The true start of his rehab 9/6/2010

So I have started doing his advanced exercises along with his walks but it's going slow. I think Guinness is going to need some practice is all, and me too I'm a little rusty trying to remember how to do them properly. Guinness does well on his walks, as long as he doesn't get too excited or want to run (he'lll start to hop and carry the leg). I have to encorporate hills into the walk which he is doing well with, If I go real slow he keeps his left leg down the whole time. Cookies at Contra-lateral hip-he tends to lift his leg or throw out his back to try and compensate, so he can't do this one properly just yet. The three leg standing, I need a refresher, I feel like no matter what I do he's bearing weight through my hand. I will ask the rehab therapist at his next visit for some tips. Paws up- he is doing better than the first time after surgery but doesn't always keep the left leg down, he intermittently stands on it bearing weight. With more practice I know he'll get it.



A website I found shortly after his first surgery, topdoghealth.com, is full of information for dog recovery and rehab. I found them through a video on youtube.com. They actuallly have step by step manuals (Home Rehab Guides) that take you through recovery for certain orthopedic procedures, i.e. FHO, MPL, THR, etc. for sale. I found http://www.fhoguide.com/ by accident, which gave me there FHO Home Rehab Guide for free. It repeats everything that VOSM has in there discharge instructions but has a little extra.

Written instructions aren't as good to me as a video and the topdoghealth website have a few which has helped. They just added a few more recently, one being for Cavaletti poles- http://http//topdoghealth.com/infusionsoft/videos/Cavaletti-Poles.html and http://http//topdoghealth.com/infusionsoft/videos/Figure-8.html. Cavaletti poles are poles placed at different heights for dogs to walk over. They are also used in agility training but most commonly people have seen these poles at horse shows, where the horse is jumping over them. I wanted to make my own and try it out but safety cones I found at Home Depot and Dicks Sporting Goods are $10 a peice and I need atleast 4. I don't want to pay that much so I looked at a few other places but they were too small (Party City and Sports Authority). I was thinking about using milk jugs and feeling them with sand or rice (too light on there own) but then when I went to the grocery store this afternoon they had $1 small laundry baskets which was perfect and I don't have to drill holes, it already has them :). The baskets aren't as cute as the cones but O well it works for me. I took Guinness outside tonight and tried them out. He did pretty well. One exercise is to do figure 8's- which helps work different muscle groups than straight walking does, helping with balance and proprioception (dog's ability to know what orientation his legs and paws are in). The other exercise is to have your dog walk slowly over the poles which helps to increase strength in his legs and balance. Guinness did pretty good I think, he is a quick learner. I'll ask the rehab therapist if I should continue with the Cavaletti poles but I'm sure she will encourage any effort to get Guinness to use his leg. I probably need to buy some more too.

Cavaletti Poles



Figure 8's

9 days post FHO surgery 9/2/2010

So by a 3-4 days post op Guinness began putting his left leg down intermittently then by a week he has been walking on it intermittently. I'm glad to see that he is walking on it already. I'm keeping up his ROM exercises, he does ok with them. Sometimes it doesn't seem to bother him, especially if he has a treat or toy he is interested in but others times he starts whinning from the start.

Meds: The first 3 days he was on 3/4 tablet (pain med) 3 times a day for pain, he was pretty whinny. Then by day 4 I gave him 1/2 tablet 3 times a day and by day 5 to now he gets 1/2 tab twice a day and seems to be doing well on it. He is still taking his rimadyl and antibiotic. His rash has gotten so much better, its barely visible now.

His first follow up visit is tomorrow, friday. His staples are scheduled to come out. His incision looks really good and is healing well. He also starts his rehab too, the ROM excercises and heat therapy with the rehab therapist. Week 4 he starts his water therapy hopefully. Starting tomorrow I can begin his slow 5 minute walks, I did a mini one today and he did really well. He is beginning to walk on it alot more now. It's amazing to me that he is using his leg alot quicker this time around than with the first surgery. But that is what is expected for this surgery, so yea his recovery is going as expected this time around.