Blake - 12 Year Old Beardie

Hello,

Given the recent emails about hips, knees and other issues, I am passing along this info.

Some of you may already be acquainted with Mr. Beardie Blake who is the senior canine and first such resident at Stonedance...he calls this his place. The Bergamasco are respectful of this position as he has taught them much. We let him. For some reason, in early spring, I noticed Blake was favouring one hind leg and set about trying to find out why. Blake is 12. After several trips( he is a very stoic beardie... think Brutus), it was discovered that Blake had stretched not torn an ACL. This was discovered using an anesthetic.

beardieWhile surgey was recommended, it was not the option I was looking for. At the age of 6, Blake had suffered a sudden onslaught autoimmune episode from which he almost died. He now eats ground pheasant, organic chicken+ and the occasional mangy bone from the back yard just to keep in shape; with no vaccines , just titers. If he weren't such a hotdog, Beardie showoff and know it all, we'd be fine. At 12. Oh well.

I have had the good fortune to find a vet who practices homeopathy (Chinese medicine) chiropractic and accupunture which helps Blake tremendously (the other dogs get their treatments too) .

One morning, tea in hand, beardie and bergamasco alseep around the computer desk, I hacked my way through the internet. Lo and behold, I found something. A small company in Eastern Canada that made...ta da canine orthotics. The process involved having a cast made at a vet's office which is then shipped to Nova Scotia and turned into a working orthotic for the dog.

Normally, the adjustment is done in the vet's office but there was the Ontario Verterinary Association Medical Convention being held in Ottawa, to which the designer of these orthotics was coming to exhibit these devices. Well, Blake, Massi( berg puppy) and I drove to the Ottawa Convention Center to accomodate a personal fitting and adjustment.

It was amazing. For the first time in weeks, Blake strutted his stuff and, best of all, his tail was wagging! He was so proud that we walked around the convention and people stopped us to pat and admire the dogs. If I engaged in any boring human talk, they both lay down in the aisle and had a nap. Good dogs!

Upon coming home, Blake went out with the rest of the dogs for fun in the yard with great confidence. So much so that in a few days he was getting so caught up that he was **running** across the yard. I couldn't believe it and went immediately to get him and bring him back to the house. Being the Beardie, he wouldn't admit it but he was plenty sore the next day....I grounded him and took the orthotic off for 36 hours. He didn't notice much ...but snored a lot and made happy noises in his sleep.

This is not an advertisement but I am including the info in case any of you would like to surf, have a look and get in touch with them. My vet was impressed and Blake is a much happier fellow. Thinks it's really good to share things that work.

Sincerely,

Heike Langeloh