Taj the Saluki, His Broken Leg, and the Road to Recovery

Bandage Removal Day for Rumi

2012-03-01T20:36:00.000-05:00

Woohoo bandage removal today - leg doesn't look too bad! Some old blood stains, but good circulation and Rumi of course slept right through it and is still sleeping.

Deja Roo & Mr. Taj update

2012-02-27T23:45:00.001-05:00

Flyin' high on tramadol or just Roo being Roo? Well you all aren't going to believe this but Taj's brother Rumi broke his front left leg in a freak accident last week. As much as Heather can tell, Roo probably was trying to get up onto the deck by jumping four steps instead of walking up - typical saluki! She thinks Roo lost traction on one of the steps and his leg went through the back

Something is Missing!

2011-11-04T19:30:00.000-04:00

Can you spot what is missing?! Sorry for the no-posts: everyone here is transitioning. These pics are of Taj at rehab! quit measuring me! quit bending me! quit stroking me! What's this kid stuff? I used to be able to jump onto counter tops standing still! how did you know I just *love* water mommy you will pay for this ...plotting... scheming...

Week 13.5: The Good, the Bad, and the just plain Icky

2011-08-04T13:17:00.000-04:00

We have 2.5 fixator weeks to go - and it can't come soon enough. We'll start with the good. The good is that Taj is putting much more weight on the leg again. We walk quite a bit longer - relatively speaking - still only 10 minute breaks but now it's mostly walking instead of standing and sniffing and looking around. His spirits are up, and he tries more 'dynamic' moves with it (e.g. leaps,

Week 12: A Rumi Interlude

2011-08-04T12:38:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to make a point to have some special time with Rumi since everything has become Taj, Taj, Taj. We've been to a few conformation handling classes, and I've taken him for some dog park trips and on a special hike. I had the chance last weekend to shoot up to the Nita Nee (State College) Kennel Club shows for some show practice. This was our second show, and at our first show (in

Week 11.5: Back to the Future @ VOSM

2011-07-27T17:04:00.000-04:00

I have been emailing with the technicians at VOSM regarding the Exogen treatments, and they encouraged me to travel down to VOSM in Annapolis for our 12-week recheck appointment. We were about 1/2 week early for this recheck, but I was a bit concerned with how Taj has been using the leg the past couple weeks and wanted to have it looked at asap. We all piled in the SUV and headed down to VOSM -

Week 10: Exogen 4000 - Ultrasound Therapy

2011-07-24T15:04:00.000-04:00

The vets at VOSM got back to Dr. Rider regarding the 8-week radiographs and suggested that because the bone healing is so painstakingly slow, that we try ultrasound therapy. Dr. Canapp suggested that we buy an Exogen 4000 Ultrasound Bone Healing System made by Smith & Nephew. This system is actually intended for human use and has been proven with clinical FDA studies to accelerate bone healing. I

Week: 9 The Mega Slump

2011-07-18T14:55:00.000-04:00

Well we were going strong and flying high through Week 8, but Week 9 seems to have become the mega slump - for both Taj and I. Taj is markably more bored, apathetic, and somewhat depressed... despite my efforts to keep him entertained. He has been living relatively confined now for over 2 months. It makes me sad to have to have to mandate such a drastic change in his lifestyle and I think we are

Week-8: Let there be Callus (and Rainbows)!

2011-07-06T14:19:00.002-04:00

We have made it to the big landmark of 8-WEEKS post-surgery! Woohoo! We are now (hopefully) half-way through the fixator process - I think I've earned an honorary veterinary technician degree! ;) Taj is definitely feeling more active. I have to be much more careful with him now out on a lead. He will attempt to get up on furniture if I am not watching him like a hawk. Furniture is not allowed

Week 8 Radiographs and Update

2011-07-01T00:36:00.000-04:00

Good news! In case you missed it, go to the Monthly Radiograph Progress page to check out the X-rays and see what the vet has to say.

Decepticon Salukis!

