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.
Showing posts with label chiropractor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chiropractor. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 August 2008
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.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Catching up
Sorry it has been so long since I have last posted a blog entry. Things have been very busy for me.
Spice has been to the chiropractor twice more since his first visit. The chiropractor noticed some swelling on the outside of the elbow joint on the second visit. She said to watch it and it was smaller on the third visit. I will mentioned it the surgeon next week. I have been using cold therapy more often which may be helping.
Spice got his second massage since his surgery a couple of weekends ago at one of the trials Taari was competing in. Next week he goes back to his regular vet on Wednesday for another cartrophen shot and on Thursday back to see his surgeon.
He is improving and putting more weight on his front right leg. I have noticed that he still turning his front left leg in a bit but I think that it is less than before. This is mostly likely due to him shifting his weight to his left leg.
As well as ladder work I also bought some fit discs and a Bosu. Last night he got all 4 feet on the Bosu by himself (I was lifting him up previously). He was also turning on it. I have been putting the fit disks close together and getting Spice and Taari to put their two front feet on one and two back feet on the other. Definitely a balancing act when I tried it but it may help having 4 feet instead of only two.
I have been letting Spice do stairs occasionally. He does them slowly otherwise I wouldn't. I noticed in the past day or two that when he goes down the small set of stairs he wasn't two footing it down but striding. This indicated to me that he is comfortable putting more weight on his right leg.
We are up to 20 minutes on some walks. In the morning he doesn't want to go too far so I don't make him. I wonder if he doesn't want to go far because he knows he gets cookies when I leave for work! Speaking of which he is still in an X-pen when I am at work.
Just last night I noted how much happier he seemed. He is improving but not 100% yet. I think that it will take time for him to regain his natural stride and be "even" again.
Taari and I have been having a great time at training and going to fun matches and trials (when it isn't storming outside!). This past weekend she had a really nice Steeplechase run. She was more than 12 seconds under time and it wasn't a perfect run so I estimate that we could have been around 15 seconds under time.
I started using stride regulators to help her with her A-frame. I didn't realize it until examining video that she wasn't putting her back feet down after jumping the apex and she was walking down on her front feet a step or two. The stride regulators have helped. If I can figure out how to slow down video for YouTube I will put up some clips.
Spice has been to the chiropractor twice more since his first visit. The chiropractor noticed some swelling on the outside of the elbow joint on the second visit. She said to watch it and it was smaller on the third visit. I will mentioned it the surgeon next week. I have been using cold therapy more often which may be helping.
Spice got his second massage since his surgery a couple of weekends ago at one of the trials Taari was competing in. Next week he goes back to his regular vet on Wednesday for another cartrophen shot and on Thursday back to see his surgeon.
He is improving and putting more weight on his front right leg. I have noticed that he still turning his front left leg in a bit but I think that it is less than before. This is mostly likely due to him shifting his weight to his left leg.
As well as ladder work I also bought some fit discs and a Bosu. Last night he got all 4 feet on the Bosu by himself (I was lifting him up previously). He was also turning on it. I have been putting the fit disks close together and getting Spice and Taari to put their two front feet on one and two back feet on the other. Definitely a balancing act when I tried it but it may help having 4 feet instead of only two.
I have been letting Spice do stairs occasionally. He does them slowly otherwise I wouldn't. I noticed in the past day or two that when he goes down the small set of stairs he wasn't two footing it down but striding. This indicated to me that he is comfortable putting more weight on his right leg.
We are up to 20 minutes on some walks. In the morning he doesn't want to go too far so I don't make him. I wonder if he doesn't want to go far because he knows he gets cookies when I leave for work! Speaking of which he is still in an X-pen when I am at work.
Just last night I noted how much happier he seemed. He is improving but not 100% yet. I think that it will take time for him to regain his natural stride and be "even" again.
Taari and I have been having a great time at training and going to fun matches and trials (when it isn't storming outside!). This past weekend she had a really nice Steeplechase run. She was more than 12 seconds under time and it wasn't a perfect run so I estimate that we could have been around 15 seconds under time.
I started using stride regulators to help her with her A-frame. I didn't realize it until examining video that she wasn't putting her back feet down after jumping the apex and she was walking down on her front feet a step or two. The stride regulators have helped. If I can figure out how to slow down video for YouTube I will put up some clips.
Friday, 30 May 2008
First chiropractor appointment since surgery
I worked from home yesterday so that I could take Spice to the chiropractor. He seemed not too bad in the morning when I walked him. Before I took him to his appointment he was limping more than he has for quite a while :(.
His chiropractor said he wasn't as bad as she expected. I gave her a copy of the report from the surgeon and she had also read the Jump Down Syndrome article. Spice doesn't want to extend his right leg completely (the surgeon mentioned this as well). It has been a while since has. She showed me how I could gently stretch his leg. She also suggested that I massage his leg (towards his heart) and ice him a few times a day. She did notice some heat/inflamation in his elbow. More towards the outside of the leg.
She also asked if I was giving him any supplements and what other exercises I was doing with him. She also mentioned that lifting each leg would be a good exercise. I remember this from one of the DVDs I have.
She thought that it would be best if I brought him back in a week. It would help him to heal faster. I took next Thursday off so that I can take him to his regular vet for another cartrophen shot and back to see her.
After his appointment I found him to be about the same as far as limping goes. Today I am seeing an improvement. His limp is not as strong. I also noticed this morning he was tight lipped on his walk. This evening he was not. He wanted to go faster but I held him back so he wouldn't go too fast. He doesn't appear to be quite a good as I thought he was before he started this more severe limping. I am not sure why he was worse yesterday. I wonder if he curled up too much in his crate. Normally he is in his X-pen when I am not home. I brought him downstairs and he slept in his crate while I was working.
I have been walking him 3 times a day and I was up to about 10 minutes but yesterday and today I haven't been walking him as long. I also was doing cold therapy about once a day but have since started doing it more often.
His chiropractor said he wasn't as bad as she expected. I gave her a copy of the report from the surgeon and she had also read the Jump Down Syndrome article. Spice doesn't want to extend his right leg completely (the surgeon mentioned this as well). It has been a while since has. She showed me how I could gently stretch his leg. She also suggested that I massage his leg (towards his heart) and ice him a few times a day. She did notice some heat/inflamation in his elbow. More towards the outside of the leg.
She also asked if I was giving him any supplements and what other exercises I was doing with him. She also mentioned that lifting each leg would be a good exercise. I remember this from one of the DVDs I have.
She thought that it would be best if I brought him back in a week. It would help him to heal faster. I took next Thursday off so that I can take him to his regular vet for another cartrophen shot and back to see her.
After his appointment I found him to be about the same as far as limping goes. Today I am seeing an improvement. His limp is not as strong. I also noticed this morning he was tight lipped on his walk. This evening he was not. He wanted to go faster but I held him back so he wouldn't go too fast. He doesn't appear to be quite a good as I thought he was before he started this more severe limping. I am not sure why he was worse yesterday. I wonder if he curled up too much in his crate. Normally he is in his X-pen when I am not home. I brought him downstairs and he slept in his crate while I was working.
I have been walking him 3 times a day and I was up to about 10 minutes but yesterday and today I haven't been walking him as long. I also was doing cold therapy about once a day but have since started doing it more often.
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