I am very pleased with Rushs progress.  I have not been able to work with her as much as I would like, but we have been able to raise the jumps in our grid and extend the amount of time we work.  She has not shown any soreness in practice.  She does seem to get sore in the snow, so I try to limit what she does when there is snow on the ground.  She is such a happy puppy and when she is pain free her personality comes shining through.  I really like this dog, she just has so much and she is so different than my other dogs.  Funny how they are all so different. 

We worked again on Rush’s exercises, she has not pulled up sore on that leg which I consider a good sign. When I talk about the rehab I am sure many people think about the traditional take her to physical therapy and do a session with a rehab instructor in a pool  or underwater treadmill.  I have been given strange looks when I clarify that I am rehabing her at home.  No, I am not a certified therapy or rehab person but, I do know my dog.  If I took Rush to therapy (which I did as a last desperate act before surgery number 2).  First off, due to all the bad experiences in her young life, she now hates riding (it used to just be the car, but now she hates my truck too).  When we arrive at a therapy session she is nervous, shaking and far from relaxed.  When another person touches her she stiffens up.  I dont know if you have ever tried to stretch out when you are cold or relax when you are scared… but it is not the best way to work muscles.  At home we can skip the car ride and the only hands on her are mine - and she still trusts momma.  So, rehab at home is it.  Due to the sale (or attempted sale) of all my cars I will probably wind up with an empty 60 X 75 car building - in which case this summer might become home to a therapy pool for my dogs.  We will see, but for now - no pool -

Okay, so this is our rehab day:  We start out with four jumps (4″ jump height) set up in a circle.  She jumps two times left (full circle) and two times right (full circle) total.  This makes her use both back legs, each one taking turns being the outside leg.  Them we will do our 4″ jump grid.

I do this exercise on leash with a “walk” command.  The idea is that she “trots” through these up and then back using all legs evenly.  The spacing between jumps is even.  We do this about four times.

Next we will work the figure-8 cones.

She really does these amazingly fast, not favoring either leg.   We do not do too many as I do not want to make her sore.  We probably do do about four sets.  From there I move on to the board work.

I set these up like stairs that start at ground level then slowly go up, then back down.  I start out with the steps close then I spread them out further so that she has to stretch her legs to reach each level.  We will do a couple reps of this.  Now the weave poles.

These are not being done to teach weaving (I plan on teaching channel with Rush). This is the distance apart that I use and it is simply for pushing off and using all four feet evenly.  I noticed when Rush was hurting before the hip replacement that she had stopped wanting to hit her entries, I know that this type of movement will make that weaker leg work.  I will not close them tighter by much if at all, like I said, when she is ready I will move her to channels to begin her training.  Okay… backing up….

I use this tunnel as a guide so that she can back up the 15′ length of this wall.  She walks up then reverses (the dog in this photo is Baby)  :)  Demonstrating for me.

After all the equipment we work sit to down, and down to sit to stand, roll on one hip and roll on other hip.  I also do manipulation rotation work on all four legs (so the bad leg doesnt feel picked on) and I stretch her.  I will also ask her to stand up on two legs (using my arm as a balance) and I will have her “sit pretty” using my arm as a balance (an exercise she could not do pre-surgery).  We do some “perch” work on a box and “balance” work having her balance on a front leg and back leg (vertically) as well as tri-pod.   Her reward for all equipment is tug and fetch and the stretches are for food.

I am hoping to keep working with her until we are able to move into a place where I can start training her again to do agility.  I want to be able to work up slowly, keep her from getting sore as she gains strength then raise the bar or bars as the case may be.  I feel that by increase slowly (and her showing no signs of fatigue)that I will get the “signs” that she is ready for more.  The difference between her rehab work and actual agility training is the height and speed in which I ask for her to respond. Right now its all about working all legs independently and strength building.  I will also be adding the “pods” (they are like the rubber exercise balls that people use) only they are oblong for dogs.  This will help her core strength.

Cool, I think thats all.  :)   Oh, let me share one more thing,

Rush and Ember share a nap spot.

My little Rush was able to start rehab to day.  I am doing it myself because Rush is most comfortable with me that anyone else.  She also doesnt like car trips.  So, to keep her comfortable I will be doing her rehab at home.

We worked on cavalettis at 8″ - she did a nice even trot through them.  We did pinwheel work at 8″ (she did great).  We woked open weave-o-matics, she just dropped her head and paddled right through all the poles.  Which I found interesting because she had not done weave-o-matics in the past (we worked channels), what great style.  We did stretches and balancing exercises ,as well as perching.  She was focused and worked for a toy the whole time.  :)Success.

Rush had a recheck appointment today (this morning at 7:50)  :)  They rechecked and re exrayed. Said everything looks good.  He would like for her to remain on crate rest another 2 weeks.  Then she is released to her rehab (with me) and into her regular agility routine slowly until May?  I cant remember if he said March or May because I was thinking about how I would bring her back into shape and not listening! 

My little girl

This time around she left her bandage alone, so on day 5 I took it off.

Click any photo to enlarge

Day after surgery… just a little woosey.

These are of the original cup\

Epidural  

New cup - no screws

Rush went in for her second surgery on the same hip.  She never healed correctly and none of the x-rays showed any issue, so they decided to go in.  Their guess was that the cup had come lose and the wiggle caused her pain.

