Kirby was happy to see me and remained calm

I was undecided whether I should visit Kirby at the hospital or not after his knee surgery. I did not want to excite him.

But this morning I really needed to see him and how he was doing so I asked if the doctors thought it was a good idea. He is doing really well and still somewhat sedated so I went over early in the morning. He was still groggy.

A nurse brought him out to see me and to see if he got too excited.

He did not.

He looked around a lot to get his bearings and then looked right at me but did not lean or jump to get to me.

That was a good sign.

So we went into an exam room and I picked him up. I wanted to get used to handling him with the cast on and see where he is comfortable being held.

He settled into my arms quickly and stopped whimpering. I only stayed a few minutes and then let him return to his kennel to rest.

I still don’t know if my visit helped Kirby but I know it helped me and if I stay calm around him while he’s healing, he will do better, faster.

He should come home tomorrow and I see his usual kennel will be too small with the cast and E-collar on so I am preparing a larger one for him.

Until his stitches are removed in two weeks, he will have to be restricted most of the day and away from Benny, so the larger kennel will do the trick.

Benny is going to two places to work today with me – covering for his big brother. I think the more I work Benny the calmer he will be at home and we must keep him away from Kirby.

All in all Kirby appeared brighter than I expected and know he will come through this beautifully.

Today we had an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon at Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center. We spent several hours consulting with Dr. Joshua Rexing. They had to sedate Kirby to take a complete x-ray of his hips and legs.

It was discovered not only does he have the patella problem, but both back legs have cranial cruciate ligament ruptures.

This new development changed the landscape of how we manage his discomfort and inflexibility.

Canine CCL rupture is one of the most common orthopedic conditions seen in a dog.

CCL tears can be acute or chronic, as in Kirby’s case.  Acute is a traumatic injury usually occurring when the dog steps incorrectly on the limb or from jumping. Chronic disease includes age related deterioration of the ligament structure, obesity, conformation abnormalities, and immune mediated disease. With degenerative disease even repetitive normal activities can cause progressive tearing of the ligament.

Conservative measures are not really an option for the little guy as just regular walking puts too much pressure on the knees and since it is both of his knees he needs at least one working leg. Having two back legs in casts for six to eight weeks and then physical therapy would severely limit his activity and ability to lead a normal life.

His age (somewhere past ten) and size also make conservative healing more of an issue. If we tried this and he did not begin to heal, each day we prolong surgery he gets older and weaker and the thought of anesthesia and rehab is more challenging.

Thus we discussed the surgical options. Both knees are affected and on occasion they do bilateral repairs but I did not think this was appropriate for Kirby. He is older and needs one functioning leg and I did not think he could do well with the recovery necessary for both legs at once.

He also will have his patella repaired on this knee while under.

Post-surgery he will require some physical therapy and rest but we anticipate him in his stroller, smiling and greeting people in two weeks.

He will not able to be handled much but can certainly go on simple, quiet visits and show everyone how brave he is.

Then I will re-evaluate if we do the other one right away or wait.

The poor boy cried and cried during the exam so I think it is the right decision for us.

I decided to leave him there today so he can have dinner there and become comfortable with the staff, all new people to him. This way he is fresh when he wakes up and won’t see me … He is super clingy now and not seeing me before surgery will actually be better for him.

I told Benny he had better rest up as he has to do double duty for a while!

Thus his joints are “at least ten.”

He has always had luxating patella issues. His knees would pop out and he would shake them back in.

Kneecap slippage affects dogs of various different sizes and breeds. But in particular small dogs and toy breeds are especially prone to luxated patella so if you have a small dog you should get it tested quite early on. Kirby most likely had this problem since birth and it was never corrected thus as he aged it progressed.

Lately he has exhibited some pain and less motion. I actually found out how far the problem had progressed when we visited our vet for another concern. I thought he might be developing bladder stones again and when they tried to do an x-ray they found his back legs could not be straightened without causing great pain … Kirby screamed bloody murder.

Bad news – his back knees are getting worse and he is in pain and losing flexibility.

Even though luxating patella is not an immediate problem, it is one you need to pursue because it will only progress. Especially in light of Kirby’s unknown age, if it continues to worsen, he becomes less a candidate for surgery every day.

But if he has progressed to Grade III or IV injury surgery is the norm.

