Sabrina's Ways

Now that Sabrina is 5 months old, she is really beginning to develop into her own. And we are beginning to really see who she is. She is learning her role in our family and I, too, have to see her for whom she is. Frequently, I realize that I try to get her to be just as Riley is. Yesterday morning, I had a sudden realization that what I had perceived as a naughty, I've-told-you-over-and-over-again-and-you're-still-not-doing-the-right-thing Sabrina, was really Sabrina doing things a little differently.

Sabrina is known to pick up anything and everything that is laying around in the house, left on a shelf, left on the coffee table, and yes, left on the kitchen counter. She seems to always wants to have something in her mouth. This is a Flattie's personality I hear. She seems to go by the motto: finder's keepers. I come home from work everyday and brace myself to what I will find in my home. A pile of shredded tissues? The gardening tools strewn about? Branches of the tree torn down? And what I keep telling myself is, she hasn't really destroyed anything yet. She just likes to displace things and shred paper. Even when we are home, Sabrina picks up our slippers, our shoes, or clothes and likes to walk around with it in her mouth. When she was younger, she seemed like she was everywhere moving all of our stuff all of the time. Now that she is 5 months old, she seems to have refined her motive. Yesterday morning, I dug out my Uugs for the upcoming cold weather. I left them at the top of the stairs while I went into the bedroom to change. 10 seconds later, Sabrina appears with a boot in her mouth. My initial instinct was to scold her and give her the command, "out" but before I could, she dropped it nicely at my feet. I suddently realized who Sabrina is. She is a retriever. And she was bringing me the boots that I "dropped" outside the bedroom. Coming to this realization brought me great relief. She's not just being naughty, she's just trying to do what her instincts are telling her to do. She's doing things her way and I love her for being her.

Can you say...Feeling Better?

When I took Riley out this afternoon, you won't believe what he decided to do. He stands on his *injured* leg and lifts his good leg to pee! AIYA! Craziness. We are really going to have to keep a close eye on him. He is really feeling TOO good.

6 days post TPLO

Riley is recovering very nicely. The discoloration and swelling are just about gone. I did have to ice his leg Friday night as he was licking one area red. It looked like he might have bumped his knee or gotten scratched by one of his siblings. He welcomed the cold compress. But where there was redness and a little swelling the night before, by morning it was gone. His entire leg down to his ankle are now back to normal. It is very good to see. His incision continues to look clean and dry. I cannot wait until next week when he gets those staples out. I kinda can't comprehend how they are going to be able to take the staples out without tranquilizing him or at least numbing the area locally. They seem like they're really in there. I'm gonna have to call and ask. Apparently we have to go to our local vet to get the staples out.

He has been fairly good about staying in his pen. I leave the gate open so that he can see out of it easily, even though the entire thing is mesh and he can pretty much see everything that is going on around him. He gets to go out for two potty breaks a day on a short 4 foot leash. I have to be very vigilant about keeping him at a slow walk though. He gets outside, throws his nose up in the air as if to drink in the beautiful fresh, crisp air, and wants to run off into the closest pile of leaves. It can also be quite humorous when he turns to look at his bare rump as if to say, "How come things are a little chilly back there?" He is managing the front stairs going down quite well with me walking closely next to him to keep him from going down too fast. On occasion, he attempts to go up the stairs as well, and I let him as I closely supervise. I think it's good for him to use his leg muscles for those few seconds of the day. His weight, unfortunatley, has probably gone up. I have to rub his sides pretty hard just to feel those ribs. Besides the potty walks, meals are the only other major event of his day. I'll just have to add in more tummy rubs and brushing time. I tried to add green beans into his meal last night to act as a filler. As he ate mouthfuls of his yummy salmon, he would eject the green beans out, projectile-style. I think he was thinking, "Are you kidding me? Frozen green beans?"

Sabrina, however, thought it was great and took it upon herself to clean up the green bean mess.

Proud Parents

I can't believe it! Around 9:30pm last night, the special report on NECN was on. Riley didn't just get 2 milliseonds of TV footage, he got about 30 seconds worth! I'm sorta in the background but he's looked so handsome! I was able to find the video on NECN website, under Health. Here is the web address, but I haven't been able to figure out how to make the web address a direct link. Hmmm. Help someone?

www.boston.com/news/necn/Health/

NECN 9pm tonight

We have been notified that New England Cable News (Channel 6 I think) will be airing a 30 minute segment on Clinical Advancements for Alzhiemer's Disease, or something like that, tonight at 9pm. Pet therapy at McLean Hospital will be mentioned and therefore there is a possibility that Riley's smiling face may appear for 2 milliseconds on your TV screen. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to see it. I've gotta find someone to TeVo it for me or something.

