[balkis]

Hi Mike,

I just wanted to give an update on Kaila’s progress. She is doing GREAT! She had her surgery on 6/23 and the staples were removed on 7/3. Her surgeon told me that she was healing about ONE MONTH ahead of the average time for dogs who had the same type of surgery.

Just to recap, I ended up having the “Imbrication” or “Lateral Suture” surgery done for her. I decided on this type of surgery vs. the TPLO because of two things: 1. Kaila’s age – she is about 10 1/2 years old and 2. her activity level – she was never a hiker but more of a short walk type of girl.

Like I mentioned before, she had been on the Glycoflex III for a couple of years. Around the first week of June I switched her over to the Agility. I would like to point out that Kaila’s other ACL is also torn but at this time that knee seems to be holding up quite well. However, for the time being we are keeping her activity level to a bare minimum (per the vet) because she needs to build scar tissue around the wound site. It may only be the other knee looks better than it really is because she isn’t using it to full capacity. Once we start to increase her exercise and movement (in another 3-4 weeks) I will be able to see how BOTH knees are doing.

I will keep her on the Agility for another couple of months. Then I’d like to switch her back to the Glycoflex III and monitor her closely to see if there is any change – especially in the knee that did not have the surgery. If I don’t see any negative changes I will keep her on the Glycoflex since it is about 1/3 less the cost of the Agility. Of course, if there is any negative change I will put her back on the Agility.

That’s the closest I can come to doing an experiment – Agility vs. Glycoflex – (sorry Mike)
but I guess that’s why I’m an accountant and not a scientist. 🙂

I’ll keep you posted. And all kidding aside, even though I was nervous about having the surgery done I am soooo glad I did. Kaila is really looking great and she is already reaping the rewards of the surgery.

Take care,
Linda

PS – thanks for the good wishes Steve – hope this info is helpful to you.

[balkis]

Hi Mike and Steve,

It is sooooo true. I play tug with Stitch all the time and I realized some time ago the quickest way for me to get Stitchy to “release” is for me to loosen my grip. This technique also works with pretty much anything else he has in his mouth – a tennis ball, his furry little “tail” toy, his jolly ball. Any time I try to take something from him when he doesn’t “leave it” – if I loosen my grip/touch on the item – he will drop it.

I also have realized that if I am bending over him (he is laying down with the item between his paws) after he “leaves it” and I try to pick the item up — he grabs it again. BUT if I stand up and wait a second or two (after he “leaves it”) and then I go pick the item up he will not try to grab it. So somehow my standing up straight vs. bending down over him to pick up the item makes a difference to him.

Just my two cents! 🙂

Linda

[balkis]

Hi Mike,

Sorry just getting back to you now. I’ve been off the site for a bit.

Hmmm – in answer to your one question, I can’t really say I’ve noticed positive changes in my other 2 dogs. Only because they really don’t have any issues that I’ve noticed. I can tell you that Milo (9 1/2 yrs) and Stitch (6 yrs) are in good shape and are both active. I play lots of catch games with Stitch and Milo goes for lots of bike rides with me.

Like I mentioned before all 3 dogs have been on the glycoflex for about 2 – 3 years (can’t remember exactly) now. Did Kaila already have some damage before that – MOST LIKELY. Since we adopted her (about 9 years ago) she has always been high energy when it came to being out in the yard. She used to go crazy jumping up and down at the fence when someone past our house. (Don’t worry – we MANAGE that now!) From all the research I’ve done on this subject, the damage to the ACL is done in small increments over time. So it is definitely possible there was damage before having her on the glycoflex. Now, would she be in worse condition if she weren’t on the glyco? Would she be in even better condition if she were on the Agility? I can’t say for sure. But:

What I think I’ll do – and it will be a good experiment – is I will put Kaila on the Agility. For just the one dog it won’t be too expensive and then we can see if there is a difference.

Once again, thanks for your input,

Linda

[balkis]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your input. After a considerable amount of thought I’ve decided to have Dr. Brett Wood at the Animal ER (RT9 – Wappingers) do the Lateral Suture Repair for Kaila.

Thanks too for the thoughts on after care. I’m in total agreement with you regarding their weight and the supplements. All 3 of my dogs are at their ideal weight and have been on the Glycoflex 3 for about 2 years now.

