Kirk's Hips =( **8/26 GOOD update!**"

[pessimisaurus]

So hows he feeling now, any better?? :/

[Kater]

....on my handsome boy.



Well, his 3 days of 'heavy' pain meds are over, and he's certainly in less pain. Although there has been less hopping, I don't think there has been any significant improvement. It's hard because in his case toe touching and true weight-bearing look pretty similar, since the muscle is so very atrophied. However, what I thought was weight-bearing has been dubbed toe touching by another, more experienced party. (Not the vet, but someone who has experienced multiple leg surgeries, some very similar to Kirkie's....) Basically looking at his gait at the clinic is useless, because he's all hyper and hopped up on adrenaline (he LOVES the clinic), so I need to be able to accurately report what his progress has been day-to-day. I guess I was being a little too optimistic in thinking that his toe touching was weight-bearing....

He has hydrotherapy today (it will be his 5th time in the water). If it is a problem with his knee, then he really shouldn't be swimming....but I'm almost 100% positive it's a problem with the hip again. The therapist has quite a bit of experience and she won't do anything she's not comfortable with....so he may end getting a long massage session instead of water time. Have I ever mentioned that she LOVES Kirkie? She's always telling me he has the best temperament she has ever seen in any border collie she has met or worked with ...he's a real lover. I only wish you could all meet him because meeting new people is probably what he loves best in the world.

Also I'll be taking him in to the clinic tomorrow to figure things out. I'm hoping maybe they can manually manipulate his hip to get it back in the socket again....(with morphine on board of course).... assuming that is the problem. I hope we will have non-surgical options because I'm pretty sure I can't put either him or myself through surgery again. We'll see....

Here's some happy pictures....playing with his I Qube! He's *loves* that thing!!









Thank you ALL for your prayers and thoughts. Kirkie and I both are very appreciative!!

[shais_mom]

put a big ol' kiss right b/n his eyes from me
still thinking of you and praying for you Kate!

[Daisy and Delilah]

What a cutie pie!! Great pictures of you Mr. Kirkie!! You're one adorable boy. I wish we could all meet you too. That would be great and especially if it would help you. I hope you get better and feel good soon.

{{{{{KIRKIE AND MOM}}}}}

[pessimisaurus]

glad to see an update! he is sooo adorable. he has such a gorgeous face. I really wish I could meet that cutie!! give him a big kiss for me, hope the therapy continues to go well

[Ginger's Mom]

I am afraid you have to give Kirk yet another kiss; this one is from me. He sure is a handsome boy. And you can tell he is a real sweetheart. I will continue to keep that handsome boy in my prayers for a total cure and recovery.

[chocolatepuppy]

Kirk, you are the cutest! I will keep praying for you.

[pitc9]

You and Kirk are in my thoughts and prayers....

[Kater]

I hate to even update this thread anymore... I have avoided it since Saturday.

So, upon exam, his hips were fine - no grinding, no pain. YAY! However, his LEFT knee was looser than the right and quite painful That plus x-rays indicate that he has a partial cruciate tear. How he even generated enough force to tear the cruciate with his SKINNY body and TINY, ATROPHIED left leg...I will never know.
I am crushed.

Now I'm worried because his right leg (the 'good' one) would seem to be at greater risk for a cruciate tear...and there's not much I can do. Protect him too much and he'll have no musculature...give him too much freedom and he will overexert. I'm trying to find that balance to maintain everyone's sanity...but it's not easy.

He'll continue with hydrotherapy, acupuncture, pain meds, and chondroprotective supplementation....so we're basically "staying the course."

When will it end??

Don't worry if you don't hear from me for a while... I want to come back when I have good news.