Are We There Yet?

We have been waiting patiently for Duke's surgery date to arrive. I think he's been feeling like a bird in a cage, as he is spending a majority of his day inside, or in his crate. His poor little sister Mable(a Fiest)doesn't understand that he can't play. Every opportunity she gets she is jumping at his face, trying to pounce him, doing small 360's, begging him to oblige. Of course, he just lets her act crazy as he limps by, or sits back down in defeat. When he is out of his crate, he spends most of his time outside basking in the sun.

We have 2 pear trees, and he makes sure to try and clean up the good ones that manage to make it down before the squirrels get to them. Our neighbor has a walnut tree. The squirrels like to hide them in various places around our yard. At any given morning, around this time of year, it is not unlikely to walk out to find a walnut stashed in the brake rotors of your car, or balanced carefully on the door handle. A few weeks ago I noticed one perched on top of my cucumber trellis. Occasionally, the squirrels forget what they are doing and run off leaving the walnut to other creatures disposal. This is when Duke finds them. Yesterday he was caught with what looked like a pear in his mouth. He was chewing away contently, foamy jowls making a sound best described as: the sound a giant fish would make if they could actually pucker, when we noticed it. It was not a pear however, it was a green walnut. He kept rolling it around in his mouth, trying to chew it. Obviously unaware, that it was anything other than a pear. Finally, he gave up. He looked up, and with one giant sigh let it drop to the ground.I have to give him an 'A' for effort. If his determination to eat the walnut is any indication as to his recovery after surgery, I think we are going to be good as gold. All we need to do now is keep raising funds. Thank you to all who have helped, we appreciate you so very much. Please keep sharing his story and blog! Donations can be made via Chipin on this blog or locally at Bubble and Bark in Ferndale, MI.

Reaching Out

Today I met with the wonderful people at Bubble and Bark in Ferndale, MI. I spoke with Julie and she enthusiastically agreed to post a flyer about Duke, and leave a donation jar to help raise his surgery funds! I can't say enough great things about everyone at Bubble and Bark! They are a fantastic local business in Ferndale, MI and have helped us out on a number of occasions.

We found a wounded dog in Detroit last year which we decided to foster and nurse back to health. She had been hit by a car, starved, and abused. She stayed with us for a few months and when we felt she was rehabilitated enough to find a forever home we asked Bubble and Bark if they would tell their other customers about her and post an adoption flyer. Well they did, and because they did, she found her forever home! I simply can't say enough wonderful things about them! Stop in to Bubble and Bark and see what they are all about when you get time or check out their website at www.bubbleandbark.com. They are full service retail store, groomer, and boarding facility and they will treat your pups as if they were their own. In fact, while I was there we talked about Maizy, our previous foster dog, and she was actually there for doggie day care!

X-Ray

Duke's X-Ray doesn't

show his torn ACL as it is a ligament, but if you look closely between the knee there is a gray area. That should be dark and it is not. That was the first indication of his torn ACL. It is fluid build up in and around his knee. The second confirmation was what the Dr. calls drawer movement. When the knee is checked for left to right movement. There should not be any "give" and there was due to his tear.

Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have a Surgeon.

On Wed. August 8th we met with Dr. Wilson at Wilson Veterinary Hospital in Sterling Heights. He was a very kind man and seemed confident by nature. He confirmed Duke's diagnosis and we talked about his surgery options. Dr. Wilson recommends Duke get a TPLO surgery (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy). TPLO surgery is one of the many different methods of stabilizing a dog’s knee after a cranial cruciate ligament tear. The TPLO surgery involves cutting the top of the tibia and rotating the bone then putting a plate on the bone to hold it in the new position while it heals. He said because of Dukes large size, it is the best and most successful surgery available, and offers him the greatest chance at a full recovery. You can read more about TPLO surgery here http://www.petsurgerytopics.com/dog-cruciate-ligament/tplo-tibial-plateauleveling-osteotomy-surgery-for-dog-cruciate-ligament-tears The earliest surgery date available is September 11th. I am not very keen on having it done on a date with such ingrained memories of loss, but he needs to have it done. It will be the beginning of Duke's journey to healing, and that is something good to look forward to. We are still trying to raise money to help cover the cost of his surgery. The doctor quoted me $1900-$2100. If you know anyone you can share this blog to who may even donate $1, please share! Thank you all for your support and generosity!