Honey Status

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Several people have asked me, so thought I better get a Honey update put out.  Haven't updated yet as there really isn't a whole lot to tell at this point.  Here is where we currently stand.  We took her to Dr. Rachel in Indianapolis.  Dr. Rachel put her under and manipulated her knees and hips etc., to see what her opinion was.  She was of the impression that the type of surgery that she was planning to do, which is a suture procedure, would not benefit Honey at this time.  She felt that her knees were stable.  That they were possibly partially torn, but not completely torn.  That at some point in the future it might be necessary if they completely tear, but at this point not.  She did mention another type of surgery that might possibly help.  I went back to Indy and picked her up and the following week made an appointment with a surgeon in Cincinnati about the TTA surgery.  He was of the opinion that she did need the surgery on both knees and that she would benefit greatly from it.  However, he would not want to perform the procedure until she was around 1 year old.  That isn't until the end of June.  The bones in her knees need to be completely hardened before they do that surgery or it could fail.  Jacquie is in the process of also forwarding all of her records to a Surgeon in TX that has done some great work for them in the past to get an opinion from him.  So, right now Honey is just happy as can be playing with Lucy and AnnaBelle and getting loved on by every single person she meets in Ohio.  She is a doll baby.  Rest assured that she is going to get whatever procedure they determine will be the most beneficial for her. 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Such a pretty doodle :)  I hope all goes well for her, sending her doodle {{{{ hugs }}}}}}

[Pam & Trixie]

what a great picture of the two of you.  Thank you for the update

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Thanks for the update.  You are such a wonderful person to balance a special needs doodle, Lucy and your new girl Annabelle...hope things are under control at your house :)

[Leslie and Halas]

Thanks for the update.  She's just adorable.  I hope a consensus can be reached on what Honey needs and when.  It sounds like there are a lot of good vets helping out.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Sheri, thank you for the update, and for all that you are doing

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Sheri, thank you for the update. I just love that picture of the two of you!  You and your DH rock for loving this beautiful girl and taking such good care of her given the complicated situation. Hoping that if you can't keep her, she finds her forever home with Ronna.  Keep us posted :)  

If she is going to have some arthritis, after surgery you might ask the vet about putting her on a good prescription strength glucosamine chondroitin.  Supplements to the dog's diet such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate, Omega Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Selenium, and MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) all assist in decreasing inflammation and may help improve the body's ability to repair and strengthen tissues. Supplements won't reverse structural changes in a joint and it's true that research studies show conflicting results.  In some cases no benefit.  But my boy (after strenuous exercise) looked like Honey when he tried to get up off the floor.  It broke my heart to see that video. Several months later, on this regime, you wouldn't know anything was wrong.  One year later, I just had him checked and there has been no additional remodeling in the hip joints and he has 100% range of motion. Just something to think about.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Thanks Cheryl.  She is currently on a RX strength GC supplement.  Dr. Rachel put her on that before she left Indy.