Today we started Ivan on shock wave therapy for both the spondylosis and the arthritis in his right knee. He is a case study for the local clinic....they have used the shock wave therapy on horses with great success...but Ivan is their first canine case.
November 25, 2004
Here are a couple of shots of Ivan with his cart the first two days after he got his cart. Notice how far ahead of us he went when we went for a walk! I'm sure he will have more interesting photos after he gets a chance to get physically adapted to using his cart (adjusting to being up on his front legs more, etc. He has had bad knees so much of his life, he is used to stopping and lying down and resting his knees quite regularly, no matter what activity (except swimming!)).
December 20, 2004
2 Movies of ivan in his cart
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3 Meg AVI file |
.5 Meg WMV file |
February 2005
Ivan is doing great with his cart. We've had a few issues with fitting the "saddle" properly...and when he had diarrhea, it was real fun washing the saddle a couple times a day.
The people at Doggon Wheels have been very helpful in adjusting and fitting Ivan, although I am still thinking we may need to have his next saddle modified a bit in the rear...perhaps it is because he is (as they call him) stout.
At one point I had him adjusted too high and he really had trouble urinating in the cart, as the saddle pressed on his urethra.....he still has trouble once in a while if he ends up with his legs in a rut. He has found a spot in the yard he likes to go where he is on a slight mound, with the wheels just an inch or two lower...it reduces the pressure on his urethra and he can urinate freely.
He has a bit of trouble in the deep snow, and has tipped over a few times when trying to climb snow mounds where the snow has been plowed...he just waits for me to help him up.
We've also had a couple of the clips that hold the saddle in place break...in part due to the extreme cold in Minnesota at times....and I'm sure his weight doesn't help any (the Doggon wheels people sent replacements and spares ASAP!)
He is having a bit more trouble with his front elbows..I suppose they are carrying more weight now. I don't remember if I mentioned Ivan was given a belly strap (band) to help support his weight and back better...but unfortunately that puts more with on the front legs. I think we'll try another acupuncture treatment focusing on the front elbows.
As for the shockwave therapy...it seems the results are often not really noticeable until 3 to 4 months later (Dr. Ott went to a conference that covered recent developments with shockwave therapy...it seems one or two initial treatments are often all that is needed to see results...it just takes a while). The other day Ivan actually made it from the living room into to kitchen up on all four! I was quite surprised. He hasn't been able to do that for 2 1/2 months.
Ivan has learned how to get around with his cart even better. He now walks down the wider aisles at the store and backs out of them (he knows he can't turn around in some of them). Unfortunately he has found out he fits down the aisle with the pig ears and he has been stealing them again (he used to do this before the cart) and then he backs out the aisle and goes right to the front door and pushes it to get outside...unfortunately for him, the wheelchair catches on the door jam and he can't sneak out (like he used to before the cart) and eat the pigs ear without us realizing he has taken one (he thinks we don't know!).
Ivan can go for much longer walks than he has been able to in quite some time..and he is much faster than he used to be....had I known how well the wheels would work, I would have gotten the cart just to help him for his knees, even though he could get around quite well before. His arthritis just slowed him down a lot. The cart takes so much weight off his knees that her can really move!
And you should see Ivan gallop when he gets excited and playing with the other dogs!
Today Ivan had a friend bring him shamrock garland ..now his cart is decorated for St. Patrick's day. Ivan always has been the party animal!
I'll get you more photos...especially once he gets his summer shave..than you should really be able to see how the saddle and harness fits him.
March, 2005
We're still finding out new things about Ivan's cart. I don't know if I mentioned that he sits in his cart (braces the back support of the cart on the ground and then just puts most of his weight in the saddle....his hind legs just kind of shift out in front of his bottom. I'll try to get a photo for you.
He had acupuncture Friday and this treatment is really helping. His left front elbow had been bothering him a bit more with the cart, I suppose his front legs support more and pull more than they did before, so his elbow dysplasia is "flaring up". The acupuncture has really reduced the pain, and he has been getting up on all four on his own several times every day since the treatment, even taking a few steps before sort of "falling over".
Today I had to shave Ivan's "belly" again. If his coat gets too long under the "saddle" for the cart, he starts to get little sores. He only wears his saddle during the day (I would take the saddle off each time he gets out of his wheelchair, however his size makes getting him "dressed" quite a procedure. It is good he lets me roll him over without a care.)
