The orthopedic appointment that I have been putting off since Marley's bilateral hip dysplasia diagnosis is upon me. We go Monday. I should know late Monday afternoon if Marley will require surgery now or if we can put it off until later.
I have cried thousands of tears since her diagnosis in April 2009. We have overcome so many obstacles but this is one obstacle we cannot overcome. The time has come to make a decision.
And I have made my decision. Marley will receive whatever she needs. I owe it to her. She has been by my side and has done what I've asked of her in agility and rally and that dreaded obedience. She has endured so much both physically and psychologically. And she has done it in true Marley style...big blue eyes and that precious head tilt.
But the reality is that hip dysplasia will end her agility career.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
SHREVEPORT SUCCESS
KK and I went to Shreveport last weekend for an USDAA trial. It was our first trial that we went to without Marley. I was sad thinking that this may be our new reality. Marley may never get to trial again. KK started going to trials with us when she was about 8 months old so she could get used to the trial environment. I was a little worried about how she would do without Marley there, but KK is a little trooper and she did great.
Shreveport was very successful for us and I brought home homework. I felt that our handling was pretty good, lots of easy rear crosses. Kate only dropped one bar all weekend, but she decided that the down on the table was optional and her refusal to down cost us 2 Q's. This was the venue that she started refusing contacts so I was pleased she did her contacts....the table can be worked on.
KK earned 2 Starter Jumper Q's both with first places and her Starters Jumpers Title. She also earned her Starters Gamblers Title with a first. She earned her Gamblers Title 3 out of 3 runs. We also added another Starters Pairs Q with a first. My favorite game, Snooker, snookered us twice. I thought this judge had very challenging courses for Starters dogs. She had bad angles with most of her courses.
I enjoyed working the Master Standard and Snooker classes, especially the C22 classes. In my opinion, those are the fastest and most talented dogs. I took a lot away from that trial simply by working the ring and watching how handlers handled their fast dogs. I hope one day that Kate will be there with those C22 dogs.
We are taking a break from trialing and training until after we get back from the beach and after Marley is seen by Orthopedics. But I can't wait to get back to some USDAA agility!!
Shreveport was very successful for us and I brought home homework. I felt that our handling was pretty good, lots of easy rear crosses. Kate only dropped one bar all weekend, but she decided that the down on the table was optional and her refusal to down cost us 2 Q's. This was the venue that she started refusing contacts so I was pleased she did her contacts....the table can be worked on.
KK earned 2 Starter Jumper Q's both with first places and her Starters Jumpers Title. She also earned her Starters Gamblers Title with a first. She earned her Gamblers Title 3 out of 3 runs. We also added another Starters Pairs Q with a first. My favorite game, Snooker, snookered us twice. I thought this judge had very challenging courses for Starters dogs. She had bad angles with most of her courses.
I enjoyed working the Master Standard and Snooker classes, especially the C22 classes. In my opinion, those are the fastest and most talented dogs. I took a lot away from that trial simply by working the ring and watching how handlers handled their fast dogs. I hope one day that Kate will be there with those C22 dogs.
We are taking a break from trialing and training until after we get back from the beach and after Marley is seen by Orthopedics. But I can't wait to get back to some USDAA agility!!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
ON HOLD
KK has a USDAA agility trial this weekend. It will be our last trial for awhile. Marley is staying home with Granddad and Molly and Missy. This will be the first time Marley hasn't been to an agility trial since KK started trialing. So it will be KK's first time traveling with me by herself. I'm interested in seeing how she does solo.
No pressure. Just going to go play with KK. We haven't done much training this summer due to the heat. We did venture out to agility class last night. It gave us a chance to run a full course...something we have only do at trials. I don't think we've been to class since May. KK and I have a lot to learn together. But I hope she has a long and healthy career.
I had a few trials planned for the fall but now with Marley's hip issues, I'm pulling entries. I'm sad that Marley's career is likely over. I can't help but think we got cheated. Cheated out of a long career. Cheated out of being healthy. Cheated. But I'm even more sad that I can't fix her without causing her even more pain. It's hard to see her lie in the same spot, nite after nite. She rarely plays with KK anymore. Just stays put and sleeps. She also stands in place for long periods of time. I feel like everything is on hold until after her ortho appointment. I'm just hoping for answers and treatment. I don't know if I can put her through a THR. I just don't know.
After this weekend, I'm finally going to take that break I've been talking about. I even went out and cleared all the equipment off the agility yard. The only thing left on the field is the dog walk and it has to stay where it is.
It's our time to get healthy....physically, mentally and emotionally.
No pressure. Just going to go play with KK. We haven't done much training this summer due to the heat. We did venture out to agility class last night. It gave us a chance to run a full course...something we have only do at trials. I don't think we've been to class since May. KK and I have a lot to learn together. But I hope she has a long and healthy career.
