Draco & Wicca's Adventures

[woodrat 399]

The lighting on Wicca especially is so beautiful in that shot. The little glint in her eye...

 

Have you ever measured how tall Draco is?

[Gib 291]

Gads, I love these dogs.... I love hearing of the new owners and their puppies coming home.

 

As we all know, this is more of a wooden roller coaster than a luxury cruise. More of an adventure than a holiday. There will be many tears: sadness and joy.

 

The dogs are nearly perfect dogs; they just aren't perfect! Even Ulti-mutts have their idiosyncrasies and eccentricities.

 

That being said, I must say, that darned Wicca.

 

Sunday, Joan was out back with both dogs. Draco & Wicca had been having a good run. Wicca ran down over our hill, made a sharp cut to the right. Joan said she let out a yelp and immediately lay down.

 

Within a few moments she was back to normal. Later that day, Joan was telling me about it and the dogs were running and it happened again. It was obviously her right rear leg; she was holding it up, not letting it touch the ground.

 

Again, within a few minutes she was over it and off and running.

 

Monday and Tuesday it happened twice each. Wednesday it happened only once. Thursday we took her to the doctor -- a renowned orthopedic vet.

 

The diagnosis is a right "medial luxating patella". So, our working theory, at this point, is that with that high-speed turn she popped her right knee cap out of its groove. A few minutes of laying down and it slides itself back in place.

 

Medial luxating patella's are graded on a severity scale of 1 to 4. 3 & 4 are candidates for surgery. Most 2's can live an active life with only minor restrictions. The vet said Wicca is a "soft" 1. In all likelihood, she'll be fine after a couple of weeks on restriction. (Sort of like the old basketball injury to my left knee, but it's her right.)

 

Now that it has happened, it is easier for it to happen again; hence the repeats of the incidence. (Once was actually just by stretching her back legs out all the way!??!)

 

It hasn't happened since Wednesday morning. Everyday it doesn't happen builds toward it not happening again.

 

Two weeks back on-leash whenever outside and limited activity indoors. Assuming it doesn't happen again for the next couple of weeks, then we've likely overcome it with patience & time.

 

If it gets worse, then (I hate to even put it into writing) it could be another surgery. The doc said that Wicca's knee physiology appears normal; so it's not a too shallow a patellar groove, nor is it a displaced ligament insertion point. All signs point to it being a "sports type injury" from which she should recover fully.

 

(Another couple of weeks of constant leash work will help both of us right? Imagine the bonding that's going to occur!!)

 

More soon. We'll keep everyone updated.

[Allison 2,369]

Could it be that all the restricted activity from the shoulder, has let her other tendons become a bit weak? Maybe you need to start at the beginning, like a pup, and build up all her joints, over again?

[Sherab 2,337]

Gib I am sure sorry to hear that. Miss Tara had that same issue. You could actually reach down and pop her knee back in. It was a defect and not a sports injury. She now has a steel knee and is stronger and more active than before. Hopefully Wicca will out grow the issue, but a bionic dog is not so bad.

[Chinatola 927]

Gib, that's a tough break for Wicca...seems like she's got a bad luck streak going lately. It also sounds like she got a good chance of recovering nicely & moving on. In the grand scheme a few more weeks of restriction is a small price to pay I'd say.

[miz molly 1,800]

Gib, that's a tough break for Wicca...seems like she's got a bad luck streak going lately. It also sounds like she got a good chance of recovering nicely & moving on. In the grand scheme a few more weeks of restriction is a small price to pay I'd say.

 

Well said Chinatola, my feelings exactly.

Bonding, tricks, training, lots of love......By the time Wicca is all healed you all are going to have an incredible relationship with her.

Keep us posted Gib.

[dcunger 0]

Sorry to hear about the pattelar luxation. I have a Boston Terrier who has it in both knees and we have chosen to medicate her nightly for it based on her age. We usually have to help her pop the knees back into place by stretching the legs as far out as they will go. I wish you the best of luck in healing. It is hard to see anyone in pain!

