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

[gardengirl]

Your breeder sounds like a good person. You are lucky in that respect. I wouldn't be so quick to turn down refunds or help with the surgeries. You will be inundated with bills from that and from rehabilitation costs.

My 6 yo collie has bilateral elbow dysplasia. He was diagnosed at 18 mos., too late for surgery because of arthritis that had already set in. Until a year ago, he did pretty well, although had to take some antiinflammatories at times. He always walks funny and limps quite a bit. Six months ago we began swimming and water therapy (treadmill under water). Also, physical therapy with exercises. He's been getting adequan shots also. The expense is enormous just from this and no surgery. But he is really improving and much stronger than he was. His balance is much better and his endurance greatly increased. He takes Previcox much more often now, but I'm happy with the results from the therapy. Definitely try Kirk with these things so his muscles don't atrophy like Bailey's did. We started late to remedy the situation.

It's devastating to have our disabled dogs. My heart breaks when I watch him around other dogs and see what he cannot do. But he's a great dog and has excelled in other areas like pet therapy. He worked with kids who had cancer for 4 years.

My breeder wasn't so nice. She never offered money, and she lied about the sibling not having these issues. In fact a litter brother was even worse off. She will not respond to my emails or calls. I have given up on her. I don't need her anymore. Unfortunately I had done research and was referred to her by reputable breeders. I paid a lot of money for Bailey and even with the problems, I'm so happy to have him.

Here's a video of my other collie in the water tank helping his back arthritis:

Water Therapy

Good luck with Kirk. He is very lucky to have you as his mom to take such good care of him.

[Kater]

My boy is doing well. He has not tweaked the knee ....or given me some form of a heart attack in quite some time!! We are having some diarrhea issues....but on the up side, he has had a great appetite lately. I might actually get him up to 39-40 lbs. yet! We're working on those muscles!!

Here are some pics I took today...

Left side...this is the more atrophied side. He most recently had surgery on this side and this knee has the partially torn ligament. He is using it really well and his muscles continue to develop well on this side.


Right side....his strong side. You can see the size difference by comparing the two pictures, but the difference is somewhat obscured by his fur. Obviously the left side has shorter hair as it was shaved more recently. He still has uneven breeches!




Smiley boy



gardengirl - Thank you for sharing your story, advice and kind words. I am so sorry to hear about your sweet Bailey (and his despicable breeder ).
Adequan is very expensive, but I know it helps Kirk tremendously. I give weekly injections at home, and probably will continue to do so for life. If you can stomach giving the injections yourself, then your clinic might allow you to buy the bottle and do it at home (at a tremendous cost savings).
Wishing you and Bailey all the best!!

[chocolatepuppy]

It's so good to hear Kirk is doing well! He is just gorgeous.

[Ginger's Mom]

Oh Kate, you have managed to make one of my least favorite threads into one of my most favorite threads. Yay, Kirkie! You are doing great! You have done wonders with him, Kate, he is so lucky to have a family that just would not give up. Look at those eyes in the last picture *swoon*; what a handsome boy.

[shais_mom]

ok - give that happy boy a big kiss from me right b/n his beautiful eyes!!
glad to hear he's doing better!

[wolf_Q]

I'm so glad to hear that Kirk is feeling better! He's such a beautiful dog! Please give him a hug for me.

[anna_66]

It's so nice to see Kirk and hear that he's doing so great

He looks Marvelous!!!

LOVE this pic, he looks sooo happy!


Thanks for the update!