I had a few trials planned for the fall but now with Marley's hip issues, I'm pulling entries. I'm sad that Marley's career is likely over. I can't help but think we got cheated. Cheated out of a long career. Cheated out of being healthy. Cheated. But I'm even more sad that I can't fix her without causing her even more pain. It's hard to see her lie in the same spot, nite after nite. She rarely plays with KK anymore. Just stays put and sleeps. She also stands in place for long periods of time. I feel like everything is on hold until after her ortho appointment. I'm just hoping for answers and treatment. I don't know if I can put her through a THR. I just don't know.
After this weekend, I'm finally going to take that break I've been talking about. I even went out and cleared all the equipment off the agility yard. The only thing left on the field is the dog walk and it has to stay where it is.
It's our time to get healthy....physically, mentally and emotionally.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
THE APPOINTMENT IS SET
Marley has been having more pain the last few weeks. She's just not herself. Wants to be left alone. Wants to sleep in rooms by herself. She's back on pain meds daily. I finally decided enough is enough. I need to get an expert on HD to see Marley. I need a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. I'm hoping surgery isn't warranted at this time or any time but I'm mentally preparing myself for it.
So we head to Missouri in early October. For an evaluation and possible surgery. I don't know much more at this time. I do know if surgery is needed, Mar will be hospitalized for at least 2 days and we will have lots of crate rest when she comes home. I realized I can't drive the K9 TAXI to MO. If she does have surgery, there's no way I can get her in and out of the van safely. So she may ride to MO in style...in the Highlander.
So we head to Missouri in early October. For an evaluation and possible surgery. I don't know much more at this time. I do know if surgery is needed, Mar will be hospitalized for at least 2 days and we will have lots of crate rest when she comes home. I realized I can't drive the K9 TAXI to MO. If she does have surgery, there's no way I can get her in and out of the van safely. So she may ride to MO in style...in the Highlander.
Monday, September 2, 2013
ODD BEHAVIOR
Marley has been having some 'odd behavior' lately. I've been watching her closely as she is on hip rest. So maybe I am reading something into it, but she is not acting herself.
From the day she got house freedom, she has always slept on the right side of my bed with her butt touching my ribs all night. Once I tried to sleep on the right side of the bed only to wake up the next morning back on the left side and Marley was back in her usual spot. In the past few weeks, she has quit sleeping with me. She doesn't even come into the bedroom anymore. Odd.
Even more odd, I'm finding her sleep in different places. Sometimes it's in the kitchen by the stove or in the living room floor. Off course the first thing that goes through my head is pain. Maybe the jumping up on the bed is painful for her.
Another weird thing is she often just stands in one place. Doesn't do anything but stand there. Odd.
We go to the beach in a few weeks. Hoping she doesn't come home lame as she usually does. I'm really dreading having her Xrayed again. I'm not ready to deal with her HD starring back at me in black and white.
From the day she got house freedom, she has always slept on the right side of my bed with her butt touching my ribs all night. Once I tried to sleep on the right side of the bed only to wake up the next morning back on the left side and Marley was back in her usual spot. In the past few weeks, she has quit sleeping with me. She doesn't even come into the bedroom anymore. Odd.
Even more odd, I'm finding her sleep in different places. Sometimes it's in the kitchen by the stove or in the living room floor. Off course the first thing that goes through my head is pain. Maybe the jumping up on the bed is painful for her.
Another weird thing is she often just stands in one place. Doesn't do anything but stand there. Odd.
We go to the beach in a few weeks. Hoping she doesn't come home lame as she usually does. I'm really dreading having her Xrayed again. I'm not ready to deal with her HD starring back at me in black and white.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
THIS GRAVEL ROAD HAS ALOT OF BUMPS!
While Marley is on prolonged activity restrictions, I have started researching hip replacement for her. Hoping it never comes to that, but if it does I want to be ready. So much to research. Where to go, what surgeon, what type of surgery, both hips or just one, cemented or non cemented hip, recovery, rehab and the list goes on and on.
During my yearly blood draw, it was discovered that one of my thyroid tests was 10 times normal.....accounting for the weight gain and extreme fatigue I have been enduring. So I got a new prescription and orders to come back in 3 months.
I've been having some problems with right foot pain. I went to the ortho who took Xrays and discovered I have an unusual bone structure in my baby toe. Says it probably came from repeated sprains while I was growing up. I'm so weird, I know. Anyhow, I have plantar fasciitis. Now I have it in both feet. Joy, joy! So I get to do lots of stretches and splinting.
KK and I are entered in an USDAA trial in LA in a few weeks. After that it's beach time and a long break. I need a break!!! Counting down the days until I'm on the beach!!!