Just so you know, the Agility and the Glycoflex have almost the same exact ingredients. As for the glucosamine, MSM and the Green Lipped Mussel they are exactly the same. However, the crazy thing is the Agility is about $42 for 60 tabs and the Glycoflex is about $45 (online) for 180 soft chews. Not sure why that is but I go for the Glycoflex to save a few dollars.

Ok – that’s about it for now. I am hopeful that this surgery will help Kaila be more comfortable.

thanks
Linda

[balkis]

Hi Mike

Thanks for your quick response.

I do have some additional questions and concerns though.

Before I go on I would just like to point out that I have read the “pack structure” section several times and I understand it and follow what it says. I guess my problems arise because I don’t follow it 100% of the time. I THINK I AM … but in looking back and re-reading the section I realize I’m not.

It’s not just about training. It’s about changing your whole attitude about these animals. Having them as pets is wonderful but we must never forget (not even for one second!) that they are DOGS! If you do, then that’s when the problems start. I thought I was in control. I thought I WAS the pack leader. How mistaken I was.

I am just starting to realize now (after losing my rottie Sadie and many years of trying different techniques) that it can’t even be 99% of the time!

FOR EXAMPLE::

It’s been 3 years since Kaila and Stitch attacked my Sadie (who died as results of injuries).

I have been a member of this site for about 10 months and therefore been following (as best I can) what Mike’s methods are.

In those last 3 years (I was using other methods of management prior to joining the site) Kaila, Stitch and Milo have had no problems with each other.

QUESTION:

Why after 3 years has there been a shift?

I’m not doing anything different now than what I’ve been doing for the last 8 months.

I guess that’s where I get stuck. Mike, you said in your email “it will help if you become an expert on how to manage them by really understanding the WHY behind it.” The two incidents surrounding the bone and food are clear but the one in the garage isn’t. What am I missing?

I thought we were managing them – they weren’t fighting. So what changed? Were we just lucky that something didn’t happen sooner?

After all this however, we don’t want to give up!

As I mentioned before, we no longer allow any of the dogs on the furniture with us.

We continue to do our training and exercise.

We are keeping Milo away from Stitch when we aren’t around to monitor their interactions.

We want Milo to feel less anxious and we want Stitch and Kaila to be less dominant.

We know that will happen if we continue to stay in the roll of Pack Leader and continue to manage them CONSISTENTLY. I just hope God will continue to give us the insight we need.

[balkis]

Thanks Mike, this was very helpful. I think I am pretty much on track.

And no I hadn’t seen the video with Hunkie and Elu – didn’t know it was out there. But I have watched it now. Great video btw and I’m glad to see Hunkie. I was wondering about his progress.

As for coming down for a meet I think that would be a great idea.

[balkis]

First, I just want to say that I know it must be hard having your new baby be so sick — try to hang in there and if possible try not to let her see you upset. It’s better for her.

Second, I want to say that I have had to take care of many sick cats over the years — in particular feral cats I rescued (many of them live outdoors/ a couple indoors). It took me years to gain the slightest bit of trust from them but when they got sick and I had to alter their routine and keep them in a crate to care for them – they hated it and me! In the very beginning I felt I lost all their trust and I would never get it back. But, the good news is after a short time of their lives being “back to normal” they trusted me again.

In other words, I think, animals are basically pretty resilient and forgiving. So I think you will be ok once your pooch starts feeing better and you don’t have to give the shots anymore. That’s not to say that having the vet tech come by to give the shots is a bad thing. If you can do it – why not? Don’t beat yourself up for that.

I hope she starts feeing better soon and BTW it’s not unheard of to get a second opinion. Just because it’s a vet (and not a Dr.) don’t let that stop you.

[balkis]

Hi Mike,

ok – thanks that helps put things into perspective for me. I will continue to manage the situation carefully with my new expectations.

At this point in our training do you think I should I buy the Phase 3 collars for them? Or maybe just for Kaila (Stitch responds to the silent beeper I have). Also, this question leads me back to another subject I left on the forum about a week ago – Training Timeline. When you have a chance (LOL) can you possibly respond to that?

[balkis]

Hi Lou,

Just butting in here – if Eddy eats/drinks out of plastic bowl this might be causing/exacerbating his acne. I know this was the case with my cats (chin acne) so I switched them all to metal bowls and didn’t have any further problems.

