Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie So.... Saw the physio today. The good news: Charlie has the best muscle tone, the best range of motion, and the best weight bearing, of any dog 6 weeks after cruciate surgery she has ever seen. Great. (By the way, that doesn't stop me waking up from a nightmare in the middle of the night - the nightmare is that the results of his x-rays - next Thursday - are that it's all gone horribly wrong). I know this person is conservative. But she is not keen on Charlie ever returning to retrieving. She says the sudden stop will never be good. The surgeon says Charlie will be as fit as a working gundog and should be able to do a day's hard work, no problem (I didn't tell him Charlie is as far from a working gundog as I could get ;D ). Hmmm....back to my trusty orthopedic vet for a final view, I think...
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Thinking about my Lab retrieving, he doesn't seem to come to a sudden stop but runs out, picks up the retrieve on the run and arcs back to me. Perhaps she means running in as the retrieve is thrown? Very good news that he is so fit and I am sure your nightmare is just a nightmare!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Charlie hasn't fetched a dummy since he was 9 months. But when he did sometimes he would have so much trouble stopping his back legs would flip over his back in a cartwheel. This may have been a puppy thing though. I think it was you, Stacia, that suggested throwing into cover. I'll definitely do that. But just a bit confused at the conflicting views. I think it comes down to how much I want to protect Charlie - against rupturing the other leg, and against future arthritis, against living for the moment.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Charlie could still have fun hunting for tennis balls in long grass. I hide some, you can really push them in with grass over in quite a small area and let him hunt for them. Lead him up to the area and then leave him to it, you can make sure you keep him in he area, s he shouldn't be running too much.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Thats what i was thinking. If he cant mark it exactly when it lands, he less likely to screech to a halt?? I toss dummies up a hill just over the dip at the top so the dogs see where they have disappeared, but dont screech to a halt as they have to look for them when they get to the top... they actually seem to enjoy this kind of retrieving more now...such great news that Charlie is recovering so well though
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Great news that his recovery is going so well If the end verdict is 'no retrieving', consider tracking instead. Hopefully though the final view will be that he can do anything without a problem
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Yes, I really can't see that throwing a dummy into cover can be all that bad. Tracking is a great idea regardless! Must get onto that - we can do it on lead. Brill. I can see jumping and twisting for a frisbee is bad. Not that we have ever owned a frisbee. Seems a bit of a grey area in between though. Hmmm.....
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4619.msg67463#msg67463 date=1397157695] So.... Saw the physio today. The good news: Charlie has the best muscle tone, the best range of motion, and the best weight bearing, of any dog 6 weeks after cruciate surgery she has ever seen. Great. [/quote] Ah Julie such great news ,I'm really pleased,you should be really proud of your great team effort to get him this far xxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Heading to bed now Julie,sending best wishes for great,fabulous,positive news of Charlie's successful recovery and A* X-ray results tomorrow?hope you don't have a restless night,it is going to be fine Nnite x
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Ah, thank you! Well, it will be what it will be...part of me thinks it's going to be fine. Another part of me remembers every last accidental jump up, or lunge, and thinks there is no chance of it being fine. I'm taking him in at 9.30am then have a packed work day, and OH has to pick him up. The vet will call me later when I get home, I hope.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Fingers crossed that everything goes perfect tommorow and results from the x-rays are brilliant
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Thanks, everyone - the crossed fingers and paws mean a lot. It's a big deal milestone. Either we're on the mend and can see the light. Or this whole beeping nightmare gets a whole lot worse. So any positive vibes our way tomorrow, and we're grateful!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Charlie has had the very best treatment on all levels and not least from you, so I would be very surprised if all was not well
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Will certainly be hoping all the best for you all, Julie...but will be expecting all the best too!! He's come along so well, soon this all will be a distant nightmare....