During my yearly blood draw, it was discovered that one of my thyroid tests was 10 times normal.....accounting for the weight gain and extreme fatigue I have been enduring. So I got a new prescription and orders to come back in 3 months.
I've been having some problems with right foot pain. I went to the ortho who took Xrays and discovered I have an unusual bone structure in my baby toe. Says it probably came from repeated sprains while I was growing up. I'm so weird, I know. Anyhow, I have plantar fasciitis. Now I have it in both feet. Joy, joy! So I get to do lots of stretches and splinting.
KK and I are entered in an USDAA trial in LA in a few weeks. After that it's beach time and a long break. I need a break!!! Counting down the days until I'm on the beach!!!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
THE BEGINNING OF THE END?
Marley is on hip rest again. Probably for 3 months. I think this may be the beginning of the end of her agility career. I don't think we are going to reach our goal of earning her MX titles. I don't think she will be able to stay healthy enough.
I had noticed in the last few trials, Marley just wasn't herself. She still tried in each run, but we just weren't able to pull it together. Marley is known for being a pokey weaver but her weaving is now just walking the poles. Ding, ding, ding. Weaving is hard on the hips. So if you have HD, weaving causes pain. She still manages some great runs but I usually cause a refusal so NQ for us. Mar's last run in Springfield was a NQ for us, but what I remember was she was HAPPY when she finished. So if that was our last run together, at least I know she was happy! Some people though Mar was being a toot by the way she was running and may have even laughed about it, but I bet they never noticed how she was running. As I was reviewing her runs, it is very apparent she was bunny hopping...a sign her hips were hurting her.
I talked to her vet a long time last week. One of the first things he asked me was 'Have you achieved everything you wanted to with Marley?" I told him "no, but I'm ok if I have to retire her, I just don't want her to be in pain". It makes me so sad to think that her career is probably over at just 5 years old. But it hurts me more to think that she's in pain. Mar is very stoic and rarely shows pain unless its pretty bad. This week she's been staying in the office in her crate a lot by herself so I know she's in some pain. Plus she's not been playing with KK much. The vet and I discussed different pain meds and the best ones at this point in time to make her comfortable. No mention of surgery yet but I know that is just a matter of time before I have to make that decision.
I mailed off entries for 2 agility trials this week. Only KK's were in the envelope. That mad me very sad. If you aren't invested in a sport, then you don't know how hard it is to be at a point where you are deciding to retire a dog. Yes, it's a dog and it's just a sport. But I have invested so much in my dog and my dreams and it hurts to think that it's over. It hurts. I had already entered Marley in a trial at the end of October and I did enter her in a few runs at our home club's trial in early November. I will wait and see how she is doing before I pull those entries.
I had so many hopes and dreams for Marley. I didn't count on her having HD. I didn't count on some of the turmoil early in her training. But we live and learn. Regardless of whether Marley can ever compete again or not, she will have the best life possible.
I had noticed in the last few trials, Marley just wasn't herself. She still tried in each run, but we just weren't able to pull it together. Marley is known for being a pokey weaver but her weaving is now just walking the poles. Ding, ding, ding. Weaving is hard on the hips. So if you have HD, weaving causes pain. She still manages some great runs but I usually cause a refusal so NQ for us. Mar's last run in Springfield was a NQ for us, but what I remember was she was HAPPY when she finished. So if that was our last run together, at least I know she was happy! Some people though Mar was being a toot by the way she was running and may have even laughed about it, but I bet they never noticed how she was running. As I was reviewing her runs, it is very apparent she was bunny hopping...a sign her hips were hurting her.
I talked to her vet a long time last week. One of the first things he asked me was 'Have you achieved everything you wanted to with Marley?" I told him "no, but I'm ok if I have to retire her, I just don't want her to be in pain". It makes me so sad to think that her career is probably over at just 5 years old. But it hurts me more to think that she's in pain. Mar is very stoic and rarely shows pain unless its pretty bad. This week she's been staying in the office in her crate a lot by herself so I know she's in some pain. Plus she's not been playing with KK much. The vet and I discussed different pain meds and the best ones at this point in time to make her comfortable. No mention of surgery yet but I know that is just a matter of time before I have to make that decision.
I mailed off entries for 2 agility trials this week. Only KK's were in the envelope. That mad me very sad. If you aren't invested in a sport, then you don't know how hard it is to be at a point where you are deciding to retire a dog. Yes, it's a dog and it's just a sport. But I have invested so much in my dog and my dreams and it hurts to think that it's over. It hurts. I had already entered Marley in a trial at the end of October and I did enter her in a few runs at our home club's trial in early November. I will wait and see how she is doing before I pull those entries.
I had so many hopes and dreams for Marley. I didn't count on her having HD. I didn't count on some of the turmoil early in her training. But we live and learn. Regardless of whether Marley can ever compete again or not, she will have the best life possible.
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