When they went in, they found that the cup was only being held by one screw.  She never grew any bone in the crevaces like she should have - they dont know why.  So, they removed that cup and put in a new one.  The new one however did not stick either.  They chose to go with a “new technology” cup which was self drilling.  No screw was required it simply screws itself right into the bone.  It is a 26mm (old one was 23 mm) (mm or cm???  sorry cant remember).  But the technology for this is brand new so I am very excited.

The hopes for her is that she will be 99% when they are done. The doctor is being really cautious this time and wants 4 weeks of complete crate rest - no leash walking even.  Uhg!!!  But if she can play painfree when we are done - its worth all the pain of the rest!!! 

Rush with sissy Katelyn

We have pretty much used all our money and all our resources.  We were unsuccessful with making progress in rehab which unfortunately is what I expected.  It has almost been 1 year since her hip replacement.  As a matter of fact I will make the last payment on Friday - and Tuesday will be the second surgery. 

Since the surgery her progress of recovery has not been good.  We have run through all the rehab/rest/drugs/prayer and have seen no relief for her.  Poor baby was only 1 year old for the first surgery and she will be going back into surgery on Tuesday.  They think that maybe the cup that the hip is sitting in has come loose… they wont know until they go in.  IF that is what it is then they will make one of a couple fixes.  They feel that she should recover from the second surgery within a months time and they expect 99% - 100% normal if all goes well.

I got Rush in hopes of another wonderful agility dog like my Ice and although Rush has the heart for the work she has never had the health to do it.  She has been in alot of pain and I can only pray that she will soon be through that and on her way to be the dog she wants to be (wild and crazy little girl that she once was) 

The doctors that I spoke with feel very strongly that this will fix Rush up and make her as close to 100% as possible.  I am hoping at the very least to take away her pain, and at the most… let her play agility!!!  What a miracle that will feel like it this works.  I will keep you posted on her progress next week.

Well, the rehab is not helping.  We keep trying different things, but nothing seems to ease the pain in that hip. We are going back to Dr. Swainson to see what now.  I already know the answer, I dont want to do this again.  Moms know though dont they.

And this one… what a pretty girl!  I just love her

Well, the medication for the front end seemed to help.  I havent seen any limping from her in about a week.  We did a rehab last Monday and one again today.  The rehab doc showed me some simple exercises and prescribed another medication to go with the other two that the other vet had given.  She said if we hit this hard, get her comfortable and then maybe she would start to use that leg and gain strength.  We have been doing walks and stretches… today she went back in.   I had to report that I saw no change in her at all.  We did more lazer and this time put her in the underwater treadmill just for a few minutes, not full of water, to get her used to it.  She hates it!  hates the visit!  Hates being messed with.  So another week of meds and stretches and walks and we will see next Monday if there is any difference.  However, I kind of feel like all this is just not worth it…  :(   I mean if I could have a dog that was healthy again after I would be all for it, but it seems like the things that rehab is doing is what I had been doing (only for free) and she got worse…

so we will do it… and see 

I took Rush to the vet because she has started limping on the front leg and she seemed really depressed.  I had already scheduled her rehab to start on Monday, but I wasnt sure if I should.  What if she had Lyme disease or something.  I did take her in, but again the vet could not find anything.  He put her on some medication to help with the pain and hopefully take the pain/limp out of the front end.  We did not do blood work because what I thought it was would be $250 - $400.00 worth of blood work that the vet did not really think was the problem. Chances were that lack of use of the back leg was maybe straining the front.

So, we are on a wait and see. 

Well, we continue to struggle with the leg.  The specialist says I need to rest her and he would like for me to do rehab. However, the rehab is $300.00 and 45 minutes one way away.  So with my current financial and time restraints, rehab is going to have to wait.  I will do it once my schedule eases up which depends on my kids.  :)  They are doing on-line schooling and still require help from me alot.

Anyway, I take her for walks each day - she hates not being able to play, but any kind of play hurts her. 

Keep you posted.

Well we went last week to the vet to get xrays, they couldnt find anything.  Good and bad I suppose.  Yesterday we went to the ortho specialists (the people that did her surgery).  They took additional digital xrays (didnt charge me)  yeah!   But still couldnt see anything jumping out at them in the xray.  He suspects that maybe the stem of the implant is moving ever so slightly, maybe because she is so rough on her body, or her bone needed more recovery than the average dog  - not sure.  He is going to run all the xrays through his colleagues and see what they think.  Even if it is moving, he is not sure what that would even mean.  Does it mean additional surgery, rehab, more rest.  no clue.  He didnt know.  He says he doesnt see many post op hips as they go well and thats that.  So, he is kind of excited about learning something new on this one.  Oh, boy.  Not me.  I just want my Rush’s fixed so she can play with the big boys, cuz I know she can!

Rush has been having trouble with her back leg for a few days now.  I have to make an appointment for next week to get her x-rayed.  I want to make sure that there are not breaks, cracks or other possible complications before looking for further help.  Last night she was also majorly limping on the front left… this she has done before.  She is not too mobil limping on 2 of the 4 legs.  Poor baby.  She obviously did not get to do class last night.  And she wont be playing either!

We had a puppy party today!  Rush got to meet brother Kelty.  Handsome boy.  Sarha and Bruce brought there dogs over and we got to play with Wit, Zip, Kelty and Ace (of course in addition to our already full load).  We had a wonderful time.