Meet Wren! (And a Recovery Update)

Guess who got a new puppy?

Not me...

But my parents got a baby cockapoo named Wren.  They all came to visit us in Vermont.  My boyfriend and I were watching Wren and did a photoshoot with her and Delilah.

Delilah literally...

Runs into Wren...

And just keeps going.

Delilah's recovering really well from her surgery- her exercise restriction has now been lifted and we're allowed to go on hikes and longer walks.  When we go on walks she actually trots along on all four legs like a healthy dog rather than hopping along on three legs or having to turn back early like before the surgery.  Between the surgery and the raw diet we started about two months ago, this is the healthiest she's looked in the two years that I've owned her!  Her coat is thick and soft, she's building muscle tone and a layer of fat, and she can actually walk and run!  I'm just so happy she's not in pain anymore, the surgery was completely worth the cost!

She is still worried about using her hind legs.  My boyfriend and I think it's psychological.  She won't jump on the couch anymore, unless she's not thinking about it- like if I throw her toy on the couch she'll leap up after it.  But otherwise she won't jump up on her own.  She is also refusing to sit and lie down on cue, I think she's scared to bend her legs.  I asked the surgeon about it and he said he thought it was fear, and that the legs themselves don't seem sore or stiff.  We have another check up in about a month and after that we're hoping to be able to start private agility lessons!  

Recovery: The First Month

It's been a month since Delilah's bilateral luxating patella surgery.  She's been recovering well.  In the past couple of weeks she's started using her hind legs.  When we first got home she'd only walk on her two front legs- this has resulted in a very muscular chest and forelegs.  She lost some muscle mass in her hind legs though so now we're trying to encourage her to use them again and increase her exercise.  Last week she was allowed to start going on short 10-15 long walks.  Something exciting about her walks is even though she's still a little stiff and sore, she's trotting along on all fours like a healthy dog, not hopping on three legs like she used to!  I also bought her a kiddie pool to play in.  It's rained so much that the pool filled to the top and actually became deep enough for her to swim in, so I think that was a good activity for her.  We have an appointment next week for a check up so I'll post an update after we find out how she's doing!

One day after surgery- not putting any weight on hind legs.

One month after surgery- front legs more muscular, hind legs less so.  Putting weight on all four now.

Someone got caught licking her stitches, so that someone got to wear a "cone of shame."

Trying to hunt a bird in her cone of shame.  The bird is utterly unconcerned.

First walk, two weeks after surgery.

Swimming in her kiddie pool. Yes, she is that small! XD