Into Day 2

Riley slept through last night like a baby. So did I, thankfully. During his morning potty break he was already too exuberant for my liking. I feel very bad, scolding him when he's already gone through so much. Tough love, I guess.
His leg already looks better today. At least I think it really is and not just wishful thinking. I think the swelling in his ankle has actually gone down enough for me to make out the bony parts. It doesn't feel as hot to the touch either. The stitches still look okay. 17 in all. I was able to count them this morning. Unfortunately that hotspot still has him bothered. Hopefully I can find something today that will clean it up.
Sabrina has been a very sweet girl to her big brother. I had the two of them lying on the rug in the kitchen this morning getting belly rubs. She slowly inched her nose over to Riley's paw and licked it ever so gently. It was a very cute gesture from a 5 month old.

Day 1

We weren't able to pick Riley up until about 5pm last night. Partially cuz we were trying to finish up our work days and partially cuz I knew we've already paid for the day. If we could have hospital supervision then why come home so soon?

Angell Memorial Animal Hospital was getting busy when we arrived. Apparently we weren't the only ones picking up our loved one. The staff were very courteous and informative. I was handed his post-surgery discharge papers and a bottle of Metacam for pain and inflammation. We were asked if we wanted an e-collar. Why not? It'll save us another trip if he really is going at his stitches.

Five minutes later I see my baby boy appear. He is wearing the ridiculously large e-collar, lounging forward at his leash, eyes darting back and forth across the room trying his darnest to get the hell away from wherever he just came from. Then he sees us. Oh my, what a scene we made. Have you ever tried to hug an estatic dog with an e-collar on? I was sure his stitches were going to pop out right there in the lobby. Luckily, I was able to undo the string for the e-collar to remove it for a proper reunion hug. Along with his crazy squirming, he was also singing his happy chortle. As he spun around our legs in a spastic happy-dog sort of way, I could hear by standers gasping at the site of his shaved and bruised leg. We left the hospital as soon as we could. I don't even remember what I said to the person who handed me Riley's leash. I hope I said thank you.
I gingerly lifted Riley into the back of my car. Boy was he happy to be back in his car! The ride home was long. Jeffrey drove while I kept an eye on Riley in the back. Everyone was exhausted and couldn't wait to be home.

Upon returning home, we brought him to his pen and I sat in there with him while Jeffrey prepared everyone's dinner. While we waited, I gently massaged his back and rubbed his tummy while I checked out his incision. He has a long incision about 3 inches long on the inside of his knee held together by a row of staples. Though red, it actually looks very clean and healthy. Down by his ankle, there are two more staples. I assume this incision was made for draining the fluid. I have never seen anyone or anything post-operatively so I guess I was shocked to see the discoloration of his skin. I am most alarmed by the amount of fluid that is pouching around his ankle. But everyone tells me this is normal and within a week or two all the swelling and bruising will be going away.

I was happy to see that Riley had a great appetite. He took the Metacam with his food with no issues either. After dinner, he was confused why he was confined to his pen. How can you deny that look of betrayal on his face? We let him out and he found his favorite spot between the coffee table and the couch and passed out. Boy was he exhausted. It was like he hadn't slept the entire time he was in the hospital. I was exhausted as well. Jeffrey got my sleeping bag for me and I spent the night on the couch next to Riley and Sabrina and Mei Mei.

Our first night was not too bad. Riley apparently felt good enough to try out various sleeping arrangements. I was surprised to see him lie with his injured leg underneath him. He was able to easily switch from one side to the other. Around 10 pm, he left the rug and got up onto the couch. Around 11pm, he went to the hardwood floors. Around 11:30pm, he decided it was time to go upstairs and go to bed like we always do. I tried to redirect him back to the rug but he wouldn't settle down. He began to get restless and then the panting started. He would lay down, only to get up again as if something didn't feel right. He made some groaning noises and would sometimes pop up suddenly and lick his stitches. I began to think he was in pain.