[Gib 291]

Gib, that's a tough break for Wicca........a few more weeks of restriction is a small price to pay I'd say.

 

True. I was going to try to make a joke about it being easy for you to say, but couldn't get it worded right so it didn't reveal how tired we are.

 

It's been about a month and we've had a few more luxations....

 

We have opted to give every chance we can to healing this without invasive surgery.

 

We have begun a series of chiropractic adjustments for Wicca and will add some specific exercises and physical therapy and see if we can’t correct her luxating patella without surgery. And even some home administered injections.

 

Wicca has had two adjustments, appear to be "holding" and we have now gone again for over a week without her knee coming out.

 

The doctor recommended a very tight restriction on her activities: no slipping, no sliding and especially no hopping or popping up on her back legs. That really eliminates most of her vigorous activities, especially the running and wrestling with Draco.

 

This vet told us that if we took Wicca to almost any vet for a full exam, not one would diagnose a luxating patella. This vet is telling us that he thinks her kneecap "wants" to stay in place. He says it's a matter of keeping it from coming out and strengthening some of the right muscles.

 

So, last week, Wicca and I rented a cabin on Vashon Island, where all we had to do was take long, leisurely walks through forests and along the Puget Sound. Wicca saw her first deer.

 

That was wonderful but too far away, so this week Wicca and I have rented a one-room cottage in Kirkland. She and I are exploring local parks and taking naps.

 

In the last three weeks, Wicca has ran twice. Literally. Twice she's gotten off leash and loose. Her smile would light up the darkest night, but we put an end to it anyway.

 

In this little cabin, it is sleep, walk, eat, sleep, walk, sleep, walk, sleep, eat, walk, sleep. Fortunately, I'm in position to do this. We tried managing Wicca & Draco together and they just can't resist their temptations -- nor do we want them to. But we must. For now.

 

(By the way, for folks in the Seattle area, if you ever need an nice, inexpensive place to put someone up for the night, check out: http://lakeforbescottage.realtors.officelive.com/default.aspx. $60 a night and pet friendly. It's not "scenic" but it's not a bad neighborhood. Lot's of parks & shopping nearby.)

 

We have our next appointment for an adjustment this coming Thursday.

 

I’m not sure how long we are going to give this process. Living 24/7 leashed to Wicca, living separately from Joan & Draco, the restriction of activity is all taking its toll on Joan and I and the two dogs. So, at some point, we will decide, “OK, we have to turn her loose and see if she holds together”.

 

If she does, we avoided surgery.

 

Did I mention being tired... Hopefully this downtime will do the trick for Wicca. If not, we'll schedule the surgery.

 

So, I hear Wicca doing some morning grooming. I better sign off and get ready for our first walk of the day.

 

More soon.

[Chinatola 927]

Wow....this poor dog...having to suffer through these things! What a wonderful pops you are to that girl though...the needful things are not always the fun things & it's a good thing that Wicca has a such a caring and concerned 'father'. Sending good thoughts & healing 'rays' out to the Puget Sound area to help with Wicca's situation. Best of luck!

[Sherab 2,337]

Poor baby doll. I hope it all goes well for you. How much you and Joan care is inspiring.

[Starghoti 466]

maybe see if you guys can find a local Reiki Practitioner that works on animals?

I know it helps Mina and Jas.

 

And man, lots of supportive energy sent your way.

[Karen 41]

(By the way, for folks in the Seattle area, if you ever need an nice, inexpensive place to put someone up for the night, check out: http://lakeforbescot...om/default.aspx. $60 a night and pet friendly. It's not "scenic" but it's not a bad neighborhood. Lot's of parks & shopping nearby.)

 

Gosh, there are so many lakes here that one can go unnoticed for five years. I knew there was something down there, because I've driven on 124th many times and we even lived on 124th when we first moved here (temporary housing), but I've never seen it.

