Boris five weeks after his surgery

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I just thought I would give you all an update on how Boris is doing post surgery on both shoulders for Chondriatosis Dissecans (OCD) The first three weeks he was on crate rest with little walks three times a day. There were wound complications over Christmas which meant I spent Christmas day and the next day in the Vet Hospital. Stitches burst due to a build up of fluid in a pocket behind the wound opening and there was lots of fluid (luckily no infection) and we spent a lot of time putting hot compresses onto the wound to help the swelling go down. The stitches on the left shoulder came out after ten days and the right side eventually healed and stitches came out at three weeks. Yesterday we started the first session of Hydrotherapy, Boris was unsure at first but was very good and got the hang of it pretty quickly. He started with six minutes on the treadmill and this will build up to 30 minute sessions. Next week he goes for three days and they have offered to keep him as it is a two hour drive from where I live. I haven't yet decided how I will manage it. I think I will take him to work with me and just go through three days of a 6am start as I would rather he was home here.The therapy will continue on a weekly basis until they are happy that he has built muscle (which he doesn't have at all) on his shoulders and then there will be maintenance visits scheduled.  He has gone from being a greedy guts to being a reluctant eater. I don't know whether it was all the tablets he was on but we have discontinued, for now,all pain killers to see how he does.

The Veterinary Hospital in the University have been wonderful as have my own Vets been. The Breeder on the other hand has been awful but that's a whole other story :) 

[F, Calla & Luca]

That sounds like excellent progress. And Boris looks great in the water. The muscles will surely build up. I know it has been tough on everyone but I am hoping the end results will make you forget all that. Any further info on whether he will be able to be off leash eventually?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ah, Nicky, you and Boris have been through so much, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

There are always dogs doing hydrotherapy at the rehab center where JD gets his laser treatments, and I have seen their progress myself as well as heard from their owners how much it has helped. I am sure that it will help Boris, too. He does look like a "natural" in the water. :) 

Hang in there. Hugs to you both! 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Nicky, I'm sorry you and Boris have been through so much but hoping he improves steadily. I wish there were more hydrotherapy and swimming facilities available as I think it would be a help for so many dogs.  Big hugs to you and Boris! Hang in there!  

[Donna K & Quincy]

Nicky, It sounds like great progress and Boris will be up and running in no time. Just remind yourself that you are lucky to be blessed with access to this type of a facility. 

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Nicki, I am so happy that Boris is into the rehab stage of his recovery. You all have been through so much that being at this stage has got to bring a smile to your face. Boris looks like a natural. A good friend of mine had her dog doing hydrotherapy for a full year due to her having chemo treatments. It helped keep her strength and endurance up while she was fighting her cancer. Best wishes to you both.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

It is wonderful to see such progress, he has come a long way! I hope he enjoys the therapy and continues on this healing path. Hugs to you both!

[Julie and Max]

I'm sorry you and Boris have to go through this, hopefully he will be feeling lots better soon. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Sending lots of love to you, Boris and Riley. They are both so lucky to have you as their mum!!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

We did have a more positive conversation about off leash activity with one of the other vets when I brought Boris for his four week post-op check. The original surgeon was off sick and another vet (who told me he had been called into the operating room and had seen the lesions) was familiar with Boris. He told me that he thought he was doing better than expected and was quite flexible He walked him several times and the left leg is still a little stiff but better than it had been before the op. He did grumble when his limbs were stretched out but the vet explained that this is normal at this stage and that it takes a full 16 weeks for the scar tissue to form mock ligament which replaces the lack of normal ligament. He said that we were lucky it was on his shoulders as if it had been the elbows we would have been having a different conversation :( He was much more hopeful that he would be able to run free again but that it would have to be monitored carefully and that we would have to pace his exercise. I felt more positive following this conversation than I had been previously. 

[Leslie and Halas]

That's great news!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This is great news.....

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am delighted to hear this.