Kenz's On-going Saga

[Tassie]

I could see a definite improvement - she's getting the hang of it now, and when she was started from the back of the treadmill, there was some reach and drive. When she gets stuck too close to the front, it's actually impossible for her to be doing the exercise effectively - her head comes up and her bum goes lower.

Also - it looks to me as though the water level is a tad high - so she's getting a bit too much buoyancy, instead of just the resistance from the water. That's contributing to the front end going up a bit, which again makes it hard for the rear assembly to operate well. (Course the amount of coat and tail contributes to the buoyancy - her own personal flotation device - and no, I'm not suggesting you clip her )

I'm sure when I've watched a dog doing the u/w treadmill in Vic, they were able to start with the water level low, and gradually fill it as the dog was walking. Not sure if that's a possibility.

And the fact that she's tired, would indicate that there's a fair amount of work going on.

[coogie]

Hmm, as with most things there seems to be a huge variety of practice and advice with hydro - Issy never walked the fill or drain in the first three months. We were advised they were both harder work than walking once she had some buoyancy and too much for her to start with. She still doesn't walk through the first part of the fill or the last few inches of the drain. Her warm up is at about 3.9 ks an hour and her main jog can be between 6 and 7 ks an hour depending on how she is travelling.Cool down back to between 3 and 4ks. Anything over 7 ks she just jacks up.

I am definitely noticing a slow down as it gets colder despite the water being heated.We are keeping up monthly pentosan shots and back to "rugging" her for cold nights and I have got her wheat bag out ready. Also gone back to some of her more structured walking - hills, figures of eight and lots of physio/massage. Also put the baby gate back up out the back to halt the bursts of speed off the low step/deck out the back.Trying to hold off on any anti inflammatories unless she starts to visibly limp. Ness, she has been having Glyde for a long time now, do you think it would be worth trying the Rose Hip?

[ness]

Coogie I would certainly consider the RHVC supplement. Its a natural anti-inflam and Kenz had some good and very promising results on it for a number of months. I do still think its the one thing that has made the greatest improvement to her without any negative side effects. Like anything though different products work for different dogs. In your case though I would probably keep Issy on the Glyde while using the loading dose of the RHVC and then decide about cutting back on the Glyde.

Have a plan for tomorrows hydro thanks to this guy. Kenz's treadmill speed is a pitiful 1.1MPH which is way to slow for a BC apparently. Tomorrow I am hoping to try 1.2-1.5 with only half the water in the tank :laugh:.

[persephone]

Kenz's treadmill speed is a pitiful 1.1MPH which is way to slow for a BC apparently.

??? But she is a BC with injuries/problems , so how is that speed 'wrong' ? "They" have no idea of what her problem actually is .... so really can't /shouldn't compare

[ness]

Persephone the person who is giving me the advice is a well respected canine rehab person with qualifications in the field who does this sort of thing for a living day in day out. It is also fairly obvious from the video footage that its potentially not comfortable for her at that speed. The way it was put to me was try walking at 25% of your normal walking speed for 3 minutes and see what it feels like.

The vet overseeing Kenz's rehab here was happy for input from elsewhere as while they have the facilities for this sort of thing I am not sure their knowledge matches up. In the end its the vet here who decides what happens but I can but make suggestions as to what we might go with.

Everybody who has had any dealings with Kenz's case so far admits to it being especially complicated and the vet with the hydro facility said similar.

Edited May 23, 2013 by ness

[persephone]

Thanks ... It sounds just so frustrating , with no one really knowing what is happening internally ....

[ness]

Back from today's session - we did some of what had been recommended but they are also keen to learn what needs to happen. Maybe we might start getting somewhere.

[BC Crazy]

No explanation other than Kenz's case is complicated by the neurological issue and thats why its been difficult. I have chronically lame who can't manage a walk around the block without being lame. I also have youngish dog who's brain is crying out to be put to use and who's body just can't tolerate it.

This is the "complication" to Kenz's case - here is a BC collapse episode if people haven't seen one before:

This is actually a fairly mild episode for her. They are much more frightening, occur more frequently and without much sign of warning now .

That is heartbreaking to witness ness Such a smart. beautiful girl. And that was a fairly mild episode. Tragic.... I can only imagine how upsetting all this is for you

& Kenzie for that matter. It has really upset me & I'm just a concerned dog lover, not her owner.

Edited May 23, 2013 by BC Crazy

[coogie]

Back from today's session - we did some of what had been recommended but they are also keen to learn what needs to happen. Maybe we might start getting somewhere.

That sounds promising,ness, it's good they are listening to you and willing to get input. Hoping she is not sore after her session.

[ness]

Was interesting they asked if they could look at the video of the session after we had run it - much easier to see what is happening side on then it is while actually running the dog in the treadmill. She is certainly getting the hang of it more though I think. Only problem is she wasn't really tired for long after this session and will be interesting to see how she pulls up tomorrow.

[ness]

Hmmm appointment 6 didn't end up so great - she has badly started off-loading weight off her right hind and was actually non-weight baring on it when I walked her out for a little bit.

Not sure what to do with her poor girl but further underwater treadmill is now on hold until I can work out what is best .

[BC Crazy]

poor Kenzie girl.....

[OSoSwift]

OH crap!

[corie]

A couple of pictures of my baby girl taken today during a small break outside .

she is so lovely just reading about her ordeal breaks my heart, can barely imagine what you must be going through. Have you tried some alternative therapies, just to tide her over in the meantime? Massage sessions, heat packs.. I've read about acupuncture for dogs too.

[ness]

Yep have tried acupuncture, she has heat packs twice a day and is massaged a couple of times a day to .

[corie]

Ugh, how did I miss you saying you tried acupuncture

Have you considered orthotics, maybe some leg braces to let her get herself around easier?

[ness]

She is getting around "ok" at home and even to the extent of having bought herself up the stairs in the last couple of days. Typical BC you can't keep them down for long :laugh:. If she were much older I'd probably just accept that its how she was going to be for the rest of her life and make the appropriate modifications but she is still to young to not try for resolution if at all possible.

[corie]

She is getting around "ok" at home and even to the extent of having bought herself up the stairs in the last couple of days. Typical BC you can't keep them down for long :laugh:. If she were much older I'd probably just accept that its how she was going to be for the rest of her life and make the appropriate modifications but she is still to young to not try for resolution if at all possible.

That she definitely is :) I swear I had added something about considering orthotics as one of the last solutions but the internet either ate it or I was imagining the conversation in my head :laugh:

I'm not too educated about the specifics, but I know that there are some braces for people that act therapeutically/are used for shaping, not as a permanent fixture. Is there anything along these lines for dogs?

[coogie]

There are braces and prosthetics available Corie, I did a lot of research when we were looking at options down the track for Issy, the best ones I found were Orthopets and the Australian distributor was Dogs in Motion in Melbourne. It is something I might consider again if we need to later on. I am comfortable that she is currently fine and reasonably pain free, whilst I would look at theses I don't know that I would go ahead if the only way she could ever get about would be in a brace - I am not convinced she would have enough quality of life,there are some remarkable videos of the products though, and they seem to make a huge difference to some of the dogs. Links below if anyone wants to check them out.

Orthopets

Dogs in Motion

[ness]

So today was appointment 7 and because of the fact she came up so bad last time she had a very short session today. Hmmm its back to the specialist we go next week to see where things are at .

She is bored out of her brain tonight though and stir crazy.

And for anybody curious in watching the video -

ETA. Have had it suggested that the UWTM has been a waste of time because of the way its being run = NOT happy why do people offer these things and not really know how to structure rehab properly .

Edited May 30, 2013 by ness