Archives

Rockie – Part Two – keeping a dog engaged during recovery

As reported in my earlier blog in January 2016, Rockie is a dog that I first encountered during a Tails of the Trails hike at Williamson County Animal Center. He is a Feist mix that loves walking. The only drawback is that he lifts his rear, right leg off and on during those walks. After a consult at Nashville Vet Specialists (NVS), Rockie underwent surgery to repair a luxating patella (a kneecap that would move in and out of place thus causing the limp to come and go). We are now six weeks into his eight week rehabilitation period and I’m happy to report first and foremost that Rockie is doing AMAZING!

Let me paint the picture of his rehabilitation period: he has been restricted in his movements, not allowed to run, jump, climb stairs, play with other dogs, jump on furniture or any other movements that would deter his healing process.

For the first two weeks, he had to wear an E-collar (also known as an Elizabethan collar) around his neck so he didn’t lick or bite his surgery incision. Though somewhat cumbersome, he did great with the E-collar and more than tolerated it. After a follow-up exam at NVS, his surgical staples were removed because the incision had healed so well and he was no longer required to wear the E-collar—freedom! To keep him confined and away from the other dogs in my house, Rockie got a “man cave” of his own in my bedroom, a portion of the room sectioned off by a crate and plywood walls. He has been allowed to be out of his man cave during bathroom breaks and feeding only.

[av_gallery ids=’1311,1312,1313′ style=’thumbnails’ preview_size=’portfolio’ crop_big_preview_thumbnail=’avia-gallery-big-crop-thumb’ thumb_size=’square’ columns=’3′ imagelink=’lightbox’ lazyload=’avia_lazyload’]

My initial concern was that he would be going stir crazy being confined so much. He’s a young, energetic, happy dog who loves people. Yet, he spends most of his days in this confined area with only a 12 foot space to move around. I engage his mind with food puzzles, food-stuffed toys and the like. It’s said that if you engage a dog’s brain in these types of behaviors, you wear the dog out mentally and that can be four times more exhausting than physical activity. Even with that, I was still concerned his desire for activity would far outreach his imposed restrictions.

One of the amazing aspects of Rockie is his ability to stay in the confined area without being hyper, destructive, or other such behaviors. He also doesn’t complain when he has to go back into his area after bathroom and feeding breaks. When he is out, he is the snuggliest, happiest, most affectionate dog you can imagine. He’s my kind of dog. He loves it when I sit on the floor with him. He snuggles in my lap and laps up all the love and petting I give him. He allows me to gently rub his healed incision to stimulate blood flow to the area. In addition, he loves to chew on bones which has the benefit of releasing his energy while keeping him off of his feet.

My fears of an emotionally and physically pent-up dog who needs sedation have not come to fruition. He’s been the easiest foster I’ve ever had and has endured this time with happiness, contentment, and willingness to accept all the restrictions necessary. I’ve learned a lot from his example; to not grumble so much when I go through a tough situation. For that he’s a true champion.

He continues to be a delight and brings such a smile to my face. I look forward to two weeks from now when x-rays show him healed and ready for action!

Stay tuned to this blog for updates on Rockie’s next consult with NVS which will determine if the activity restrictions can be lifted and what the future holds for him.

Read More
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! – Part One: Identifying injury and seeking treatment

As a child of the 70s and 80s, that chant conjured up emotions of triumph. The Rocky movies symbolized overcoming adversity and finding the strength to reach the pinnacle of success.

Now there’s a new guy reaching for the stars. No, I’m not talking about the new movie Creed where Rocky trains a former fighter’s son. I’m talking about a dog with that name (spelled slightly different: “Rockie”).

[av_image src=’https://tailsofthetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/rockie-on-hike-face-180×180.jpg’ attachment=’1119′ attachment_size=’square’ align=’left’ styling=” hover=’av-hover-grow’ link=’lightbox’ target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]

I first met Rockie while attending a Tails of the Trail event at Williamson County Animal Center in Tennessee. He was a happy-go-lucky guy with a love of walking. But there was one problem: Rockie showed signs of an impairment with his back legs. He would limp off and on. Since it would come and go, volunteers didn’t know if they should continue on his beloved walk.

 

The implications of an injured dog in the shelter system are more than just the dog’s pain or inconvenience. An impaired shelter dog is less likely to get adopted, and some shelters might turn to euthanasia. 

After taking one look at him, I knew what needed to happen: an orthopedic consultation with Nashville Vet Specialists (NVS).

[av_image src=’https://tailsofthetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/logo1-180×180.png’ attachment=’603′ attachment_size=’square’ align=’right’ styling=” hover=’av-hover-grow’ link=’manually,http://www.nashvillevetspecialists.com/’ target=’_blank’ caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’av-rotateIn’][/av_image]

Enter Dr. Wes Roach, board certified veterinary surgeon on staff with NVS since 2010. He examined Rockie and confirmed the initial diagnosis of two rear luxating patellae (kneecaps that move side to side out of the normal position which caused the limp to come and go). With a grade 3 out of 4 for severity on the right and 2 out of 4 on the left, he recommended surgery. Since surgery on both patellae would make his 8-week recovery extremely difficult, he recommend repairing the right leg and a reexamination of the severity of the left one after his recovery. It’s possible repairing the right one will allow the left one to remain stable and avoid further surgery.

