An update about my baby doggy, Shuka

So, it's been almost 2 months since I first posted about my dog, her injury and the problems/expense that all of this entails. I've spent a lot of time researching the injury. There is no doubt that the ideal thing would be to go with the surgery, but I think that decision would also be based on the ideal patient. Unfortunately, in order for me to keep my dog in a resting state, I'd have to heavily drug her and that's not something I want to do. The surgery would include at least 8 weeks of recovery, which given her current state of extreme separation anxiety, would be an extremely stressful 8 weeks for both her and me. Actually, I'm not really sure how I'd be able to manage it at all. So, as the best alternative, I've started working with a behaviouralist. Thanks to the East Bay SPCA, I've been put in touch with an amazing woman. I have my work cut out for me, but I'm hoping that it will pay off and will allow Shuka to live her final years out in a more relaxed state. So, until the next update, here are some pics and she and I. :) Enjoy!

Alternative to Surgery for ACL knee injuries in dogs...

If any of you know me on Facebook, I'm sure by now you are tired of reading my posts about my dog, her injuries and my pleading for help. However, now 3 weeks into her injury and 2 weeks into knowing what her injury is, I've been able to do quite a bit of research into the injury itself, the surgery options and the non-surgical options available. I will be taking Shuka to vet #2 Saturday morning for a second opinion on the injury and what options I can look at as possibilities to help her. I have also contacted vet #3, a holistic vet, and am looking at the possibility of using acupuncture and herbal/homeopathic medicines to help her heal in a more natural and non-invasive manner.

From what I've found on the internet, ACL injuries are quite common. They are also quite expensive, especially if you go with the TPLO surgery commonly recommended by the typical vet. Through my research, I have found a brace called A-TraC that oftentimes works very nicely to help keep the knee stabilized while the ACL heals. I have already started giving her supplements to help keep her joints healthy and strong. I found this article that talks about alternatives to surgeries: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_2/features/Canine-Ligament-Injury-Options_16198-1.html?zkPrintable=true The holistic vet is suggesting "Prolotherapy" which sounds intriguing, but I'm worried it might wind up being just as expensive as the surgery. I am also still awaiting the delivery of the ThunderShirt, which is scheduled for Saturday (which can't get here soon enough!). I can't rule any option out just yet and I am thankful to each person who has helped guide me to another possible answer to help Shuka to extend her life in a healthy and happy way. At this point, I am unsure what the next couple of weeks will bring concerning this situation, but I am doing my best to stay positive.

Shuka has been a good companion to me through many tough times. She's been my watch dog, comfort giver, bed hog, food beggar, walking buddy and dependent. She loves me unconditionally. I do not know what kind of life she had before she found her way off the streets of South Central Los Angeles, into the shelter and then into my own life. Even though the idea to adopt a black lab was not mine, I am glad that she has been with me for the past 7 years. Her shelter dog issues have been trying at times, as her separation anxiety is right now, but it's not her fault and I hope that I can find a way to help her to live out her final years in a more peaceful state of mind.

ThunderShirt for Dog Anxiety

Two weeks ago I brought my dog in from a day in the back yard. She was limping. I thought maybe she jumped and twisted the wrong way or something and hoped after a couple of days, she'd be walking normally again. Unfortunately for both me and her, she was still limping pretty bad 5 days later so I took her to the vet to find out that she has a torn ligament in her knee. I was faced with the option of a $2700 or an $1800 lesser surgery, neither of which I can really afford. Not to mention, if she did have the surgery, I'm not sure how I would keep her from jumping around when I get home or running around when I'm not at home, because of her issues with separation anxiety. I thought I might be facing a tough decision, until I spoke with my parents and the next day, my dad called me back with a long list of things to try on her...one of which is the ThunderShirt. Mine is ordered and will hopefully be arriving early next week. I'm so anxious to try this out to see if it'll keep my dog from going crazy with excitement every time I come home and will hopefully keep her from impeding her injury from improving because of her jumping around. From all of the information online, it seems to be a pretty amazing thing and I am crossing my fingers that it will even help a little bit! I'll update you once I receive it and have a chance to try it on her!