A TIBIAL PLATEAU LEVELING OSTEOTOMY (TPLO)

Typical indicator of torn cruciate ligament

Those of you who follow my posts may remember that not long ago, K-Lee was lame in her left rear leg and we concluded that it was a "soft tissue" injury--a sprain or strain.  A few weeks after the visit to the local vet --and about $300 later, the ailment returned after a moderate work-out.  K-Lee seemed fine when we ''cooled'' her and put her in the kennel for the ride home.  Later while unloading, we noticed that she tucked her left rear leg against her abdominal cavity and even after she worked through that, she had a limp and would rest her leg without pressure.  See picture at right.

I immediately put her on Cosamin DS and an anti-inflammatory drug.  She soon returned to "normal", but I  didn't believe it was "normal" at all. ( I had been down this sort of "road" with my German Shorthair, 'Taylor'.)  My breeder and my trainer both said that it sounded like a torn "ACL" (cruciate ligament). I decided to go to the next level.   I asked trainers at Merrymeeting Kennels in Brunswick Maine if they knew of a good orthopedic veterinarian in New Hampshire--or nearby.  They recommended Norway Veterinary Hospital in Norway,. Maine.  (http://www.norwayvethospital.com/)  

Dr Gauger was kind enough to schedule an exam and give me a second opinion. He took additional radiographs and after examining K-Lee and asking my wife and I questions, he spent quality time explaining what he found.  Both my trainer and breeder had guessed correctly--torn ligament. There were several options available to repair the joint, but the Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) was the best option.  There was no pressure from the "veterinarian side".  I liked Dr. Gauger, the wonderful facility and the staff, so I jumped in.  "Let's do it" I said.  

Quite often cruciate ligament failure is a gradual process and not simply due to a single traumatic injury. As Dr. Gauger said, "Dogs don't play football."  Most dogs have a predisposing factor such as age-related ligament degeneration, or perhaps pre-existing inflammation, anatomical abnormalities, or excessive slope of the top of the tibia bone--which can cause ligament failure. It seemed that K-Lee's problem was excessive slope-- which in my opinion, is a "conformation" defect...perhaps handed down from some distant canine ancestor. 

It turned out that Doctor Gauger had an opening in his surgical schedule, so K-Lee was operated on the very same day, and her recovery began immediately. She will be recuperating for about sixteen weeks, and  is presently on a very restricted regimen.



She is shaved on the left rear leg, along the spine just before the rump and on one foreleg for an IV.  I think she's upset at me for that "look".  She will take treats from my wife, but not from me. 
(Once she get's better, I think we'll need to do a 'summer' haircut.)


There are other orthopedic vets out there, but for me, Norway Veterinary Hospital was definitely the way to go.

If you would like to know about the procedure, here are a few links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGIxCPekppk

http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/our-services/surgery/conditions/hind-limb/cranial-cruciate-ligament-injury

http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/tplo.htm



I'm really grateful for "pet insurance", but that's another story.

TICKS.....AARGH!

Not an eagle, but he'll do.

In upper New England, spring has finally arrived.  Birds are resting with visible authority on their favorite perches and the blossoms are nearly everywhere.  I went up north to help open up a friend's camp and had the opportunity to do a little walking in the woods.  Moose tracks weren't as plentiful as other years, and the woods were quiet--with the occasional sound of a chick-a-dee or phoebe.

One lone grouse was drumming, but with my hearing, that means nothing.  There could have been a few a little farther away and I wouldn't have heard them.  Trillium was coming up, the ferns were unfolding and leaves on bushes and trees were bigger than a mouse's ear.  I kept looking, but didn't see much.

Later, I saw something that gave me the "willies".  

A varying Northern Hare was eating close to the cabin and I was able to get pictures of him.  As zoomed in, we noticed little lumps all over his face and ears. Then the thought came..."Ticks". 

  

Ticks visible on right cheek and ears

Having done a little research for an article on ticks, I remembered that rabbits were one of the prime hosts and sources of nutrition for the parasitic ticks.  

This past weekend, I saw the truth of it.  This little hare was covered with them--and we could only clearly see those on his face and ears.  There were probably many others in his soft undercoat.

Look closely and you'll see them as dark dots on the "rabbit's" face and ears.  Those are ticks!

Ticks climb up on a blade of grass or on brush and sit with their two front legs extended--waiting for the next host to pass by close enough for them to hitch a ride.  It could be a mouse, a rabbit, a deer, moose, bird dog or hiker.  Not a thrilling thought is it!

How many can you count?  More than ten?

Ticks are a vector for several diseases.

Does your dog have protection against ticks? 

Do you protect yourself against ticks?  

The woods can still be enjoyed--more so with caution.

Look between the ears

IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN....

I've hunted big game--elk, antelope,deer, etc.--and I've truly enjoyed the camaraderie of my friends and fellow hunters. But if I had to choose only one kind of hunting, it would be bird hunting with my dog.  First of all, the weather is usually better--and generally speaking, the hunting is more "social" and "casual"--and I like that.  There is nothing like a partnership with a good canine hunting companion shared with  like-minded friends and well-behaved dogs.