Ivan is out and about in his cart for anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes at a time about 6 to 8 times a day. We even go for 1 mile or longer walks periodically. We don't have to wait for him on these walks anymore (like we did before the cart...his knees kept him slowed down before). And he isn't nearly as stiff after these walks as he used to be.
I have some photos of Ivan with green balloons on his cart in honor of St Patrick's. I'll send those after we get done doing chores (All the dogs (even Ivan) help bring in Johan (the horse) and howl at the coyotes!
Today we had a woman contact us at our Feed & Pet store...she has a poodle that has a spinal injury. She wanted advice on what she might be able to do for him as a cart is potentially in his future. (She had seen Ivan outside the store with his cart recently and felt I could help her). I gave her your website to check out telling her about how helpful your site is for pets with all sorts of handicaps.
Thanks for putting us on the web. I've had several people tell me about seeing Ivan on the web.
June, 2005
Ivan was in the New Market parade yesterday...his first since he got his wheelchair last November. He went along the parade route just like he always has...stopping to visit the spectators, just as happy as can be. Several places along the route people had buckets of water for our critters.
It is really neat that he can still do all these things.
Also, the shockwave therapy he had in December has helped him. He can get up and walk on carpeting or grass/ground (not smooth floors) when he really wants to get somewhere..something he couldn't do for 5 months!
June Update! Ivan's Walking!
Ivan has been walking without his wheelchair more and more the past month or so. The past 9 days he hasn't used his wheelchair at all...he goes down into the low pasture to do his "duty" as he did in pre wheelchair days...quite a hike....He went to a nearby lake this past weekend and was able to go to and from the van without aid of any sort. He can even walk his way flights of steps (4 or 5 long) on his own. The doctor (Cathy Ott, DVM) who has been doing his acupuncture and shockwave treatments can't wait to see him this Thursday when he has his next appointment. It will be his first shockwave treatment since December...(he gets acupuncture about every 6 weeks or so).
I don't know how many dogs ever walk on their own again after spondylosis prevents their being able to walk on their own, but I am very happy Ivan can!
I would recommend anyone with a pet unable to walk because of spondylosis (or perhaps before it gets that bad) to check with their veterinarian about shockwave therapy, acupuncture and the like.
November 2005
Here are some photos of Ivan getting Acupuncture this past Monday. Really helped him out a lot. He's had to go back to his wheelchair and could hardly get around due to the arthritis in his knees and his chronic recurring bronchitis...Wednesday afternoon he was getting around without his wheelchair again (after acupuncture!) He still gets his deramaxx and his glucosamin / chondroitin sulfate / etc. supplements...We are also adding Yucca now (used it over 20 years ago on my old horse...I had forgotten how much it helped him).
See Larger Photos
Dr. Cathy Ott from Cleary Lake Equine/Small Animal Medical Center is doing the acupuncture on Ivan in the photos..A senior year veterinary student from the University of Minnesota is watching.. We do Ivan's acupuncture in the exam rooms they use for horses..it is easier to get all 4 of our dogs and Ivan in his wheelchair in these rooms (large doors, rubber mats on floor (under the blanket) for horses actually makes the floor more comfortable for Ivan to lay on.
Peppo, our Irish Wolfhound Puppy with Cereballar dysfunction causing ataxia had acupuncture at the same time...we'll see if it helps her out..keep you posted!
Second set of photos coming shows the electrical connections to "super stimulate" the acupuncture points.
See Larger Photos
You can see the electrical hook ups..they go to a little battery operated pack the sends rapid electrical pulses out..the intensity can be varied to each set of wires...they are adjusted to the individual location each time, depending on how severely affected the area is and how the animal responds.
Gold beads can also be "implanted" into the acupuncture locations quite easily for continuous stimulation...they are injected with a larger gauge needle...sometimes irritants are injected into the sites to stimulate them after the treatment...each acupuncturist has different techniques they prefer and have found works best for them.
If anyone has questions, please feel free to relay them to me, or go to the message board at www.HandicappedPets.net ...my friends check it often, so if I miss it they usually let me know.
I
van sure is trying to see just how "handicapped" he can have and still be a happy guy in this world....
About 5 weeks ago we noticed he was having trouble catching treats (he couldn't see them coming close anymore). We took him to our vet who referred us to an ophthalmologist, as his eyes appeared normal for a dog his age and the ophthalmologist could give us a better idea of how bad things were getting. We noticed that over the next few weeks Ivan's vision deteriorated even further...to the point that I questioned if he could see anything at all anymore.