Diagnosis is made by looking at how long the dog has been exhibiting symptoms like limping and lifting his leg, physical exam and an X-ray of the thigh and the knee.

• Firstly, let me understand the Grade Levels and what is being recommended
• What if we delay surgery and it worsens? Can pain medications be used over a long period of time?
• Since both legs are affected, is it recommended to do a bilateral procedure or one at a time? Kirby has already walked on three legs when he had hip surgery, and since the leg would be in a cast, I would think one at a time is preferred, but that does extend the time of healing.
• How long is the healing process and can Kirby continue to work if in his stroller and handled minimally?
• If we do one leg and find he has not responded well, can we not do the other?
• What are his risks with anesthesia? He has had several procedures this year and I am always nervous when he is put under.
• Can he be bathed and groomed throughout the healing process?
• Can he go outside to eliminate?
• Will he need to be kenneled for weeks or allowed to move on his casted leg?

And of course there is the cost for such procedures. These surgeries are not inexpensive but a little guy like Kirby is worth every cent.

So tomorrow is a big day for us and will determine how Kirby lives the rest of his life.

If you have a dog (or cat) that is great with newness and happy to meet new people all the time and settles in quickly, consider an assignment with a hospital or changing population such as short-term rehab.

Do you as the human end of the leash like starting conversation over and over, getting to know new people quickly or do you prefer building a relationship over time?

And many environments are a combination of the two where you have your “regulars” as well as new people coming in and out.

For example, Kirby always has a familiar blanket and his favorite toy and little bone. He does not eat the bone, but likes to have it nearby. He does not play with the toy unless we want to engage him in an activity, but he finds it comforting to have with him.

We always use blankets for the dogs to lie on whether they are large dogs on the floor or like Kirby, being placed on laps or beds. The blanket is his security and he knows wherever it is, he belongs. We even bring it to the vet, which he visits often, and he feels secure and calm.

The vest or bandana our Love Dogs wear when working is the ultimate in familiarity. As soon as Kirby or Benny or our other team members put on their “uniform” they are in a working mode.

So make every visit a familiar one by having with you those things or objects or symbols your pet has gotten to know and trust as signs that this is a fun, comfortable adventure.

This month brought us two new Delta Pet Partners teams and wonderful additions to the Love Dogs:

Cricket is sweet and gentle and the perfect size for getting into small spaces such as laps or beds. She has the intense look we love in therapy dogs and is curious about everything and everyone.

Toni is a wonderful, natural handler and will add to any assignment she takes on.

Vanessa is calm and smooth with Gamby and he only wants to please her. We can’t wait to see where he shines the best and find just the perfect fit for him so they have a long, happy career together.

Let’s congratulate both teams and welcome them to the Love Dogs.

Kirby still loves working and it is keeping him young and active

I remember when Coco started showing signs of age. It came earlier than most poodles her size because she was diabetic. First she started developing her cataracts and within a year was blind. By the next year she had slowed down to the degree she worked mostly in her stroller but still loved being out and still greeted every person with a soft kiss.

Over the next years I checked her every day to make sure she was not only still safe to be out in the public, but enjoying it. Yes she still loved being held and cuddled. Yes she still loved being talked to and when she could no longer hear, she absolutely knew when people were engaged with her.

Yes she still gave that little happy tail wag when her vest was put on and she still loved riding in the car.

And she sat up in her stroller, bright as could be, as hordes of children passed by to say hello.

I always knew she would retire when those signs of joy dissipated.

But they never did. Coco worked until three weeks before her passing and her love for life and people and new experiences stayed strong until the end.

I am now watching little Kirby for those signs. He has slowed down dramatically this past year. He tires easily and enjoys resting in his stroller or someone’s arms.

His joy for life is the greatest lesson to the children we work with in particular. They learn to respect Kirby and understand that when living beings get older they are not disposable. They learn to be kind and gentle and appreciate what he can do, not what he can no longer do.

Some days he is very bright and active and wants to play with his toys and run around the house and take walks.

Some days he wants to find a sunny spot by the window and sleep.

Delta Pet Partners requires re-testing of all therapy teams every two years thus the safety and stability of all working teams is insured.

Kirby passed his last renewal test with flying colors and we are looking forward to his next retest to show what an old dog can do!

As both the dog and handler age or experience changes in their lives, it is important to retest to ensure that the team is still capable of working with the public.

