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. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you for the update, Sheri, and for all you are doing for Honey! 

[Adina P]

So what its she able/not able to do at this point (physically)? Is she in pain?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

At this point her biggest problem is getting up when she lays down if she is not in the grass or on a rug.  We have throw rugs spread all over the house to help her as we have wood floors.  (looks sort of like a patchwork quilt around here).  If she isn't on one she will pull herself over to one to get up.  It is also very hard to teach her "sit" because it isn't real easy for her to just sit down like normal.  She sort of plops down. The Cincinnati surgeon said that even if she doesn't show outward signs like toe tapping or limping, that she does have pain.  We have two different pain meds that I give her when I notice that she is starting to really slow down.  I don't like giving them to her on a set schedule because when she is full of pain meds I worry that she will do further damage because she runs faster and plays even harder than without them.  So I try to find a happy medium.  If you didn't know anything was wrong with her and just saw her walking down the street you wouldn't notice it.  It is the up and down that you notice, and also occasionally when she is running I'll see her knees buckle on her a little.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Sounds so complicated.   Sad.  Glad you are all still doing the best you can for her.  Thank you for the update

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Beautiful Honey. You are right about the meds, we had a Dane with bad hips and were warned to always leave her just on the verge of 'ouchy' so she would know right away to stop over-doing.  Hope you have great luck with Honey's needs.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Such sweet pictures! I'm so glad Honey is now in a home where she is getting such good care and love. You guys are the best! Thanks for the update.

[F, Calla & Luca]

What confusion. It's hard to know what to do when the "experts" disagree. an odd number of opinions is good : )

Honey looks adorable and that's a great shot of the two of you.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

You must have read my mind..I was thinking about her.. And you this morning.  So glad she is adjusting... and how's Miss Lucy doing with all her new sisters?

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

I am always thinking about her:) Sheri, will it be September before she is ready to be adopted? After her surgery how do you think she will do with steps ? Will she be able to go up and down steps on a regular basis?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

She should be good as new after the surgery from what the Doctor said here.  I would think that once she is heeled that steps should be good for her.  I know that when we were in FL we were in a TownHouse style unit and there were two floors of steps and it was really good for Lucy's knee.  She had been limping a little after her surgery, mostly because we got sidetracked from her rehab with Sophie, but after we left FL she wasn't limping at all.  Once they have a tear they say they will always have a little arthritis, and I'm sure that will be the case with Honey as well.  The rehab from this type surgery is supposed to be six weeks.  I would think probably late August to the first part of September she should be ready to be adopted.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

I just showed her to my husband and said " this is our next dog". He said " how long are we fostering her?" I told him she has a foster,we would keep her forever.....to my surprise his only comments were "will she be the last one?" And " how will you fit 3 dogs in seat belts in your car?".

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ronna, it would be so wonderful.