I started out with cold compresses to numb the area and try to help with the swelling. I really couldn't tell if it did anything or not, though the extra attention from me seemed enough for him. At around midnight, I probably wasn't able to think very clearly but I tried my best to make him more comfortable. I brought him into his pen and he happily laid down with a big sigh, as if to say, "okay, this place really isn't so bad." After some gentle massage and a warm compress, he seemed to feel better. From 1:30 am all the way through 7 am, he slept quite peacefully in his pen. I didn't even have to shut the gate all the way. I left it open so he wouldn't feel so confined. But all I heard for the rest of the morning was snoring. Poor baby.

After breakfast this morning he decided he was ready to partake in our regular morning routine. He lined up at the door with Sabrina ready to go to the park. *sigh* This is really going to be a long recovery. I supervised him down the front stairs and he seemed to have to problems going #1 and #2. I was relieved. I had heard that some dogs didn't go for almost 48 hours. He was walking on all fours but with a little hitch to reduce the amount of time there was weight on the left leg. I was so afraid he was going to try and stand on his left leg and lift his right to urinate. But he didn't. Right after he was finished with his business, I tried to get him back inside, per post-op instructions. He decided he was going on strike. Too bad. I just picked him up and brought him back inside. Good thing he's only 81 pounds (and thank God for Lion Dance). He still stood at the door after I brought him in though, ready to go to the park. Sorry buddy.

Now he is resting peacefully in his pen. Every so often, he startles awake and looks directly at his leg or licks it. I think he's having pulsating pains in his knee. I wish there was something else I could do. But in a way, I am thankful that he has an awareness of his injury. That may keep him from doing too much too soon. Maybe it will help him restrain himself a bit, or not. I plan to be in an out of the house today for various periods of time just to see how it goes. More for me, I'm sure, than for Riley and Sabrina.

Post TPLO surgery update

I took Riley early this morning (6:30am) to Angell Memorial Hosptial to check him in for surgery. I didn't get to ask too many questions because the only people I dealt with was a receptionist and a vet tech who took him. I figured I could talk to Dr. Trout later in the day anyways. Riley was in a good mood and after I exited the building, I lurked outside watching him through the window. His tail was wagging and he was still smiling so that put my heart at ease. I just don't want my baby boy scared or feeling abandoned.

I drove off to Springfield for a conference and from 10-10:30 I began to feel extremely nauseas. I didn't know how I was going to make it thru the rest of the day as I wasn't expecting Riley's surgery til about noon and the surgeon wasn't supposed to call me until later the afternoon. Funny thing is, the surgeon called at 10:45 to let me know that Riley had been put under and was now being shaved and prepped for surgery. Mommy-baby vibe? You betcha. I was so grateful for the phone call.

1:15pm Dr. Trout calls me again to let me know the surgery went well and Riley was going into recovery to wake up. He gave Riley an epidural and he seemed to do well with it, whatever that means. He also assured me that we made the right decision fixing his knee with surgery. Apparently the angle of his knee was at 32 degrees. He informed me that 22-25 degrees is the normal angle. Thus, Riley had a steeper, less stable slope in his knee. Okay, that definitely made me feel better. I immediately asked him to check the x-rays for the slope in his other (good) knee. He very politely suggested that I focus on one thing at a time. I like this surgeon a lot. As I have mentioned before, he has a very calm and reassuring beside manner that is not arrogant or condescending. Very good for a Mommy like me.

I am thinking about calling tonight before I go to bed to see if he has eaten anything or feeling more alert. I may also call early tomorrow morning just to see how his night went. I am very concerned that #1 he has never been kenneled before, and #2 he has to spend the night with strangers possibly in pain. I hope that he is still too doped up to realize where he is.
Tomorrow when the surgeon gets in, he will check on Riley and call me to tell me when I can pick him up. I am kinda thinking I'm not going to pick him up until late afternoon. Since we've already paid for the entire day, I figure he may be better off under their supervision and that less fretting for me. But then again, I can't wait to see his smiling face again.

Sabrina seemed to do alright on her own at home today. Shredded some cardboard but nothing more than what she usually will do when she's bored. I think she's actually kinda enjoying being the only child. She's never had the opportunity so she'd better just enjoy it for the day!

