archieArchie (Boxer Catahoula X) received his apparatus July 2007 and I don't know how we did it before it.

Before he would hurt his amputated front leg on every walk – especially in the winter. He would break open skin, get an infection, and re-open the injury to start the cycle again. He would avoid certain outdoor landmarks and hold back. We have not had an injury since July 2007 and you should see him leap and play now.

Archie is a rescue from Louisiana. He was displaced after the Katrina hurricane and injured by other dogs while he was in an over-crowded shelter.

I work in dog rescue and the shelter asked us to take him. He came to us so timid and scared he hid under my bed for a month. It was a major ordeal everyday to get him outside to use the facilities. It took him over six months to start coming out of his shell. He stole my heart and I adopted him.

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Levi, 2.5 year old Golden Retriever

leviLeviI brought Levi home when he was only 8 weeks old and he instantly melted my heart. When I adopted Levi I knew that he had a congenital deformity of his right front leg. His leg was shorter than his left leg and was all deformed on the end. He did not have any toes but he did have his dewclaw, even though it was misshapen. The reason why I adopted Levi was because I was a 2nd year veterinary student at the Atlantic Veterinary College and I knew that I would be able to provide him with his best chance of a normal life.

As time went on Levi's right leg did not grow at the same rate as his left leg and eventually it was about 2 inches shorter and it was smaller in diameter. The muscles in his right shoulder were also smaller because although Levi could use the leg for balance, he did not place a lot of weight on it.

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maxMax is a 9 year old Rottweiler with advanced arthritis due to advanced hip displasia: he was diagnosed at 8 months old.Through the years we struggled with his weight, as he was unable to get sufficient exercise. Every time we took him for a walk that was more than a few minute long, we had to give him an anti-inflammatory drugs for pain.

Then we met Jeff Collins from K-9 Orthotics & Prosthetics, who designed a brace for Max to help the hip bone from popping outward. At first Max was apprehensive, but now when he sees the brace he knows he will be going for a walk, and he enjoys that very much. Max has had the brace for 8 weeks, and has not used drugs for pain since.

Sincerely,

Peacock Family

Cole Harbour NS

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) .

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"Animals are wonderful, because they put you in a great emotional state. When you feel love for your pet, that great state of love will bring goodness into your life. And what a gift that is."
James Ray: The Secret

We as humans have to give back some of this love, and Jeff Collins facilitated that for me.

goldenNicky my beloved Golden-Retriever Golden-Chow mix ruptured her cranial Cruciate in late December 2006. Normally we walked 5-7 km.daily.

In early January, my veterinarian suggested Jeff Collins services, because Nicky was eliminated as a surgery candidate because of her age (10) and her history of a myocardial infarction in 2004.

By very early in February Nicky was using her orthotic, and the change in Nicky was phenomenal. Prior to this incident, Nicky was very athletic and since December she was down and out, and, along with her, I was also depressed.

Nicky's rehabilitation consisted of physio at least twice daily, which I did as I have a nursing background and was head trainer for a junior football for ten (10) years. It was very difficult to keep her down.

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