricted walking because of the wrist surgery.  And, she was actually able to do a 1/2 mile on the water treadmill correctly.  We tried it this time with me out of the picture - and she did much better - or perhaps in general she is feeling better.  I know she got a nice bit of exercise because she slept in the car for a bit on the way home and she NEVER sleeps in the car. 

Cone head no more,................

For the most part our house is back to normal.  We got the okay to let Pip be "cone head free" and she is pretty much back to the run of the house.  The exception to that is we are not letting her run around in the backyard as of yet so outside activies are monitored.  Miss Lucy would very much like to run and body slam her and I'm pretty sure that won't go over well.  You can tell she still favors the wrist at times and is still licking it off and on.  She has a couple of "sores" from so much licking but they appear to be healing - or I just can't see them as much because the fur is growing back. 

The last week was spent with the modified cone courtesy of hubby Al.  The original cone was not keeping her from really going to town on the foot so Al was able to re-engineer it (something that engineers do best) and it cut down considerably on what she could reach.  Thanks for Glad Plastic containers! Check it out,.... I'm sending pictures to our vet also, she was very impressed!  Oh, and thank you Duc Tape makers,...

Pip saga almost over,...

Pips recovery is almost complete.  As of this past Wednesday no bandage - thats because she was going nutty chewing at her toes, Wendy says thats about the time they just decide they are over it, which is kinda what she did.  It was easier to take it off then to fight the battle.  But still on limited leash walk in/out and hanging in the private den.  She's ready to move on, as we are also.  In general she was as awesome patient thru it all, I'm not sure I would have been so cooperative.  The plastic cone was back on this week because of the toe lick obsession and Al modified it because she could still get to the toes with the cone on.  Thank god for husbands who are engineers!  Check out the added plastic, a tupperware container cut and duc taped - see, you can never not have duc tape!

check it out, we are almost done, I think with just phone conversations with the vet we are done.  Still waiting for the formal biopsy results from the surgeon.  He has been away and Wendy and he have not connected yet.  I know only that it was NOT cancer but don't know exactly what it was. 

 

check it out, quick and dirty updates!

I have been busy in more ways then one.  We know have 2 more blogs, what the heck, if I am on the computer I might as well type a lot!  I have a new blog for my classes that I instruct - its strictly about teaching tricks, mostly a place to show case tricks that I have taught and how - a sneaky way to talk to students about luring, capturing, shaping, etc. 

And a new blog by Lucy, who is going to school to be a therapy dog like brother Zenny!  She also gets to be the demo dog in class which is fun. 

Our Tails and Tricks
Lucy's Travels and Tails

Update to Surgery

Darn, no gross pictures to show, but Pip's visit to vet today for surgery follow up was great.  Miss Wendy said her wrist looked awesome, I could barely see the stitches never mind where the orthopedic surgeon cut.  Stitches out, splint put back on and wrapped up with pretty pink vet wrap.  Pip was able to put weight on it also before all put back together and that was a good sign also.  I have the outside kennel put back together now and she spent some time this afternoon out there chewing on a bone.  I am lucky that I am able to get her outside at least once a day for a period of time where she can get tired from the fresh air and see the outside world.  The girl is ready to move thats for sure. 

nothing else exciting,

the many faces of Sidney

Sidney went with me on Saturday for a little field trip.  she HATES her picture taken but I managed to get a whole bunch in sequence that together are kinda cute,. someone told me recently that I don't show case her enough.  And, since she is now my senior girl, they are right, she needs to be star once in a while!  so here it goes,..

Dock Diving!

Well, to bad Pip was out of commission because I am pretty sure she would have enjoyed this weekend!  But Lucy got a chance at the Dock Diving at Hebron Fair.  Pretty cool, folks were really very helpful.  Friday was pretty low key, Saturday was crazy, 3x as many dogs, Lucy was pretty overwhelmed and I wasn't sure if she would do okay but she pulled herself together and did great.  We competed once on each day.  Her best dive was Saturday and was a little over 7ft, pretty cool for a new girl!  LOTS of wild and crazy labs there, Miss Lucy was the smallest and most reserved for sure - but she did awesome.  A couple of pictures and a short video thanks to our good friend Christine and hubby Al,..............

found baby snapping turtle also!

Pippi Doodle Update

Pip is doing really well.  She went to her first vet follow up visit for a bandage change on Monday but ended up with everything staying as is.  The bandage is in good shape, the splint still in place so if it ain't broke, don't fix it!  Next week is stitches out and rebandage, not sure about splint.  Other then really wanting to not be confined to her various condo settings, she is doing well.  She has a private den and sometimes I expen her in the hallway so she can look out the front door, something she like to do.  Outside on the deck she also has her own private area as well so that she can hang outside and enjoy the fresh air.  Probably the best patient ever.  Might be a little more challenging once the splint is off since right now that is keeping everything stable and straight.  Biopsy results were that it was not cancerous but I do not know what it IS, only what it is not.  Next week Dr. Berzon is back so I hope to find out then. 