Boy Scout

I realized that I had started this post a couple of months ago and never got around to posting it. Here is Riley ready to go on a visit to McLean Hospital. The little side kick is the Mandy Dandy. The people at McLean think he looks like a Boy Scout with his badges. I hope Riley will be feeling better enough in about two months to return to work.

5 month birthday

Sabrina was born Kickemuit's Sakonnet Surge 5 months ago today. She was one of 10 siblings. 3 girls, 7 boys. Before she was officially named, she was called Yellow Girl: the color of the string of yarn tied around her neck to identify her from her brothers and sisters.
I thought I would post some history of the Flattie. The Flat-Coated Retriever was developed in the 1800's by crossing several already established breeds, including the Irish Setter, Labrador, Water Dog, and the St. John's Newfoundland, though one source also mentions the Collie. I have also heard of spaniel in there too. The breed was fairly popular until the beginning of the World War, but was then overshadowed by the Labrador and Golden Retriever. The Flat-Coated Retriever is not only an excellent bird dog and swimmer but also an outstanding family dog. These dogs are gifted with a fine intuition and an excellent sense of smell. The Flat-Coated Retriever is used above all for retrieving on plains and in areas thick with trees and bushes. They are good swimmers and also work well in marshy areas. Some of the Flat-Coated Retriever's talents are retrieving, hunting, tracking, watchdogging and agility.
So far, my Sabrina is pretty good at attacking life with reckless abandon. She finds ways to break the rules though she always finds a way to convince me that she really is trying to be a good girl. She is such a loving little soul who just wants to be the center of our family. She has certainly been a delight to have.

Two days til surgery

A couple of days ago the X-pen I ordered arrived. Yay! Riley was very wary of this new large structure in the house and avoided it at all costs. Sabrina barely bat an eyelash. They are so different! So for the past few days, Riley has been eating his meals in the X-pen, but with the gates open. Little by little, he has gotten used to the noise it makes when someone bumps into it and the fact that it will move a bit. This morning, he and I were actually able to get inside it, close the gate, and leave Sabrina on the outside. I was very pleased how it all went. I brought a bucket of treats and a clicker in with me. I got Riley to lay down inside while I treated him and Sabrina. Sabrina did not jump or claw at the pen, yay! So I'm so glad this x-pen came early. Just one less thing for Riley to worry about after the surgery. I still have to decide if we want to use the mesh cover. It seems Sabrina is not able to clear the 42 inch frame, but who knows after a few more weeks of growing? She is quite the kangaroo!

This weekend, I will be preparing a bunch of kongs to prepare for the "lock down." 8 weeks of potty breaks only. Gulp. People say the time goes by faster than you think. But having already done 6 weeks of restricted activity, it feels like starting all over again. I am relieved that I won't have to carry Riley up the stairs every night though. The plan is to have him stay downstairs thru the 8 week recovery period. Who knows. 8 weeks is so far away.

We went to see Dr. Doolittle on Thursday. When I asked about physical therapy, she was adamant that Riley had to go this facility: Sterling Impression Animal Rehabilitation Center of New England, in Walpole. Good. It was one of the two places I had found on my Google search that were near us. I will ask the surgeon on Monday when we can start physical therapy. I am hopeful and positive that this surgery and recovery will go well. Please keep your fingers, toes, and paws crossed for us!

Riley's TV debut

I received a voice mail message last week from the Activities Coordinator at McLean Hospital. Although Riley has not visited the patients since his injury, they wanted to know if he could come in for an interview. New England Cable News (NECN) is planning to do an hour long segment on McLean Hospital's Alzheimer Unit. Part of the program will include the enrichment programs at the hospital, including therapy dog visits. The Activities Coordinator said that, "We all agree that Riley's the guy."
So today I got home a little early from work to give him a quickie grooming. I brushed him out, trimmed up his ears, snapped his therapy dog vest, and we were on our way. Riley's mood seemed to perk up once I put his vest on. He carried his head and tail high as if to say, "Finally! I'm back to work!" Upon arrival at the hospital, they specially arranged a small room with a carpeted floor for Riley. He was so happy to be back at work! He strut down the hallways, poking his head around corners looking for his favorite people. The interview was short but to the point. Riley was a bit confused why there was only one patient in the room with 5 other people standing around watching him. He was also a bit wary of the cameraman and the ginormous video camera on his shoulder. But overall, I think they got what they wanted.
We don't know when it will air but I'll be sure to post it when it does!

