ANOTHER STEP BACK

Marley has been having some hip stiffness recently. I noticed she appeared stiff after playing outside one evening. She was also 2 or 3 leg walking on the treadmill. I chaulked that up to being smart and finding a way to avoid her treadmill time. The few times we did practice agility over our break, she knocked a few bars which is so unlike her. I can count on 1 hand the bars she's knocked in a trial. So I decided to take her in for a check up on her hips.

Our regular vet did Xrays. Her hip dysplasia has worsened and he feels that her time in agility in short. He brought up surgical interventions. I was so not prepared for that.

After a cryfest that evening, I decided to take Marley for a second opinion. This vet feels that yes, her HD has worsened but that we aren't at a surgical intervention yet. She feels that Marley is suffering from panosteitis in both femurs. She recommended rest and Rimadyl for a week and bring her back for a recheck.

I took both Molly and Marley for some chiropractic/accupuncture treatments. I had that vet look at Marley's xrays. Same thing, the HD is worse. But, she doesn't think Marley has pano. She thinks Marley landed wrong and acutely injured her hips. She did tell me to rest and Rimadyl for a week.

If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Marley, then you know what a pain it is to activity restrict her! She has gotten the zoomies a few times in the house, but for the most part she's been a good girl!

We are keeping our fingers and paws crossed for good news tomorrow. I just don't want Marley to be in pain. She's such a great dog and she deserves to be happy and healthy. Also hoping that she can return to agility.

PERFECT

A friend and I were talking recently about Marley and how far she's come. She never knew Marley when she was having her reactivity issues. She's only known Marley as the happy, sweet, loveable girl that she is now. I came across these song lyrics and they reminded me of my sweet Marley.


Made a wrong turn, once or twice.
Dug my way out, blood and fire.
Bad decisions, that's alright.
Welcome to my silly life.
Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood!
Miss "No way, It's all good, It didn't slow me down.
Mistaken, always second guessing, under estimated.
Look, I'm still around!

If you ever feel that you are nothing, you are perfect to me!

So proud of where Marley is now. She is a fabulous dog and I love her to death. I couldn't have asked for a better dog!

MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE

The Doggone Fun Agility Trial in Hattiesburg, MS marked Marley's first year of competing USDAA agility. She began competing AKC agility a month or so before she started USDAA, but we aren't serious about AKC agility. Too many dumb rules and stuck up 'pure breed' people for me.

She earned 2 Master Snooker Q's and an Advanced Standard Q! She had several runs that were absolutely brilliant but sometimes her handler screws her up. Regardless of our results, it was a great trial for us and a huge learning curve. We stepped into the Master's ring with some top handlers in the US and for us to Q right along side them is a huge accomplishment for us!!

We are off agility for a month due to the heat. I need to dust off Marley's agility jumps during the interim. They have been sitting on my patio untouched for a month now!

We will probably start competing USDAA again in late September. Looking forward to some of my friends trialing with me.