Too often I observe a therapy dog in the field that is uncomfortable, growling, showing clusters of displacement signals and the owner is oblivious to it all.

If asked when that team tested, they may say something like “we passed our therapy dog test five, ten or even thirteen years ago.”

This means that no experienced professional has seen this team, or for that matter, this handler in many years.

Animals change as they age and their physical, emotional and psychological lives advance, as do humans.

The need to retest therapy teams is crucial but only one organization in Las Vegas does this. Delta Pet Partners requires full retesting every two years and both handler and animal must display the same level of skill and aptitude as they did when originally tested.

For instance a dog that is blind or losing its sight may become hand shy or fearful of what it cannot see. That dog has to be handled and tested as any other dog and approached by strangers and new sounds and sights to determine if he or she is still not only safe but thoroughly enjoying the experience.

A dog with physical limitations such as arthritis or a loss of a limb has to perform the tasks required in whatever fashion he or she can. Perhaps it means going into the Down from the Sit but the command has to be given and the command cannot be refused.

Kirby’s retest was as solid as his first evaluation

Of course new means of communicating with an older or impaired animal is allowed. A deaf dog can use hand signals for instance. But the Evaluator has to be advised of this in advance.

Delta Pet Partners retests therapy teams every two years. This way we can observe if any behaviors over time have altered, such as a dog no longer wishing to be brushed or touched on his feet.

We also observe if the handler has had any changes in his/her life that would preclude visiting or simply necessitate new techniques. For instance a handler may have had some injury and now needs to work with their dog in their lap.

It is also a good time to make sure the team is still committed to volunteering and actually keeping up with their assignments.

The retesting process is quite fun because we get to see the progress teams make with experience. The role playing takes on new meaning as we can discuss actual scenarios they have seen in the field and share best practices for how they approached each new situation. And as both dog and handler become more experienced, and love what they are doing, showcasing the team’s abilities is a joy to watch.

And it is always a joy to see a team that originally tested as Predictable elevate to Complex status – a true achievement that only experience can bring about.

Of course, over time it is also critical to observe if a dog or handler is ready for retirement. The toughest decision to make is to recognize when a dog can no longer be effective and that working may be too stressful on the animal. But this is why retesting is so important. Understanding that the animal’s welfare and the welfare of the clients you visit is of utmost importance and makes a team reliable over time and ensures that everyone involved is well taken care of.

What does it take to be a great therapy cat and handler?

The animal must be very comfortable being handled and not skittish at all. The animal must be able to walk calmly on a harness and leash as it has to always be on a leash when working and within reach of its handler.

The animal must stay put in the down position on its blanket on a lap or bed or floor.

The animal must be able to walk into and exit a carrier and comfortable riding in a car and using a portable litter box if necessary.

The animal has to not startle at loud noises or distractions and has to be non-reactive to dogs and other animals.

And the animal must want to be with people, new people, any people, any time and make eye contact and genuinely enjoy the interaction.

The animal must pass all elements of the Pet Partner test and is handled much as you would a small dog. They can be carried or held in a sling but must always be on a leash.

The working cats in Las Vegas all belong to Love Dog Adventures therapy team and have become used to being a cat amongst all the dogs!

Kirby loved being demo dog for the day

 

Four dog handlers and one cat handler started their journey to become Pet Partner therapy teams.

The Workshop took place at a local health facility and the group spent eight hours learning how to be responsible volunteers and advocates for their animals.

One topic that resonated the most was how to determine if your animal is stressed and how to handle it. Learning to read your pet is critical and the team discussed all the ways in which your animal signals distress.

The group spent several hours reviewing policies and procedures, best practices, what their goals are and then they got to do some role playing. They reviewed the various types of populations and facilities, where they thought they as the human end of the leash as well as their pet would do best.

We also had one Love Dog team with a larger dog join us to demonstrate handling of a big dog.

All the best therapy animals just ARE

The next step for these Pet Partners hopefuls is to schedule their Evaluations … and then begin their new careers out in the field.

One participant summed up the day this way: “I knew my dog would be a fabulous therapy dog and I knew others would be drawn to her. Today I realized how much these dogs mean to so many … we get back more than we give, but what we give is so special.”

For more articles about Delta Pet Partners and animal assisted therapy visit http://http://www.examiner.com/therapy-dogs-in-las-vegas/sue-grundfest