It’s now been 9 weeks post-op and everything is still going well. Topi’s head is getting more or less crazy, and he is like a rocket waiting to get launched. I really hope we are getting closer to normal life!
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5th Edition litter
The next Lumottu litter is planned for summer 2024! Irma is expected to start her hear in April. Stay tuned!
New worries
It’s been almost a year since the operation. Rehab and recovery went very well, hence the owner had a hard time. We came to know every inch of the fields in the background of the video below, while walking on them kilometer after kilometer.
Autum went well too, and Topi was slowly getting back to normal. Increased exercise didn’t cause any symptoms. In January I noticed some stiffness. While training rally the lefty turns didn’t quite work out and there was a clear difference between left and right side turns. At this point I blamed the weather and slippery ground and added some gymnastics to his daily routines.
In February the boys had a rougher outing in the forest and in the following morning Topi was completely lame. His left front leg was very sore. As adviced Topi had to rest and with time and painkillers he went all well again. After couple of weeks he was running wild again. At the same time he started to loose his appetite and lost weigth. I’ve kept him slim due to his operation so even a small weigth loss makes him look thin. He didn’t get lame anymore, but with while spring arriving Topi turned out very calm and quiet. He didn’t have normal appetite and he was resting a lot. I noticed him lying down very soon in situations where he had been attending eagerly before. When he didn’t even get up from the coach when I came into the room I realized that somethings’ cooking. Pain killers gave a quick response and change in behavior so it was time to call a doctor again.
Vet visits
We visited our own vet first and then headed to an orthopedist.Luckily I managed to get very soon an appointment to Tiiu Toijala, who works in Avec. While catastrophizing everyhting I had concluded that despite all my efforts Topi has developed osteoarthritis in already such early stage and that’s causing pain.
Tiiu performed a very thorough lameness examination to Topi. There was some palpation findings like striffness in biceps tendon and supraspinatus muscle and tendon. Also infraspinatus was stiff on both sides.
Movements today: Mild lameness in trot on straith line. After turning first limping front left, then right.
Topi was xrayed in shoulders and elbows. No markings in elbows, and bot shoulders look very good in humerus head. Healing is still in progress and there is no signs of osteoarthritis. And then there is a but. In left glenoideum there is a small suspicious area. The shoulders were also checked with an ultrasound, no deviations found.
So, it’s possible that Topi has osteochrosis also in glenoideum, meaning the lower part of the scapula. To verify this we would have to take further examinations and possibly even a new operation. Is the finding in the glenoideum the cause of pain or not, who knows. The diagnose unfortunately remains open at this point.
Now what?
The newest findings have now sinked in and I’m thinking about the future. I’ve received opinions from specialists and it seems like Topi really has osteochrondrosis also in glenoidium, the lower part of scapula. To verify this further examinations are needed.
This week we ended again the Cartrophen injection serie. With these injections we try to avoid osteoarthritis to develop and later to slower the progress. So far there is no signs of osteoarthritis, thanks to Cartrophen maybe. Anyway, in this situation Topi is not attending any lure coursing trials this year, if ever. I was planning to xray him anyway before the season, as the competing dog must be nothing but 100% healthy. Even a minor osteoarthritis is ending the career in this household. Sad, I was so much hoping Topi to be my next coursing Ridgeback :/ But dog’s wellbeing is the priority always, and now I’m not worrying the lost coursing career but the everyday future. Will he be able to have a good, painless life without restrictions?
Irma has started her heat!
She is almost 2 months late but now Irma’s heat has started! Exciting times ahead 🙂
Midsummer
We are home from Sweden. Irma had a hot date with handsamo Samson and now we just wait for a few weeks to see if the Midsummer Magic happened <3
Puppies on board!
Irma is in whelp! Today she is 23 days post ovulation and embryos are clearly visible. We’ll have count later.
Day 27
It’s now day 27. Irma is happy and calm but lacks appetite from time to time. Hopefully that’ll be over soon.
Summer greetings
Summer is nearly half way. Topi’s situation is rather good, as long as there is no rampage with younger ones. Normal forest runs go well with elder dogs. Summer has been challenging as there is something going on in our garden all the time. If Topi is inside, he wants to get out and wrestle and cannot understand why he is not allowed to go.
Topi’s future has been on the table since last spring. Keeping 2 packs in limited facilities is not a sustainable solution. Would it be best to find a home with no other dogs?
