Update

I now have a referral for Reilly for the state teaching vet school, but our appointment is not until December 14th.  In the meantime my vet is refilling the anti-inflammatories and pain meds.

I also had a discussion with Doc Kim when she called me back about the referral.  I gave her my opinion of the other vet. After thinking it over for a few days, I realized that what I didn't like was simply that her tone was accusatory and condescending.  Doc Kim or Doc Julie would have perhaps questioned me about why I chose not to neuter at this young age, and after I explained, either would have asked me for a research source they could look up.  Neither would have used that pompous tone.  Doc Kim was unhappy, but at least we discovered that the person I saw was NOT her new hire, but rather a relief vet called in for the Thanksgiving break.  Both of us were relieved to hear that.  I have yet to meet her new hire, but I'll make a point of it soon.

In the meantime, Reilly is doing okay as long as he's on the meds.  He avoids the steeper steps to the carport, as he loses his balance trying to come up those.  Instead I bring him in the back door, where my husband has built half steps for me.  I can't get up the carport steps either!

Since I'm not working Reilly right now, but have paid for his obedience class, I emailed and asked permission to substitute Jake for the few remaining classes, just to see how he'd do in such a situation.  He was actually pretty awesome.  I think I've misjudged his intelligence level!  I wasn't going to start working with him until Reilly got a good start, but since Reilly can't work currently, I'll be spending more time working Jake.  If I could end up with two working dogs from all of this, so that neither had to work all the time, but each got time off, and Murphy was never left alone...that would be just about perfect.

Anna, thanks for the well-wishes.  I've been pretty swamped with work and doggies, and limited on my stamina due to meds, but the semester is nearly over, so you'll see me back in Rav soon!  I'm glad someone missed me!

Meg and Reilly

Better night

The NSAIDS got Reilly a decent night's sleep last night.  No crying, no moving from bed to bed trying to get comfortable.  I'm pleased with that part, anyway.

Short and sweet this morning, but I thought I'd mention this much anyway.

Meg and Reilly

And....grrrrrr

Sigh.  I get a confirmation email from the "orthopedic specialists" in Cary.  This is a surgical specialist clinic, not an orthopedic specialist, although orthopedic surgery is on their list.  I don't need Reilly being evaluated by someone who is attuned to surgery.  I want him evaluated by someone who is first going to decide exactly what's going on, then figure out what, if anything can be done for it, starting with least invasive.  So, I'll be calling this vet back on Friday and telling her to switch my referral to the vet school after all, please.  It'll be long day(s) for Reilly.  Still, I took sheep there a few years ago, and had really good, thorough care for them. 

And I think I'm going to hunt down another vet for routine care.  I love Doc Kim, but she doesn't know enough about this breed.  Doc Julie is more knowledgeable, but she's gone.  And this new doc...blergh.  So I need a doc that understands giant breeds.  One of my students has a Dane pup, and she used to breed and show Danes sometime back.  I'll find out who she uses.  She's an hour away from me, but for a vet that understands the breed, it's well worth it.

However, I'm very glad I had them do the baseline xrays on Reilly some months back.  Those will help.  Hopefully the NSAIDS will help, too.

And we're back to square one until Friday.....

Meg and Reilly

Referral made

Went to see the vet this morning and saw the new person Doc Kim had hired to replace Doc Julie who got recalled into the military and deployed.

I was not impressed.

She stopped to pet Reilly in the waiting room, and asked why he wasn't neutered.  I responded "Because he's not old enough."  She replied with sarcastic humor, "There's testicles right there!"  (At this point, since I had never met her, I'm thinking this is a new tech, or even a kennel girl.) I replied that mastiffs and other giant breeds shouldn't be neutered before they mature, as it increases their risk of osteosarcoma and bone issues throughout their life.  She pasted on a smile and replied, condescendingly "Well, that's one way of looking at it." 

Then she appeared wearing a lab coat with Dr. on it for our appointment.  Great.

However, I did get a referral to an orthopedics specialist up in Cary.  She gave me the choice between them and the vet school.  I decided to go with the clinic rather than the teaching hospital simply because of time.  Going through multiple students would be great if we lived closer.  But we don't and it will make for extremely long days each time we go to do that.  Rough on Reilly and rough on me. 

The doc also gave me pain meds for Reilly, to hold us until we're seen up there.  I have an appointment for next Wednesday.

This doc said Reilly had bad front legs, back legs, shoulders, hips and spine.  I'm not sure how much credit to give her words since she's doesn't show much knowledge of giant breeds.  Obviously his legs are off.  Having legs twisted at odd angles should torque the rest of the body and be seen in other joints...without them actually being affected.  I see this easily in my own physical issues.  Full x-rays will tell us more.  We'll get those at the ortho clinic.

So, wish us luck in getting Reilly fixed up.  In the meantime, I am not asking him to work at all.

Meg and Reilly

Unhappy growth

Reilly's growth spurt has gotten even more painful, and he's wobbling so badly he's having trouble getting up the stairs.  Three steps into the house.  He even fell last night.  We had to help him up the steps.

I have an appointment for another evaluation tomorrow morning at 8:00, and will be asking for a referral to either an orthopedic specialist or the teaching hospital in Raleigh.  I'm glad we took the baseline xrays earlier.  We'll see what can be done...what should be done, if anything.  And do it, if it's doable.  My poor puppydog. 

Any mojo you can spare in Reilly's direction would be appreciated.  I'll post when I know something.

Meg and Reilly

Wow.

Over two weeks since I posted last.  I've been overwhelmed with work, life, things.  We're coming toward the end of the semester, with all the work that brings.

While all this is going on, Reilly is going through another growth spurt, bringing the inevitable growing pain with it.  I had hoped there would be no more of these.  He's suddenly taller than Murphy, and his back end is taller than Jake.  Not his front end.  He's grown faster in his back legs than his front.  His back end is weak and wobbly, and he has a hard time getting comfortable, particularly at night.  I didn't take him to class last week because of the pain, and I haven't been asking him to practice commands that involve a lot of up-and-down, as this is hard for him right now.  Nor have I asked him to get in the car, so I haven't taken him to work, either.  He doesn't need the walking, and there are no options for a bed there.  At home he'll move from one of the orthopedic dog beds to the floor to the carpet in the computer room...he has choices of surface.  At work he doesn't.

The last growth spurt took a couple weeks to get through.  Hopefully this will not take longer.  Jake went through a phase where his back end was taller, wobbly and weak, and he squared up nicely, so I remain positive that Reilly will as well.

Two more weeks of class, then finals week.  I can not wait until this semester is over.  I have had wonderful students this semester for which I'm grateful, but keeping up with my workload while on weird meds has not been fun.  I'll be glad of the respite of winter break.

I doubt I'll write again before Thanksgiving, so those of you who celebrate...enjoy the day!

Meg and Reilly

PICTURES!

A dear friend of mine happens to teach, among other things, a photography course.  She had her students use Reilly and me as a subject for a photo shoot.  I wish I were as photogenic as he is!

Enjoy!
Meg and Reilly