A broker's market

Seems lately, everywhere I look, someone's got a Berner. In the past 2 months, I have met three new Berner puppies at the park: 9 months, 4 months, and 13 weeks. All from the same puppy broker we got Riley from. She is certainly making a good income this year. The club believes she's shipping puppies in every month. *sigh* Yesterday as I left Back Bay, I saw a woman crossing the street with two young Berners, probably around 9 months old, in tow. Today, as I picked up my raw food order from Especially for Pets, the family in line next to me had a Berner puppy too. I tried not to get into a conversation with them. This is getting to be crazy! Are they becoming a new fashion trend?!
In the last year, this breed has suddenly increased in popularity. Of course I am happy that more people are learning of this beautiful breed and enjoying these dogs. But the reality is, the more that people want these dogs, the more the puppy brokers and puppy mills will be breeding and selling. This may be the beginning of a sad era and difficult battle for our breed and the club. Everyone can reflect what has happened to popular breeds in the past: Dalmations (especially after 101 Dalmations), St. Bernards (after Beethoven), and of course our ever popular labradors and retrievers. Unfortunately, we live in a world where money talks and animals are treated like property.
Well, no use dwelling on these issues unless we're going to do something about it. So I'm gonna try to do something about it.

Pre-surgery prep

I'm trying to stay calm. The only way I know how is to try and plan ahead, prepare, and get a massage. This weekend, I did my research on getting Riley an X-pen (exercise pen) for a safe recovery from surgery. I've been trying to decide what size and what kind of pen I would need. I didn't want to use his crate: #1 because he hasn't seen it since he was a little puppy and he never really liked it, #2 cuz he wouldn't be able to walk around or turn very easily with an injured leg, and #3, he would seem so separated from us in there. So I've been trying to find something that is not too heavy, easy to use, flexible in size, and something that won't spook him out. I've decided on Midway's It's a Breeze soft-sided x-pen. It looks like a toddler's pack and play but with 8 sides that can be adjusted from 4, 6, or 8 sides. I like it cuz Riley will have some safe space to himself and will still be able to see everything going on around him. If he rubs up against the sides, it's soft and if Sabrina tries to jump in from the outside, it won't rattle and spook him. I think I will have to get a mesh cover though since Sabrina is part kangaroo and I'm sure she would jump in just to be with her big brother.

But no one sells the stupid X-pen. I went to three different pet stores. No luck. I found it in the Pet Edge catalog but they ship it directly from the manufacturer's and it takes 1-2 weeks. I really wanted to have it by this week so we could all try it out and get used to it before the actual surgery. My only hope is that Especially For Pets will be able to special order it for me and rush to it me. Worst case, we'll receive it the day Riley gets home from surgery. Oh well. You can only plan for so much.

In preparation for weeks of confinement and restricted exercise, I have been researching on ways to keep Riley's mind occupied. Aside from a lot of silly training games, many people keep their dogs busy with chew toys. I will be buying lots of buffalo marrow bones (which are about a foot long) for him. In addition. I have purchased several kongs as well, which I plan to stuff with a myriad of yummy/tasty treats to keep him busy. Yesterday I tested them out with both Riley and Sabrina and they were both occupied for at least 3 hours! They slept like babies afterwards.

I still have to figure out if we're going to need a sling to help Riley up and down the front stairs to go out and potty. Maybe this week we'll try out just using a towel and see how he does. I think he's gonna look at me like I've lost my marbles.

TPLO or TTA

It has been 5 weeks since the first onset of Riley's crucial ligament injury. We have been doing a stricter conservative mangagement (CM) program for him for the past 3 weeks. So far, it has worked for us and we have a nice routine. Ten minutes of controlled on-leash walking in the morning, one short potty walk in the afternoon, and extra brushing or belly rubs in the evening. He is closely monitored for descending stairs and carried up the main steep staircase. Plus, no jumping in or out of the car. Riley is bearing weight on his leg and is generally in a better mood.

Today was our visit to Dr. Trout at Angell Memorial. First of all, the hospital is beautiful. I think it looks better than Boston City Hospital. There were several dogs and cats there, all waiting to be called in. We didn't have to wait long. Dr. Trout came out with two interns following close behind and greeted Riley. I found Dr. Trout very humble, very thorough, and has a great bedside manner. We tried to ask every question we could think of, but I knew there were still questions I was forgetting to ask. Several surgical options were explained to us: traditional repair, TPLO, and TTA. The conventional, surgical treatment involves sewing a strong surgical suture around the knee joint to restore normal position and stability of the femur on the tibia. The suture provides support and performs a similar function as the cruciate ligament.