This spring, with snow melt and spring flooding-- "freshets" as they used to call them--puddles of water were everywhere, Waterfowl were using them while other species took the high ground.  K-Lee and I walked trails and fields.  We found ducks and woodcock, and did a little exploring.  On one of her many trips down a river's bank, I heard a yip.  My inspection found no sore spots or visible injuries, so we continued.  Later in the day, she began to be lame and favor her left rear leg.  Perhaps a cramp or something?   Once home, I noticed that she would point her left rear leg.   I was only slightly concerned.   About a week later, she became lame again.  Same symptoms.  This time the pointing of the left rear leg was a bit more dramatic.  We needed answers.

She was supposed to 'run' in a training event at our local NAVHDA chapter, but I pulled her from the line-up and kept her resting.  Monday we went to see our vet.  Doctor Connor checked her thoroughly and we agreed that we should x-ray her joints to make sure that nothing "bad" was going on in the skeletal structure.  (I was intending to have her hips "checked" at about two, so this was timely.)  It turned out that her hips and elbows were fine, but there was a little inflammation and swelling that would indicate a pulled or torn tissue.  Doctor Connor's examination  was absolutely thorough.

He prescribed two weeks rest with an anti-inflammatory drug.  (Have you any idea how frustrated a canine athlete gets when they're sidelined for fourteen days?)  So far we're doing alright.  I let her outside but keep her activity to a minimum.  We practice little drills like "heel", "down", "hold"--stuff like that to keep her mind occupied.

Injuries--they're bound to happen.  Our canine companions charge through brush, dead-falls, up and down ravines, swim lakes, rivers and streams, and in general, go through all kinds of "hell" to hold up their part of the partnership.

(I try to convince K-Lee that when I shoot and miss, I'm only doing her a favor--she doesn't "buy" it.)

Think about that when you're out with your pup. Pick your "spots" and seek to avoid injury.  You'll feel like you were doing your best to keep them out of trouble, but no matter what you do, it's bound to happen.

Y'know what?  I don't think the dogs would have it any other way!

BLIND SPOTS

When I'm driving, my blind spot is a place that exists but I can't see there.  It's a place that can cause real trouble if I don't check it and make any necessary corrections.  An eighteen-wheeler can really ruin your day--no one cares if you didn't hear it!

Yesterday, a friend pointed out to me a puppy behavior that I had allowed to exist and continue--which was now giving me problems in training.  Yep, a blind spot.

I never connected the behavior to the problem with K-Lee handling bumpers etc., but there it was right in front of me!  It took the frank assessment of a NAVHDA friend(s) to point it out.  I have to confess, the truth stings just a bit.  We want everything to be "just right" and then we discover that there is a huge flaw in what we've been doing. 

It was another in my life-long list of "the  emperor has no clothes" moments.


When we are faced with the truth, we have two options:  accept the truth and make corrections, or live in a world of denial and create a temporary, alternative truth.  I've learned long ago that taking the "bitter pill" is much better for my health.  So here we go. 

Stogy Hold

As a puppy, K-Lee adopted the habit of playing with long sticks and limbs. I mean, she would find a monster branch and play with it.  She would drag it around and sometimes chew on the end.  Even if she picked up the stick in the middle, she would work her mouth towards the end.  

This translated into the "stogy hold"that I mentioned previously on "The Pudelpointer Chronicles". 

Next, when I was doing "ground work" (drills off the training table).  The ground work and retrieves would reinforce the incorrect behavior, driving the "fault" even deeper.

It also looks like I went through the table "hold training" too quickly.  K-Lee will reach for an object when I hold it before her alright, but the mid-point grab isn't habitual yet.  Another blind spot--moving too fast.

All these created "holes" in my training and it's time to back up.

The training table is foremost again.  No more retrieving drills until she earns them.  We'll only use objects which MUST be picked up in the middle. The idea is to create the "mid-point pick-up" habit.  This is going to take time--lots of time--but when your dog has a sissy-sounding name like Pudelpointer, you've got to get it right.

So if you're willing to share, leave me a comment and tell me what your blind spot has been.

Misery loves company.

DRIVEWAY DRILLS

It's been that time of year when the snow is too deep and too soft to travel in it.  The other day I sent K-Lee on a "fetch" and she raced to the top of the snow banking, leaped onto the "normal" snow and went in half-way up her chest.  There was no longer any load-bearing capacity in the snow.  After a few moments she made her way back to more solid ground.  The look in her eyes was one of 'Holy cow!  What happened?'  Don't worry pup, it's melting, melting, melting...like the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz!

Helloooo, anybody in there??

Today, the snow depth is not as bad and we can get around in the field.  Part of the afternoon was spent in mini-exploration,  trying to see what was moving under the snow.

"Stogy carry"

Then it was back to more fetch drills.  She carries some things well, but has this "thing" about carrying a dummy by the end.  It's not so loose that she drops it, it's just that she looks like she's smoking a huge stogy! ...Not good for a 'Mormon' dog!

Got it right this time!

You load 16 tons and what do you get?...

Near the end of driveway work, she shows off by fetching an eight pound dumbbell.  Next step, ten pounds--about the weight of a full grown goose. 



 The driveway drills will soon be replaced by field work "out back" and long walks in the summer mornings.  We both need the exercise.  Oh, come spring!





As a closing note, today we are extremely happy  to see the true harbinger of spring.  The snow has melted from the top of the septic tank!  It won't be long now!!