Also, my Pit Bull Stitch has skin problems – about a year ago he started getting lots of bumps on his body and they would bleed – at first I thought he was somehow scratching himself. The vet did a culture and we found a fungus. However, after treatment for that they haven’t fully gone away. The vet was pretty sure it was something in the air not his food. Since then I have had him on 1/4 of a tablet of Temeril P (steroid) with Milk Thistle (counter act the steroid) and he is doing pretty good BUT he still gets flair ups so what I have been using is a Gentocidal (spelling ??) spray and that stuff works great. He also gets little hot spots and again the spray clears them up by the next day.

[balkis]

Hi Mike,

Not to worry, right now I am definitely managing the situation. The fence has been fixed so Stitch can no longer jump over it and like I said, as soon as I hear any barking or fuss I go over to see what’s going on. Also btw, it’s Kaila and Stitch not Sadie. Sadie passed away Jan 2007.

Ideally, I would like them to ignore passers-by/distractions on the other side of the fence. That would be my goal.

[balkis]

Hi there,

Just wanted to mention that I have started Kaila on the Agility (the Aniflex looked good too but harder to give b/c it was in a powder form). She was also to the vet two days because
as I mentioned earlier, her back leg has really started to bother her. He said although she has the arthritis in her hip it’s actually her knee that is giving her more of a problem. So we decided to try “ADEQUAN”. I have to give her two shots a week for 4 weeks – then one shot a week for 4 weeks and then one shot every other week for 4 weeks and then monthy injections with a re-evaluation. This protocol was not the one dictated by the drug company but actually by a Pain Management specialist my vet knows.

I chose this route over giving her Rimadyl. In addition to the Agility and the Adequan I have her on Duralactin, an anti inflammatory.

Hopefully, this will help her leg feel better and maybe even reverse some of the damage.

If anyone has used the Adequan before I be interested in knowing what the results were.

thanks

[balkis]

Hey Mike, well after considerable thought I think I’m going to pass on the “Jiffy Pop” idea – much too messy during a fire (God forbid) — LOL.

I think I’ll try the desensitization with Stitch – not as messy.

Thanks

[balkis]

Hi Mike,

Stitch pretty much knows “leave it”. Unfortunately, he doesn’t always want to. Two of the hardest times for us is when he is using the spring pole and when we play with his whip (actual whip w/furry thing on the end).

He’s especially uncooperative with the furry thing on the whip …. he “leaves it” but when I go to pick it up he grabs it again. HAHA! Gotchya!

Is the answer as simple as — we need to practice more in formal training sessions?

[balkis]

Hi Mike,

Well believe it or not, at one time or another since we adopted Kaila we have been told she was part 1)lab 2) pit bull 3)rottie and 4) chow —- so good call.

I don’t think Kaila really has any Pit Bull in her – she doesnt’ have any interest in playing any type of tug games. I also don’t think she has much Lab in her either – she has even less interest in playing fetch.

So that narrows it down to maybe Rottie or Chow or both with a little of the others.

She isn’t very growly and rarely barks. One thing she does do however, BIG PROBLEM, is run our fence line when other dogs go by. (fence line means – 6ft high chain link/stockade fence that borders our property and the area the dogs go in). Also, she loves just sitting outside “keeping watch”.

Also, regarding the “fence line” – this is where the incident between Kaila and Sadie took place. It happened on more than one occassion (before Stitch). The two dogs got in each others way.

As I write this I’m thinking that maybe the dominant breed is Rottie. So if that is the case, any suggestions?

I don’t really know much about Chow behaviour but will research.

thanks

[balkis]

ok – I will keep to the CN and switch flavors between the brand.

As for the greenies, I believe that there were some dogs that had gotten them stuck in their throat or digestive tract because they didn’t chew them. They changed the formula after this. I currently let my large dogs have only the Petite Flexible greenies. Just wanted to know what your opionion was.

Thanks for the rec. of Aniflex. I want to look at that along with the Bick’s product and then decide what to do. My dog Kaila is about 12 years old and last year diagnosed with arthritis in her hips. This year her one hip is starting to cause her some real problems. All my dogs have been on general daily supps (for years) and the Glyco for the last two years but I think I need something better. Once I research the two I think I’ll switch them.

thanks.