He then showed us a pretty impressive mechanical model of how a Tibia Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) could help stablize his knee. This procedure levels the slope of the tibial plateau so the cruciate ligament isn’t necessary to keep the femur from sliding down the plateau of the tibia. Surgery involves cutting and rotating the top of the tibia, then screwing a bone plate into place so the bone will heal in its new position. Okay, that last part was medical jargon I found on this website: http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/ccl-injuries.html.

Finally, he talked about a Tibia Tuberosity Advancement (TTA): Similar to TPLO surgery, TTA stabilizes the knee joint by changing the geometry and physics of the knee and enabling it to work without a cruciate ligament. TTA surgery may be less invasive and quicker than TPLO surgery. Again, that jargon was from the website.

As a surgeon, Dr. Trout performed his job well. We walked out of there thinking surgery was the obvious option for Riley. He told us he'd expect Riley to be able to eventually return to all previously normal activity, given time and proper increments of exercise of course. As I left the hospital, I felt relieved. I felt hopeful and happy my baby boy was going to be all fixed up. But the surgeon left the decision up to us to decide between a TPLO or TTA. He felt comfortable with either surgery for Riley. But the fact is that the TPLO has been around a lot longer and Dr. Trout has done a lot of them. The TTA is newer but seems slightly less invasive and recovery may be a bit easier.

It seems surgery is the way to go. 30-40% of dogs that tear a ligament in one knee end up tearing the other too. I hope this never happens to him, but if it does, I'd like to know that he has a stablized, strong knee to rely on.

Surgery is set for October 23rd. We admit him first thing in the morning, he stays over night, and we pick him up the next day. Here we go.

Trailblazer

Columbus Day weekend: 2006. The last hike of the year turns out to be the most beautiful day for a hike. In celebration of a GK sister's 43rd birthday, a group of 12 met at the base of Mt. Liberty in NH and climbed a 4460+ footer. This was also Sabrina's first hike. It is approximately 2.6 miles to the top and I was very leary that she would make it. At only 4.5 months, I was worried she wouldn't know when to stop; that her young joints and muscles just wouldn't be able to take the 3 hour hike up. But hike she did, and with ease. In fact, not only did she hike up, but she would run up and down the path, darting back and forth between us hikers, keeping us in a pack. If someone stopped hiking, she would begin to whine. It was amazing to see her little pack dog instinct kick in. I thought it was just something Riley used to do, but here was little Sabrina making it her job to see that everyone stayed together and kept hiking.
The trail was tough but picturesque none-the-less. When we reached the top, the view was breathtaking. Atop our summit, we could see the tops of all the neighboring mountains. Some summits we have even climbed before: Flume, Green Leaf Hut, etc. We gathered, we ate, we basked in the sun, and we laughed.
We even got a professional photographer to take our photo!There was no breeze this particular day at the summit and I wanted to stay there and take a nap. Sabrina certainly found a comfy place to catch a snooze. One GK sister presented the birthday girl with a bottle of Irish Cream she had carried all the way up the mountain! Cheers to the birthday girl!
As the rest of the party hiked down, my mountain man and I hiked .6 miles back down to the Liberty Springs campsite where we were going to stay the night. We took platform #8. After setting up camp, we headed over to the outlook to watch the sunset. As night set in, we prepared our meals, tent-side on a little Jet Boil. Jeffrey brought freeze-dried lasagna and meat sauce. I had a little Miso and Tofu instant noodle cup. Anything at this point looked delicious. Little Sabrina was so tired even a spoonful of her Mediterranean Banquet in front of her nose couldn't wake her up. After dinner, a little bedtime tea and we were ready for bed. The night was unseasonably warm, around the 40s. By 5am, before the sun rose, Sabrina was up and ready to go again. Finally by 7am we were up, packed, and began our descent. It took us only 1.5 hours but the trail was steep and rocky. When we reached our car there was great sense of accomplishment. Jeffrey is proud that I have finally gone backpacking with him, though it is a bit embarassing to say that he pretty much carried *everything*. And really, I mean everything. It was quite an amazing feat. I could barely even lift this pack.
Unfortunately, Sabrina's first hike was absent of Riley. We let him stay home to get extra rest and not aggravate his knee (or good knee for that matter). A kind neighbor came over to let him out and spend a little tummy-scratching time with him. I wish he could have hiked with us, with our new little trailblazer Sabrina. He would have liked that.

Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble...

I usually try to title my post with the main theme of my entries. I don't really have a main theme today. Just lots of thoughts. So as I sit down to type, all I hear is the sound of Sabrina playing with a plush turkey toy that I just picked up for her today. She has been carrying it around the house ever since I brought it home 30 minutes ago. When she bites into the turkey, it of course, gobbles. Very cute.

Riley update this week. No mental wellness walks Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, only potty breaks. By Thursday not only was he going bonkers but I couldn't take it anymore. So he got a 15 minute very low key walk with Sabrina in the morning. Friday morning, same thing. We go up to Stonehurst just as the sun is rising so it is very quiet and there isn't anyone around. Riley is thrilled to be able to roll around on his back in the long grass. Whenever he does that, I think I can actually see the mental wellness atoms increase in his spirit. Friday night he actually sneaks up the stairs without me even knowing! So this morning I decide to take him Beaverbrook for a walk. We go at 8am and I dont' expect that many peopel to be up on a Saturday morning of a 3 day weekend. Boy was I wrong. Riley got a 30 minute walk and came home with a bad limp again. Too much too soon. Back to rest again.

Other interesting things I read in the pets! free newsletter. Cesar Millan in on the front page. I read the article. Here's a quote:"Most dog problems come from two things, lack of exercise and lack of leadership." Isn't that so true. At least there's a really good reason why I'm killing myself getting up at 5am every morning in order to have time to organize my house, exercise, and feed my dogs. And then there's that catch phrase Cesar always uses, "calm and assertive energy." Yeah, I need a little of more of that in all areas of my life.

Another opinion

New information via a long-time Berner owner. She attended a workshop last night specifically about cruciate disease. Since I could not make the workshop, she kindly forwarded some of her notes to me. Things that jumped out at me:
Many dogs that begin with conservative management end up with surgeries either on the same leg or on the other leg anyways. Many dogs while on conservative mangagement lose a lot of muscle mass that would be helpful in stablizing the knee. One of the causes an unstable knee besides a sudden athletic injury or trauma, is chronic inflammation due to autoimmune disease and poor joint conformation.
Bingo. It was like a light turned on. Riley may have been predisposed to this injury due to chronic inflammation secondary to his immune issues. Riley has exhibited chronic inflammation throughout his life. If it wasn't his skin, it was his ears, then it was his muscles and his joints. I remember once when he was just a few months old and I botched my first tick extraction. Riley's face swelled up like a balloon, from just a tick bite! In addition, though I don't know anything about conformation, I sincerely doubt Riley has good conformation. But I'd have to ask an experienced breeder that question. Maybe his bone structure was faulty to begin with. Who knows. However, I also do know that plenty of "pure bred" Berners from reputable breeders have also had joint problems.
I'm beginning to lean more towards surgery now...

Set backs

We're back to square one. Prior to the weekend, Riley was showing some improvement in the stability of his knee. His gait was smoother, there was no noticeable limp. Unfortunately, the weekend in NH may have been too exciting for him and he over did it. I had my worries at the campground as I tried to keep the dogs calm and quiet. But my suspicions were confirmed when we arrived home. He balked at the front stairs. He has been doing these stairs all along and this time he knew his knee would not not support him.

In the past two days, I fear more damage has been done to his knee. He balks going down the stairs and he has an exaggerated limp. We are starting over. Two weeks of careful rest and care are down the drain. 8 weeks of rest, here we go again. My goal is to finish the 8 weeks of rest and begin 8 weeks of increased activity in time for Riley to enjoy the snow. I wouldn't want him to not be able to enjoy playing in the snow.

Celebrating 100 posts

I just realized that the last post was my 100th post. I'd like to celebrate this milestone by posting one of my most favorite photographs of Riley. It was taken at the top a mountain 2 years ago when Riley was a year and a half. I think the mountain is called Pico Peak, in Vermont. Jeffrey and I had hiked this mountain before. Our first fall foliage together, in fact. Two years later, we went back with our Bernerpuppy.