 

If you get a hankering for something a little more upscale, The Willows is very dog-friendly. They even had their own dog whose bed was right next to the front desk, but she died a few months ago.

 

Sorry Wicca has been such a cause for worry and a big change in your life. I hope she is bouncing around again real soon.

[gramtot 8]

My heart goes out to Wicca and all that she has had to deal with in her short life. I am so hoping that all your tireless efforts will pay off with no need for surgery. I can just feel how tired you must be! I'm sure Draco and Wicca are both totally confused -- if you could only explain these types of situations to them! I cringe to think of keeping Denakka from running for even a day--eegad!--the very thought makes me tired for me and frustrated for him.

 

Good luck with everything. What great puppy parents. I hope your entire family is back together very soon and everything holds together properly for Wicca.

[Nessa 91]

Poor Wicca. Good thoughts your way.

[Karen 41]

How is Wicca doing today, Gib? I think of her as little Wicca, but she's got almost 10 pounds on Danza.

[miz molly 1,800]

5 days since your last post on Wicca, Gib. You and Joan sure are terrific pup parents. I know the two of you, are doing everything possible for this little one, that's not so little any more. Decisions, decisions, decisions. This is such a difficult road to go. Which ever decision you make, it WILL be the right one. Sure hope all is going well and things are improving for Wicca. Draco must be going nuts that his friend can't do the canine romp. Hope a good update is in store soon. Take care. We are sending crossed paws and healing thoughts your way.

[Allison 2,369]

Is it possible to put one of those neoprene supports on her, just when she goes out to play? You could use a wrist one. I know that is not easy, but may help. I know they have helped me with a knee that wanted to wander.

[Gib 291]

Could it be that all the restricted activity from the shoulder, has let her other tendons become a bit weak? Maybe you need to start at the beginning, like a pup, and build up all her joints, over again?

 

OK. Here goes for a quick update. (That I actually started over a week ago!)

 

Allison, your thought is very close to our current working theory with Wicca. Her bi-lateral shoulder surgery was in November. She is actually still in her "recuperation" period from that. Weakened tendons & muscles? Skeletal mis-alignment?

 

Since it's all guess work, we are presuming that Wicca's pelvis/hips were out of alignment and that misalignment was just enough for Wicca's patella to pop at certain times, in certain angles and under specific exertions.

 

Now, that we've got her pelvis/hips holding good alignment her knee should glide right where it belongs – and stay there. We're hoping to, essentially, build her back up, as you said Allison, like a pup.

 

After the week in Kirkland we had another successful chiropractic visit. Her alignment is holding. (Joan and I were trying to but couldn't recall the last time it popped.) That's a good thing.

 

I may have mentioned this before – the vet said that if we took her to any other vet and told them nothing, he said maybe 1 out of 100 might possibly be able to identify a problem with her patella. Otherwise, it shows no symptoms, except when it happens.

 

That’s all good news because if it WAS the alignment (or lack thereof) then we’ve identified the issue and all will be well.

 

Since I began writing this last week, we've had another successful Vet visit with adjustment. Now, we go three weeks on tight restriction and see what happens. If we go three weeks without popping, then we'll begin adding activities.

 

So, Wicca and I are tied together for at least another 3 weeks.

 

Making it just a bit trickier is that Joan has been called out of town.

 

It’s gone pretty well. But, it is definitely full time monitoring. Even trying to find time to write this update has been interrupted more times than I can recall.

 

Draco knows something is going on with Wicca. It’s different than when she had obvious wounds like her spaying and shoulder surgery but we are doing the same thing. (That’s a weird thing for all of us – everything is absolutely normal looking until it isn’t.)

 

She still can run like the wind, just isn’t supposed to. She can jump high to catch a Frisbee, she just isn’t supposed to pop-up on her back legs; jump off her back legs: land on her back legs; wrestle from her back legs; slip, slide or stumble on her back legs

 

We've been taking Draco to a local doggy daycare a few times a week for a couple of hours so he can get his run on and his energy burned off. Wicca, of course, can smell his adventures and her mournful howl when I dropped him off last time was heart rending,

 

Holding a good AI Dog down is asking for some sort of eruption. So far, the little eruptions have not popped her kneecap.