Meanwhile, more boring pictures of Pip and her leg wrapped up.  I am hoping for some nice gross ones of her unwrapped leg next week,.................. LOL

Surgery and Such,........

Pip had her surgery yesterday to remove the cyst on her wrist.  During the visit and subsequent conversation with the ortho I found out that her knee/cruciate is fully torn but she is doing okay on it.  I did not realize that, perhaps he said it and I did not hear the words.  I thought it was arthritis and a partial tear that had healed.  He did also say it was just a matter of time before she "blew" the back leg. 

Guess I don't really understand much of this.  Will continue discussions with Wendy/trusty vet as we move forward and with Deb/trust PT lady.  Pip must go for bandage changes once a week for 3 to 4 weeks so I'll start those conversations next week.  In the meantime very restricted activity, splint and bandage up to her elbow and cone on head at times to keep her from picking at the wrist.  Today she is still pretty mellow but I see the spark in her eyes coming back, most likely some long weeks. 

the cyst, I don't remember the name of it, but it was "communicating" with the joint and partially calcified.  And I believe more involved then originally thought. 

She was a good girl thru out though,....

PT for Pip

Pip's Physical Therapy for her arthritic knee is now on a schedule, at least the stuff at home is.  I'm somewhat confused by all of this and will have to ask folks who I know have experienced this questions. 

She is having some chiropractic work done every 4 to 6 weeks.  Our visit last week was positive.  The vet said the knee felt better, less inflammed and her overall alignment of her pelvis was better.  The first time I went to her she was very off because of compensating for the knee.  The physical therapist also said that the knee felt better the week before.  I am sure this is because of her being on Metacam the antinflammatory and dasequin and hyaflex.  

Our exercise routine consists of daily work on the disk to strengthen the muscles around both of her back knees so that the injured one stays strong and that the good one stays strong as well and doesn't also break down.  Probably not quite the right words but you get the picture.  We also work on "tail pulling" that the chiro suggested.  Basically using traction by pulling her tail down gently in line with her spine to keep her pelvis even.  She seems to like that a lot.  Getting usesd to the disc work, it was a little challenging at first.  A video of it for your enjoyment. 

I'm somewhat confused as to what needs to occur going forward.  I've been told that swimming will help keep her tone and strengthened.  However a call into Riverview Rehab or whatever it is called in Windsor was not successful so I am going to try another place in East Longmeadow.  The folks were in Windsor were a little snotty frankly and kind of condenscending.  I'm told that the place in EL actually has a basic swimming program so I am going to look into that. 

What I am trying to prevent is surgery down the road if possible.  I don't think that agility is an option anymore.  The orthopedic surgeon said that jumping/projecting off of that knee could lead to further injury.  I realize that it is a maybe but it bothers her enough know that she swings it out when she sits and lays down.  At 8 1/2 I am not looking to cause her further injury.  But I do want to continue to keep her active.  Hiking is an option but tends to be stressful with her as she really takes off and is kind of darty after things.  And not always great with other dogs but much better then she used to be.  I actually think she is way better then I give her credit for so maybe I should just give that thought up. 

Walking, like leash walking would also be good, however I have not resolved the issue on her right front wrist yet.  It is some type of cyst or something sitting on her wrist joint and when I have walked her she ends up lame on that leg.  AHHHHHHHHHH, I need to get that resolved first I think.  My vet wants to consult with the ortho guy first before opening her wrist up,.

Sidney, Zenny and Lucy are doing well.  Took Sidney swimmming at a new boat launch area that a friend told me about.  I think she had fun, hard to tell with Sidney sometimes.  No pictures though, I screwed up there.  Zenny loving his therapy work at the library and this Friday we are entered at Fitchburg for her first Advanced Leg in Rally, gulp, off leash,......  And Lucy Lu and I are working on heeling, tricks.  I am also going to hopefully get her certified to be a therapy dog, classes start in September. 

and we move forward

Our house is not the same without Sarah but we are moving forward.  Yesterday was the first day I started to feel human.  It is has been 2 weeks.  Al is away in Alaska this week and it was probably for the best.  I needed to work thru this on my own somewhat I think.  It seems to go in waves my feelings,.....

I got a new tattoo in honor of Sarah and what she ment to me.  I did it yesterday on the 2 week anniversary.  I purposefully went back to the place where I had my ankle paw prints done because I knew the woman there liked dogs and had one, we talked about it a lot the last time I was there and yesterday. 

I had been talking about doing this for a while anyway so hopefully it won't be to much of a surprise to Al when he returns home on Sunday.  I felt better when it was done, sort of complete.  Its not like I don't have already have a few,..

                                         Some pictures, of us, the 3 girls and 1 boy,.....