Here some more photos of the hike. Hopefully, there will be more photos of Riley and us hiking during fall foliage season in years to come. And I hope I will still be posting them here on his blog.

The challenges of parenthood

Two weeks into conservative management (CM), all in hopes that we won't end up doing surgery anyways. I have read about all the different stories. People who did CM for 6 months and then ended up having to do surgery anyways. People who did CM for one knee and then having to do surgery on the other. There's traditional surgery and there's TPLO. At least half of those dogs that had one knee go, surgery or not, had the other knee go too. Labs, Huskies, Berners, Rotties, Goldens, the list is long. All active breed dogs, though I hear that lil ones like Yorkies are likely to have this injury too. Then there are also the stories of dogs returning to their previous levels of health without surgery. Right now it's just day to day and the orthopedic appointment cannot come any sooner. I want to see the ultrasound and know exactly what we are dealing with. I wonder how much you can actually see. I want to know!!

Another challenge: keeping Riley's weight down. At the last vet visit we were at 81.8 lbs. We have been working on decreasing his weight from the 87 pounds he was a year ago. Yay! But now with activity restrictions, I'm sure we will be struggling to keep his weight down.
Strategy #1: adding bulk without the calories. I started adding raw, chopped carrots to his meals. It makes up about half of the bulk of his meal so that he can feel fuller, but the carrots are not absorbable at that size so they'll just come out the other end whole! Interesting huh? I also use the principle of sibling rivalry to my advantage. I try to feed him with Sabrina watching so that everything goes down, in fear that what he doesn't wholf down will undoubtedly go to his lil sister. Works like a charm. It's how I get his supplements down too!
Strategy #2: Hydrotherapy. I have been reading about dogs doing well with underwater treadmills or even swimming. Even dogs that have a fear of water. I am quite certain that Riley does not aspire to be a swimmer, but perhaps a little walking in the water would be good exercise. I need to look into finding a facility that is hopefully nearby and affordable.

I have come to realize that I'm an over-protective parent. Okay, everybody else had probably already figured this out, but I never thought I'd be this way. I thought I would take challenges in stride and not be too obsessive in protecting my children. But with this injury, I am a maniac. Maybe I won't be this way with my human kids and the only reason why I am this way is because you cannot talk and rationalize things with a canine. In addition, I refuse to do things out of fear. I like to make decisions based on information and I like to maintain the control that I ultimately get to make the decision. I feel like I have to watch his every step and analyze his every move. I am obsessed with Riley's well being at this point.

I think I've just realized that it is affecting my total stress and anxiety level. Instead of enjoying my family and having a good time, I am extremely anxious and okay, maybe a bit uptight. This past weekend, we went up to Pillsbury State Park in NH again. I was convinced that this trip was going to send us straight to the emergency room and then surgery. I was literally holding my breath for the first 24 hours, just waiting for the moment my Bernerboy's knee gave out. I was one stressed mama. Good thing I woke up Saturday morning in a more positive mood. Riley's knee seemed to have survived the morning's rambunctious antics and he seemed so happy. The weather on Saturday was gorgeous. A perfect autumn day for a hike. Sadly, this was the first hike in a long time without Riley. I cannot even recall when was the last time we hiked without the Bernerbuddy. I don't think we ever did, except when we hadn't gotten him yet. Sabrina is just 4 months old and not able to hike so leaving her in the car was fine. But Riley could not understand why on this perfectely crisp autumn day he was not running up a mountain with us. Despite my reluctance to hike without my boy, I realized half way up the mountain that I really enjoyed hiking with my mountain man, sans the furkids. I had forgotten what it was like to focus on just us and not be competely obsessed about my furkids all the time! Of course, upon our return to the car, it was difficult to explain to Riley that we had already finished the hike. He pulled on the leash and headed right over to the trail head as if to say, "What are we all waiting for?! Let's go hiking!" He continued to try and head into the trail despite our calls to return to the car. *sigh* Love is tough. Especially when the ones you love don't know you're doing it because you care about them.

Tonight Riley is limping again. Did we let him overdo it? Definitely yes. But boy was he a happy to be out in the woods, chewing on sticks, digging in the dirt, and breathing in the fresh crisp air. A trade off for some mental wellness.

Here's a photo from Riley's first Autumn as a 6 month old.