Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=4619.msg69040#msg69040 date=1397771675] Julie this article came through on my email the other day and i thought it might interest you: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.co...b259e083ec6a1a80465e99c92211b6fc2d70a94f69ee8 [/quote] It's interesting....I also think, to be honest, it's also absolutely nuts.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Julie, so happy to hear you are, if not out of the woods, at least starting to see the trees thinning a little. Xx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4619.msg69043#msg69043 date=1397771980] [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=4619.msg69040#msg69040 date=1397771675] Julie this article came through on my email the other day and i thought it might interest you: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.co...b259e083ec6a1a80465e99c92211b6fc2d70a94f69ee8 [/quote] It's interesting....I also think, to be honest, it's also absolutely nuts. [/quote] yep, some of it is logical and makes sense but the rest does not, but does raise some valid points of a dog can not tear both ligaments by falling in two rabbit wholes at the same time ;D
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=4619.msg69047#msg69047 date=1397772356] yep, some of it is logical and makes sense but the rest does not, but does raise some valid points of a dog can not tear both ligaments by falling in two rabbit wholes at the same time ;D [/quote] No. I think none of it is logical. I'm sorry, I really don't want to offend, but I think the article is nutty, and dangerous. I think anyone who avoids surgery for cruciate ligament injuries, risking excruciating arthritis developing, is sadly misled or barking mad. This may be different for very light dogs (though my surgeon said this is an old fashioned view). I think some homeopath remedies have their place. I honestly think to suggest they do for cruciate ligament disease is irresponsible. There is highly likely to be a genetic element to cruciate disease - some breeds (including labradors) are much more prone to cruciate disease than other breeds. But the mechanism is not understood, and there is no test to breed the fault out (if that's what it is). There is no reliable way of knowing whether a dog ruptured a cruciate from truma, or disease. The picture of a dog having, on average, 40% chance of rupturing the second cruciate is also not well understood. It may be that an inherent genectic weakness means regardless, the second cruciate will rupture (if it is a genetic and symmetrical disease). Or, it maybe that the pressure the healthy leg takes, while the first leg heals, puts undue strain on the ligament and this creates the problem. In which case, you can improve your chances through very careful rehabilitation.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Based on personal experience I can confirm that the last sentence in this quote is entirely correct: "Ever notice the high percentage of ingredients in your topical flea treatments that are called “inert?” Yep: solvents. They’ll take the color off your leather couch, if you’re not careful".
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie I think Charlie is feeling better. Well, it’s obvious that he is feeling better compared to his just post op but today - Total Hooligan. Gosh, hyper, a full time job just to keep his feet on the floor (I was at work, luckily, just got regular email updates from failing-to-work-at-home OH), chewing, counter surfing, retrieving everything that wasn’t nailed down – he excelled himself by fetching the vent cover from the bottom of the fridge, hah, missed that – and generally making a complete nuisance of himself! I wouldn’t mind, but he is now on 4 x 30 mins lead walks, and a full routine of physio and hydro each week. Which is miles more than he should be having at this stage if he were a normal dog (it’s all with complete agreement of rehab centre, local vet and surgeon – I’m not doing anything illegal). How are we going to “let the dog off lead for a quiet 5 mins” (don't you just love the way vets say things like that? ;D ;D ;D ) in two weeks' time? He is going to do 5 laps of the park and get into a romp with another dog before I’ve picked up the lead!?!
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Oh my goodness!! Long line trailing so you might, possibly with a following wind manage to get hold of him?
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Maybe a set of hobbles ;D Good to hear that the young man is in high spirits and keeping you both on your toes
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Worried about a long line - due to the harness hatred! He is going to take off at 100mph and I'd worry that he'd break his neck on a normal collar. Well, he'll just have to have a harness on and lump it, I guess. The only other thing I can think of is to take him to the rehab centre where they have every size of dog proof paddock...that might be the safest thing. If he is in the smallest paddock, there is a limit to how much madness he can generate....
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Today, Charlie got a toy. "Big Deal" I hear you say - why is that news? Well, it's because he got a toy off lead in the kitchen. This means he was allowed to jump around a little (on a rug) with a toy. For a very short time. It is the first bit of freedom (and let's face it, it's not a lot of freedom) he has had in 9 long weeks.... He made the most of it. (It's possible watching someone else's dog play with a soft toy in a kitchen is as interesting as watching paint dry - sorry - but it's a meaningful milestone for us!). https://www.flickr.com/photos/97932779@N08/14080338696/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/97932779@N08/14103388465/in/photostream/
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4619.msg73469#msg73469 date=1399204558] (It's possible watching someone else's dog play with a soft toy in a kitchen is as interesting as watching paint dry - sorry - but it's a meaningful milestone for us!). [/quote] Not at all! A) Seeing Charlie is always a pleasure- gorgeous shiny conkery boy. B) This thread is a masterclass in effective rehabilitation! So keep em coming
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Charlie has done so well Julie. You should be proud of yourself and him for getting though such a difficult time. It won't be much longer and it will all be in the past and your bouncy puppy will be back to normal.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4619.msg73469#msg73469 date=1399204558] (It's possible watching someone else's dog play with a soft toy in a kitchen is as interesting as watching paint dry - sorry - but it's a meaningful milestone for us!). https://www.flickr.com/photos/97932779@N08/14103388465/in/photostream/ [/quote] No it's not! And not when he's playing with his obvious favourite .....his camel ;D ;D ;D Was a bit worried for the camels tail at one point nice swap He looks great,lovely strong,shiny healthy boy xxx
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Marvellous He's so cuddly looking. And shiny! Obi is now demanding a bigger toy basket after seeing Charlie's collection.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie You and Charlie have done so well. It is often the apparently small victories that are so meaningful.
Re: Lovely Chocolate Charlie Thanks guys, yes, celebrating the milestones (even if tiny) helps. Had a bit of a rubbish walk this morning. Well, 90% of it was fine, good even - walked round the duck pond nicely at heel and so on. Then, an energetic young beagle appeared from nowhere and jumped all over us. Charlie went really, really, really nuts with excitement - I was sure he was going to back out of his collar. I couldn't do anything, because the beagle was running in circles round us. Then the owners appeared and proceeded to run after the beagle - trying to dive and rugby tackle him. The beagle was faster. It was chaos. We were so scared Charlie was going to hurt himself, OH just put his arms round him to try to stop him jumping so much. Sigh...part of me tells myself to cut us some slack, loads of young dogs would react badly to that. The other part of me has emailed a new load of trainers....I'd just like some help, even if all it does is tell me I'm coping as well as I can. I need to know, I think, I'm not making this any worse than it needs to be.