[av_image src=’https://tailsofthetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/rockie-dr-roach-IMG_20151230_171734908-192×300.jpg’ attachment=’1114′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’left’ styling=” hover=’av-hover-grow’ link=’lightbox’ target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]

On Tuesday, December 29, I brought Rockie to NVS for his surgery, gave him a hug and a kiss and told him I’d be there for him when he was awake.  Rockie came through surgery like the champ that he is and Dr. Roach is confident the surgery was a success.  

After a few days of severely limited activity and I can report Rockie is still the same happy-go-lucky guy I met that fateful day.  

After the upcoming eight weeks of recovery time, he’ll be available for adoption. Stay tuned to the Tails of the Trail blog and Facebook page for updates and photos of our champion!

Read More
Why I Foster Dogs (and maybe you should too)

Growing up with the joys of a Labrador Retriever/Great Dane mix, I knew I’d have a dog in my life as an adult. I just didn’t realize how many!

In 2007, I moved out of a no-pets-allowed home into my current home and adopted my baby, an Australian Shepherd. He became my world. He taught me true, unconditional love. He was my companion on journeys that would have otherwise been solo. He was my snuggle bug when I watched TV. He was a constant source of trust and hope. To this day, I’m grateful I moved when I did or I would have missed out on this incredible love in my life.

[av_image src=’https://tailsofthetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/coco-lhasa-apso-mix-180×180.jpg’ attachment=’799′ attachment_size=’square’ align=’right’ styling=” hover=’av-hover-grow’ link=’lightbox’ target=” caption=’yes’ font_size=” appearance=’on-hover’ overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’fade-in’]Coco, a Lhasa Apso mix[/av_image]

Having such a great dog encouraged me to give rescue dogs a temporary home until their permanent homes opened up. I began fostering in my home in 2009. These foster dogs crossed the spectrum from a 25 pound Lhasa Apso mix who was separated from the only life he knew, to an American Staffordshire Terrier who spent 6 weeks confined to a crate to allow a broken leg to heal, to a pregnant hound momma who gave birth to six beautiful puppies.

People consistently ask me, “How can you give the fosters up? I’d get so attached.”

I tell people several reasons. First, because I do this, lives are saved. Space in shelters is freed up. There’s a home for each of these fosters. Like me, they just need more time to find them.

[av_image src=’https://tailsofthetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/jenny-shepherd-mix-180×180.jpg’ attachment=’801′ attachment_size=’square’ align=’left’ styling=” hover=’av-hover-grow’ link=’lightbox’ target=” caption=’yes’ font_size=” appearance=’on-hover’ overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’fade-in’]
Jenny, a 9-year-old Shepherd mix
[/av_image]

Second, I can help with making the dogs more adoptable and better able to stay in a home. Some dogs come without knowledge of living in a home—the scary noises a dishwasher makes, proper places to do their “business,” how to live with other dogs in the house, etc. Third, and most important, I’d miss out on having them in my life. I’d miss out on their uniqueness, their fun way of doing things, their blossoming into a loving family pet. I fostered Jenny, a 9 year old Shepherd mix, who spent her life tied up in the backyard. She never knew life with toys. She watched the other dogs in the house play and didn’t interact. Eventually, she learned. Eventually, she developed a love for one particular toy—and I got to see it all! I witnessed her blossoming and enjoying life filled with toys, bones and the like. If I didn’t foster, I would have missed out on that and many more experiences. I’d also miss out on the extended family I’ve developed through fellow foster parents and adopted families. My social circle has grown from these people and they are a great part of my life. I get Christmas cards, Facebook updates, and pictures texted to me from the adopted families! I get to hear stories about their fun times. Think of everything I would be missing!

[av_image src=’https://tailsofthetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/danielle-with-loverboy-and-laney-180×180.jpg’ attachment=’800′ attachment_size=’square’ align=’right’ styling=” hover=’av-hover-grow’ link=’lightbox’ target=” caption=’yes’ font_size=” appearance=’on-hover’ overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’fade-in’]
Loverboy, Danielle, and Laney
[/av_image]

I have raised my home, for a year at a time, four black Labrador Retriever puppies for Southeastern Guide Dogs. This organization trains service dogs for visually impaired people and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Again, when people learn this about me, they ask, “I’d get so attached. How can you give them up?” As in rescue dogs, I gain so many benefits. I get to have the fun liveliness of a puppy in my life. I receive the benefits of seeing a puppy grow from a gangly, goofy puppy into a well-rounded, mature dog that knows service dog-specific tasks that will help a disabled person. Most importantly, I know this is making a difference in people’s lives. I’ve seen what a difference my dog makes in my life. I am a different person today for the love I’ve given to and received from him. Now I can help people with disabilities have a more well-rounded life. They feel freedom to venture out of their homes more. They get more engaged in life because of the support they receive from these service dogs. They are different people for having known these dogs.

And the bottom line is I do get attached. But I also know that my home can only support so many dogs. And I know if I go through that one moment in time when I have to say goodbye, then I can do more to save dogs and make people’s lives better.

Danielle Robinson is a seasoned event leader for Tails of the Trail and recently spent four months dog training at Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. She has fostered and trained 18 dogs over the years.

 

Read More