Miss Sarah

She's gone.  We helped her go yesterday with the help of our vet and good friend Wendy.  I have some wonderful pictures to share but they are all from the days before digital so I must do something with them first. 

miss you so much already

Update to all things

So things are better with some, same or not so good with other.  Sidney's ear has healed and the stitches came out this week.  That was fun because as usual she is very terrified of being at the vets and always always always poops.  Its a wonder where that all comes from in such a small dog. (small for a lab that is)

Pip's fur is growing back.  Still shedding but not as much.  I have put everyone on Sea Kelp after much research to see if that might help overall with justs skin and fur health.  The back of her legs is the last to really fill in, but its not showing skin now so I know its just a matter of time.  I also found a natural thyroid supplement that I've decided to give her even though both my vets said that the thyroid was good, the #'s were in the middle, not on low end.  But I'm going to try it anyway. 

Pip's knee thing is still there.  The dasequin is given daily and she goes to see the PT next week and we'll see if there is anything exercise wise that I can realistically take on with all that is going on with Sarah.  I have tried just taking morning walks with her.  She loves them but comes up lame a couple of hours later in her front end (arthritis is in backleg) so not sure what that is about.  Perhaps just to much to soon but will put that on hold also until we go next week.  We enjoyed it though and no weird loose dogs or anything to cause us anexity. I may also get her tested again for lyme, etc. 

Sarah whole different story.  It is a daily management thing and you never quite know how she is going to be.  I am sure she is not enjoying this much either.  Her breathing is awful but she still eats, drinks and walks around but not for long.  We had a very bad weekend a couple of weeks ago when she got over medicated on some new stuff I was trying to help her be less anxious.  So sedated that she could not get up, hold herself up and would not eat.  Lasted about 4 days and then there has been a gradual improvement.  She is on an antibiotic which she just finished and predizone which is tapering down.  We will see after that how she does.  Her back end is definitely worse and when not pacing around the yard is usually lying down.  I noticed this week a couple of sore spots on her back paws probably because of how she is lying all of the time, but she likes to lay on the tile floor and will not lay on the blankets or towels for the most part.  Recently 2 friends  ethuanized there labs who are about the same age and when I was in the vet this week with Sidney a dog was in their with owners for the same thing.  Jeepers I start sobbing in the vet and I don't even know the people or the dog but he looked so sad and confused.  I am on the edge constantly,..... ridiculous.

But I have some cute pictures which may make you smile,....in order going down, Sidney, Zenny, Sarah,  Pip and Lucy who is loving the flowers on the deck.

whew,......... its been an interesting couple of weeks!

Wow, blog has been quiet but its not been quiet in this house. I seem to have a series of dog issues going on, partly the result of having 3 dogs close to the same age and partly just because things happened I guess.

Sarah continues to battle the aging process, with her breathing issues (lar par) and arthritis/spinal issues she struggles to breath, stresses from that, no muscle tone in hind end so she has difficulty standing for any length of time its sometimes a struggle to watch her. And then, on days when she is feeling good, she does a little play bow for breakfast, tries to run in the backyard and falls down, but gets herself back up and sort of wags her tail and says "huh, what up with that" and walks off. More painful for me to watch I think then anything. We are trying some new stuff that a vet who also does chiro on dogs has suggested. In addition to doing some monthly chiro work on her to make her feel more comfortable, we are trying a diuretic to get rid of the fluids to see if that helps with the breathing and a seizure type drug which will act a little as a sedative when she has gotten so worked up that she can't rest. Both are human drugs. Slight subtle differences we are seeing which is better then not trying anything at all at this point. Just trying to make her more comfy. She still looks pretty damn good for 14 1/2 yrs and I think is still happy although hard to tell on the days when she struggles so.

Pip has had some odd hair loss.  I thought at first it was just excessive shedding but it started resulting in bald spots.  Took her to get blood work done because now thinking its thyroid but all bloodwork came back normal.  Fur seems to be filling back in but its the weirdest thing I have ever seen.  The other possibility was seasonal alopecia which sort of seems just a name for something that cannot be diagnosed.  if the fur grows back and it doesn't happen again then I won't worry about it.  In the meantime, the amt of fur in my house is unbelieveable and she's pretty tired of my poking at her and looking at it.  Take a look!  and this is after some of the hair has grown back,....

and last but not least, not to be outdone, Sidney ended up with a wart in her ear the size of a grape or a little bigger.  Similar to the warts that she has developed all over her body, kinda look like cauliflower.  But this was blocking her ear canal when the ear flap was done and resulted in a nasty nasty ear infection and the wart itself was painful.  So, surgery was called for and that happened yesterday.  She has stitches that will need to come out in about 2 weeks.  She came thru the surgery fine and seems somewhat subdued but thats it.  She's on some pain meds for a bit and I'll probably continue that only because I know it will keep her from getting spun up which she does easily.  this picture is not for the weak,....at least I think its pretty gross

before                                                                                                                           after

Go Sister Lucy!

Lucy was entered in Novice Rally Obedience this week and received her Novice title.  It wasn't a great run, although she did receive a score of 96.  How that happened I don't know since her nose never came off the ground.  Brother Zenny was entered also, check out his blog for those results!