Saturday 22 June 2013

Jess and Marty Update - 16.06.13-22.06.13

16.06.13-22.06.13

Well this week I can breath!
Last Sunday Jess and Marty had their second massage with Griselda from Doggy Bliss - things seemed to be improving....Jess fell asleep during her session - once she has settled and her legs have been attended too, its time to relax and enjoy....
Marty is a wiggle bum, but he did really well - he has a short attention span, but Griselda works wonders with him and we certainly get a lot from the sessions.

Monday was Jess second cartrofen injection and she was back walking on her back right leg, I felt so much better, the vet was happy - It was me that was panicking!

Marty can still be lazy at times and when he wants to get somewhere fast, he hops/runs on three legs - it is all about getting him to slow down, walk properly and use the leg.

They have their daily short walks and stretches, Jess does well, wiggle bum is a little harder to get to sit still!

The week went well and we were very happy.  Today, Saturday 22nd - we had our first underwater treadmill session.  I had done this previously with my own bub, Toby when he had patella surgery quite a few years ago, I know the ropes and I know the benefits.

Off to the vet we went, Jess was first into the small puddle of water to get herself use to the situation, she was scared and not loving it at all, we reassured her and put water in the treadmill, she did a few minutes walking, but she was nervous and not really liking her feet in the water, we didn't push her.  What I am going to do is walk her in my bath tub to get her use to the feeling of water and walking, this should help her relax more with the situation.

Marty was running around while Jess was having her session and then when it was his time, his brakes came on.....he popped himself in and was fine walking around in the puddles (a daily occurance for him, but its normally mud!) we put the water in and he just wasn't sure at all.  We took our time and I help him either side with my hands while the treadmill began, he seemed happier with a bit of pressure on him and he used his back leg really well for the 2minutes we worked him.  The rest of the time they walk casually in the water.

The water helps the leg be used without the pressure of the ground - it is a great thing and we are lucky to have a vet in Adelaide with the service.

The vet feels that Jessie's legs are still quite stiff, even though she uses them, she is not bending her knee correctly just yet and the treadmill is going to benefit her greatly, once we get her use to it.

We are booked in next Sunday for round 2 and this Thursday will be massage number 3 with Aunty Griselda.

So proud of my pumpkins!

Photos attached are massage number 2 and treadmill session number 1 and Marty in the car on the way home - tired, tired, tired!




Friday 14 June 2013

08.06.13 to 14.06.13

Well, the best way to sum this week up is - disappointment. 
Jessie hasn't really used her right leg all week. I saw a change on Sunday and she visited the vet on Monday, they put her back on anti inflammatory tablets and gave her a cartrofen injection (she will have 4 / one a week).
The vet explained the right leg was the worse side and more work was performed on that knee. 
We had to ease the exercises and cut back the depth of the stretches. 
It was easy to see it wasn't comfortable for Jess when my sister and I did her twice daily exercises. 
We are a bit sad because up until last weekend she has been fantastic, you start doubting yourself, did we do something wrong? But then you have to think if the extensive scope of the procedure that had been performed on her knees. 

Marty uses his leg, but not as much as he should! I think he is just being a tad lazy? I know it would be stiff for him, but when we do his stretches the movement is great, but he really is such a wiggle bum, to keep him still enough to do the stretches is a miracle, he really doesn't enjoy them. 

Walking - Marty loves it! Getting him just to walk slow and use his leg properly is near impossible! Even before the operation he would hop faster than any of the other dogs could run....I persist and when we do we see improvement. 
Jess hasn't been great with walking, she holds her right leg up all the time :(

We have massage number 2 this Sunday with Griselda from Doggy Bliss so will be interesting to hear her thoughts. Monday is Jessie's second cartrofen injection and vet check. 

Fingers crossed there is improvement this week for my cherubs!!! 

Photo attached is the two of them texting in front of the heater, there is part of them that is close, they understand each other! 

No change in their personalities they at both as cheeky and naughty as usual!!! 


Friday 7 June 2013

01.06.13 - 07.06.13

Well I was back at work this week, always worried things weren't going to be as good as they have been.
Jess and Marty got their stitches out on Tuesday night, they both had a reaction to the plaster tape, so some cream and fresh air and it was almost healed within 24 hours - it was amazing they hadn't been biting at the plaster.
Jess had ripped all the stuffing out, it seemed to be annoying her, but was fine with her leg being strapped?

They have great spirits, their stitches aren't worrying them at all and the vet was so impressed at how far they had come in just one week.  I expressed how I was so nervous at the thought of having to watch them crawl as lots of videos and stories I had seen and read it showed the doggies dragging themselves around for the first 2-3 days - confined to a play pen.

Jess walked on her two front feet to start with and Marty just hopped but the vet thinks by not confining them I may have actually helped their progress, I did have them confined to the lounge room and access to the outside for business, but not confined in a small area as a play pen - which of course I had set up, but their spirits were high and I took a punt.

Jess is still not able to fully use the dog door, she seems to be able to get outside, but not inside, so I have made provisions for her for when I am at work, she gets checked on several times by my sister during the day and has play friends at home too!

My sister and I are doing 2 daily exercises on the guys to help with their movement and they have also started small walks on a lead - Jess started off a bit stiff but has progressed very well.  Marty is good, but can get lazy if he wants too (can't we all!).

Today they had their first professional massage with Griselda from Doggy Bliss - Jess seemed to really get something out of it and even managed a little relaxation snooze, Marty took awhile to settled (but that is his nature) after watching Jess he thought he would behave, get his flexes done and relax too!

Their stitches are out next Tuesday and being a long weekend I hope to spend some time doing short walks with them (slow walking and making sure the movement is the best thing) - Marty tends to pull and run and not get the full movement.

I have made the enquiries for them to also start hydrotheraphy/treadmill work which will hopefully commence once their stitches are removed.

All in all, I am a happy Mumma!
(you can see from the video attached nothing is holding them back!