Monday we finally went to our scheduled ophthalmologist appointment. We found out he is totally blind....he has Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration! They did an ERG on Ivan to confirm this diagnosis. (We were happy to find out that this is all it is...it shouldn't cause any other problems than just the blindness!)
I have been telling Ivan he is just about the poster boy for handicapped pets.com...elbow dysplasia on both front legs(his right front since only 9 months old), ACL surgery on right hind when less than 3 years old, ACL partial tear on his left stifle (that has healed better than the one that had surgery) hypothyroid since 2 1/2 years old, spondylosis requiring a wheelchair (which shockwave therapy, acupuncture and summer warmth allowed his to walk without for about 4 1/2 months in 2005! :^) ) and yet he just keeps on wagging his tail and being happy. He even carried my purse out of the ophthalmologist office cruising along in his wheelchair! (Had to tell his "left..right..wait..go...etc. to navigate...but he's getting the hang of it!)
Ivan's friend, Linda, has ordered him a pair of curb feelers from an auto parts shop that we will put on the front of his cart to help him figure out if he is getting too close to something before he bumps it with his head.
And I believe he may be getting skis to try on his wheelchair form the DoggonWheels people! Another adventure for Ivan!
We'll send photos as we get all the new gadgets affixed to Ivan's racing chariot!
Ivan just goes to show people that just because a dog has a little handicap doesn't mean he has slow down!
Toni
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!
I forgot to mention that Ivan turned 11 this past weekend!
Charity we would like any donations from Ivan's story to go to:
Windmill Animal Rescue
P.O. Box 163
New Market, MN 55054
It is a non-profit organization that rescues strays and unwanted pets(dogs, cats, bunnies, domestic birds, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and rats to name a few) and orphaned or injured wildlife.
So far, views to this page have earned $87.00 in donations to the Windmill Animal Rescue. Thank you note from Windmill Animal Rescue
Mark,
On behalf of Windmill Animal Rescue we wish to thank you for your generous donation of $65. It will be used for veterinary expenses. As well as the usual illnesses and injuries of our rescued animals all of out cats are FeLV tested, vaccinated and spayed or neutered before being adopted out so our medical bills are always on-going.
We are grateful to HandicappedPets.com for your continued interest in Ivan and "Peppo" (aka Athena Katrina Peplova) and their inclusion in your Gallery.
Thank you,
Linda Walton (Ivan's friend)
Secretary
Windmill Animal Rescue
April 2006 - Goodby Ivan
IVAN, OUR VERY GOOD DEAR FRIEND AND COMPANION, PASSED ON PEACEFULLY THIS MORNING IN HIS FRONT YARD ON HIS FAVORITE HILL UNDER THE BLOSSOMING MAGNOLIA BUSH.
WE SHALL MISS HIM DEARLY.
HE HAD MANY VISITORS AT THE STORE YESTERDAY TO WISH HIM WELL. HE ENJOYED THE PARTY AND THE ATTENTION. IT ALSO MADE HIS PASSING EASIER FOR ME.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, IN SPITE OF ALL HIS PHYSICAL PROBLEMS THROUGH HIS LIFE, IVAN WAS A CERTIFIED CANINE GOOD CITIZEN AND REGISTERED THERAPY DOG AS WELL AS A WONDERFUL FURRY PERSON. HE HAS A FULL PAGE WITH MUCH OF HIS STORY AT http://www.handicappedpets.com/gallery/ivan11/index.htm . EVERY VIEWING OF THIS PAGE ALSO RAISES MONEY FOR THE WINDMILL ANIMAL RESCUE, PART OF IVAN'S HERITAGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU. ALL THE EMAILS, CARDS, PHONE CALLS AND VISITS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED SUPPORT AT A TIME LIKE THIS.
AS I WRITE THIS THE SUN IS SHINING, THE BIRDS ARE SINGING AND THE JOY OF SPRING IS IN THE AIR. I KNOW THAT IVAN WOULD NOT WANT US TO BE SAD. HE WAS HAPPY ALL HIS LIFE AND I AM HONORED THAT NATURE IS BESTOWING SUCH A WONDERFUL DAY ON IVAN'S LEGACY.
TONI
PAVEL
PEPPO
SOPHIE
ATTACHED ARE PHOTOS OF IVAN TALKING FOR ATTENTION, CARRYING THE MAIL (WHICH HE DID FOR 10 OF HIS 11 YEARS!) AND OF HIM WITH PEPPO UNDER THE MAGNOLIA BUSH THIS MORNING.
