Today at the Spot On match I tried running Spice at 6" for the first time. This is the height I will run him at when he competes again as veterans are allowed to drop two height categories. First I tried him out on a short course with a tire, jumps and tunnels. Then later I decided to make the course a bit longer (18 obstacles). He ran really well. Spectators thought he looked happy. He showed no signs of limping when he was running. He was limping very slightly on the grass. I think that he may be cautious on grass as I have noticed that his limp is worse when he is walking on grass. I think that he still has the muscle memory of limping.
I have noticed that since I started running with him that he is improving. Less of a limp and he is distributing his weight more evenly.
Also on Tuesday of this week Spice went to the chiropractor and the ophthalmologist. His cataracts are slightly worse. I think that he should have no problems with jumps, tires, chutes and tunnels. We haven't tried a chute yet but the rest he is doing well.
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Spice is running
Spice was fine after doing the tunnels and jumps with bars on the ground on Saturday (no signs of soreness). I took him with me to Taari's training on Tuesday night and had him do some more jumps and tunnels. He was running pretty good all things considered. It was a nice cool evening too. Tonight at home I had him doing a few jumps and 4 weaves. I wasn't encouraging him to run fast as I am being cautious. In fact on Tuesday night I made a point of doing more sending work so he could set his own pace. His magic frisbee (with the food pouch) got him excited though. I gave Taari a turn, Spice a turn and then Taari again. I wasn't going to do any more with Spice but he came out the door all excited wanting another turn. So we played a bit of frisbee. I didn't throw it as far as I normally do.
I am very pleased that he is having fun again.
I am very pleased that he is having fun again.
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Update on Spice
Spice is continuing to get cartrophen shots every 5 weeks. He saw his chiropractor on July 24th. She saw a definite improvement from our last visit.
I have been trying to walk Spice more. It is hard when working full time. He is at most getting 3 walks a day. He got a double length walk one night when I met some friends (40 minutes). I am continuing to do fit disks, Bosu ball (normal and inverted so it is like a wobble board), and ladders with him.
I have been taking Spice to some of Taari's trials to get a massage.
Overall he is improving. I haven't been massaging and icing him much but I think that I should start doing it more often again. He still has a limp at times but he does seem to be putting more weight on his good leg. Even more importantly he seems happier which I assume means less pain. It was definitely worth it.
Today he went to the fun match with Taari and just walked around. Later I had him going through some tunnels and jumps (bars on the ground). He was having fun. I will see how he is tomorrow.
I have been trying to walk Spice more. It is hard when working full time. He is at most getting 3 walks a day. He got a double length walk one night when I met some friends (40 minutes). I am continuing to do fit disks, Bosu ball (normal and inverted so it is like a wobble board), and ladders with him.
I have been taking Spice to some of Taari's trials to get a massage.
Overall he is improving. I haven't been massaging and icing him much but I think that I should start doing it more often again. He still has a limp at times but he does seem to be putting more weight on his good leg. Even more importantly he seems happier which I assume means less pain. It was definitely worth it.
Today he went to the fun match with Taari and just walked around. Later I had him going through some tunnels and jumps (bars on the ground). He was having fun. I will see how he is tomorrow.
Recheck with Surgeon July 10th
I wrote down what I could remember right after Spice's appointment with the surgeon on July 10th and I am posting it today (more than a month later - sorry).
The surgeon was pleased with Spice's progress. He said that his range of motion had improved. Spice was not as
sensitive when he touched his elbow as before. 70-80% weight bearing on his right front leg. Did not protest when he held up his other leg so that he had to put weight on his right leg. Muscle tone was good - no atrophy compared with the other leg.
He mentioned swimming again as a good exercise. I should increase the length and frequency of his walks. (Hard to do when it is hot out).
We should keep Spice from jumping right now and preventing him from doing stairs (not sure if it was 2 more weeks or longer). Again going down is the worst. If he goes down carefully two front feet at a time it isn't as bad. His cartilage still needs time to form/heal. He mentioned 20 weeks (was this how long the cartilage needed and/or how
long until he improved as much as he is going to?). Sometime dogs will plateau before continuing to improve.
In two weeks could try some running.
Can keep icing especially after activity.
By (the end of?) August we likely will have seen as much improvement as we will see. Again this could be the 20 weeks he was mentioning.
If you try something and he is sore, give him a couple days rest and then try the same thing again. Don't need to revert back to something easier unless it repeats.
He thought teeter would be okay and weaves. I think that the teeter might be too jarring for him. Depends on how he does it. Weaves may also be jarring if he tries to do them fast (two footed). Maybe I should use pylons to try to get the weaving motion without jarring.
He said that his elbow may always get sore due to the arthritis.
He felt the soft tissue swelling spot. I said that it was getting better. He didn't seem concerned since it was getting smaller. I could hardly feel it today when showed it to the surgeon.
I explained the types of exercises he was doing (ladder, fit disks, bosu - half ball) etc. He said that I was doing really well - gold star. Especially compared with other owners (dogs are usually overweight and not active - owners don't know about the exercises).
The surgeon was pleased with Spice's progress. He said that his range of motion had improved. Spice was not as
sensitive when he touched his elbow as before. 70-80% weight bearing on his right front leg. Did not protest when he held up his other leg so that he had to put weight on his right leg. Muscle tone was good - no atrophy compared with the other leg.
He mentioned swimming again as a good exercise. I should increase the length and frequency of his walks. (Hard to do when it is hot out).
We should keep Spice from jumping right now and preventing him from doing stairs (not sure if it was 2 more weeks or longer). Again going down is the worst. If he goes down carefully two front feet at a time it isn't as bad. His cartilage still needs time to form/heal. He mentioned 20 weeks (was this how long the cartilage needed and/or how
long until he improved as much as he is going to?). Sometime dogs will plateau before continuing to improve.
In two weeks could try some running.
Can keep icing especially after activity.
By (the end of?) August we likely will have seen as much improvement as we will see. Again this could be the 20 weeks he was mentioning.
If you try something and he is sore, give him a couple days rest and then try the same thing again. Don't need to revert back to something easier unless it repeats.
He thought teeter would be okay and weaves. I think that the teeter might be too jarring for him. Depends on how he does it. Weaves may also be jarring if he tries to do them fast (two footed). Maybe I should use pylons to try to get the weaving motion without jarring.
He said that his elbow may always get sore due to the arthritis.
He felt the soft tissue swelling spot. I said that it was getting better. He didn't seem concerned since it was getting smaller. I could hardly feel it today when showed it to the surgeon.
I explained the types of exercises he was doing (ladder, fit disks, bosu - half ball) etc. He said that I was doing really well - gold star. Especially compared with other owners (dogs are usually overweight and not active - owners don't know about the exercises).
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