 

We've had Draco over two years now and Wicca almost a year!??!

 

As years fly by it’s a reminder again of how precious every moment is.

[Starghoti 466]

Good Grief Gib!

You guys have gone through so much. All of you.

And poor Wicca- you are so right, trying to hold one of these guys down is almost criminal !

 

Our thoughts are with you, and our fur-kids send their good doggy-vibes.

 

Best of luck. Hope it all works out in the end, and she can run/fly/play by the time Summer arrives.

[miz molly 1,800]

Well, it sounds like things are holding together for the moment for Wicca, but man oh man, you and Joan certainly have had your fill of "WICCA STUFF." I hope the next three weeks go smoothly, or as smoothly as they possibly can. Trying to keep one of these pups in slow motion is not an easy task. It's impossible to tell them that for the next three weeks they are required to be members of" Chateau-Relax-O." Although, if anyone can do it, you can Gib. Good luck. Were cheering for you.

[Sherab 2,337]

Gib you guys are the most amazing and patient puppy parents! I'm sure you'll get her through this last stretch.

[Karen 41]

Gib, if there is anything I can do to help, please ask. I'm 20 minutes away.

 

This has been a long road for you guys - I hope you are near the end of it! Hug Wicca for me.

[Chinatola 927]

All the best Gib!

[Gib 291]

Gib, if there is anything I can do to help, please ask. I'm 20 minutes away.

 

This has been a long road for you guys - I hope you are near the end of it! Hug Wicca for me.

 

Karen, thank you so much for the offer. I may contact you....

 

Thank you everyone for your people support. Joan and I appreciate.

 

Dogs are adaptable. Adaptable dogs are even more adaptable.

 

We're getting through it, in no small part to the core beauty of these dogs. We call them healing song dogs, right. They make great therapy dogs. And what's weird, is that we find Draco & Wicca "attending" to us, being more affectionate.

 

We think we are certain that they don't/can't understand why we are imposing the restrictions, but they demonstrate that they understand they are under restriction and they adapt. They are also taking more time, in my opinion, to let us know it's OK for us to do that to them.

 

Small example: in the last two months, Draco has gone from being skittish, extremely nervous about getting brushed, his feet touched and nails clipped to now docilely laying while I clip his nails and brush him out.

 

Again, in my opinion, he could sense the situation and my mounting discomfort and made a little move of his own to relieve the pressure. I can tell, by watching his pupils, his yawning and his lip licking that there are times when he is still nervous and times when he's relaxed into the experience. But, he is, without force, in the experience!! Big step for us.

 

Two days ago in the yard in the Sun, I took my time and he went to sleep while I was working on him.

 

Longish, slow walks are giving the exercise and restriction that Wicca & Draco need. We are going to fit them with backpacks soon and can begin adding a bit of weight also. We have a lot of leash time together.

 

No denying this is/has been difficult and exhausting. Fortunately we are in position that I can devote my time to this care. Since childhood, being with dogs is one of my all-time favorite activities. So, it's not like I'm having to endure some horrible punishment, though it is excruciating in its own unique way.

 

So, it's less than a week until our 3-week milestone check up. So far; so good.

 

After next Thursday, we'll begin letting Wicca & Draco have some real AI Dog playtime -- 10 minutes a day!!

 

My god, they will be ecstatic!!

[liz 9]

It really is so worrying to put your dog through an op, having done it for Shunka I can really feel for you! the last op he had on his shoulder (cancer) they didn't put a cone on him straight away and he had the stitches out before they realised! So he had to be put under again to restitch, that was a worrying time. Unfortunatley they split, so he had to wear a comfy collar and a t-shirt until he was fully recovered. So far no return of it thank goodness.