2011-07-01T00:08:00.005-04:00

Shooter & Hottie on set with Dawn Carlson and Patrick Dempsey The third installment of the Transformers movie franchise Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon is out. Surprisingly, there are two beautiful salukis from Aeolus Hounds of Southeastern Wisconsin featured in the movie as Patrick Dempsey's dogs! My brother Jo and I chuckled in disbelief when they twice appeared on screen, rather

Taj's Insectophobia ... Taj = 1 : (Dead) Bug = 0

2011-06-23T22:23:00.005-04:00

So another of Taj's "quirks" is that he is nonchalantly petrified of various and sundry insects. Yes, he has canine entomophobia. This condition, of course, has only been heightened and intensified by the relative lack of stimulation as of recent days. If he detects any slight insect movement in the house -within his super sighthound visual vicinity- he will let me know that I need to take care

Week 7: His Royal Highness's Daily Routines

2011-06-23T16:58:00.001-04:00

Week 7 has come and is almost gone! Taj is definitely starting to be able to start to put regular weight on his leg (maybe bearing 85-90% now). When we do our morning 'walks' (all of about 700-800 feet round trip), he walks the WHOLE time (he used to hop half his way back) and this is with the tail-end of his pain-killer medication in his system. To my delight, he has also started to do his

6-Week Recheck Appointment and Rumi the Zoomie Taunting

2011-06-19T22:49:00.000-04:00

We made it to 6-weeks with no major (or even minor) incidents! Taj has had excellent care and lots of TLC from all the vets, his mom, and all his extended human and canine friends and family so far. Fortunately, I can say that this was a rather mundane visit - just another fixator check - but the pins are still tight and absolutely no infections around the pins so far! Taj not too happy about

Wishing for "Free-Range" Taj

2011-06-19T22:12:00.003-04:00

So we've made a weekly tradition of wagon-ing Taj down to Duffy's Tavern at least once a week. Duffy's Tavern is one of the only local restaurants to offer outside dog-friendly patio dining (and the food is excellent too)! Luckily, Duffy's is just a short 1-mile downhill pull from our house. We managed to figure out the trick of pulling Taj down in the wagon and then driving him in the car back

Taj Gets Around!

2011-06-09T21:39:00.001-04:00

Taj walking 4-weeks post fixator surgery!

Tajs First Field Trip: Part 2

2011-06-06T06:34:00.000-04:00

Taj at the Penn State Creamery After walking through the Botanic Gardens at the Arboretum, at my friend Roberta's suggestion, Taj's first adventure continued.... Taj got pulled all the way down to the Penn State Creamery for a special treat! Taj had a very small dish of Peachy Paterno ice cream and a big water break. Taj enjoying Peachy Paterno All Refreshed and Ready to Roll! Taj

Tajs First Field Trip: Part 1

2011-06-05T22:28:00.000-04:00

It is a gorgeous day in Happy Valley, so we decided to take Taj to Penn State's Arboretum to soak up some fresh air and sunshine. Technically dogs are not allowed, but since he was wagon-confined, we thought we could stretch the rules a bit. This was Taj's first big outing (aside from the Vet) since the accident happened just over a month ago. I wanted to keep his movement confined as possible

Week 4 Recheck Appointment

2011-06-05T19:07:00.000-04:00

Week 4 Leg Inspection We made it - Week 4! This was the first exciting recheck because we finally got to take new radiographs to see how the bone is healing. Dr. Rider inspected the leg again - flexibility and joint mobility still look good - pins look great as well. Dr. Rider also observed that the Taj's muscles are retaining decently - especially for such high mobility restrictions.

Analysis of the Dreaded "Anti-Licking" Devices: Elizabethan-Collar (E-Collar) vs. Comfy Cone vs. Muzzle

2011-06-05T17:54:00.002-04:00

Aside from the exercise restrictions that come with most orthopedic surgeries,the worst part of having an external fixator is the no licking rule! This, of course, is nearly impossible to follow 100% of the time - especially when your dog has nothing better to do than to sit in confinement and scheme how to conquer any and all "anti-licking devices" that you dare to subject him to - as if the

Video: That's How We Roll

2011-05-29T23:54:00.003-04:00

Week 3 Recheck Appointment

2011-05-24T18:55:00.004-04:00

Taj on his way to the vet in style! So far so good! Dr. Rider said the leg looks as it should from visual inspection. The pin sites look great. There is still slight discharge now from 3 of the 16 pin sites (these are the pins on the top 2 rings that go through more muscle mass). Taj licks this pin site especially; we need to re-engineer the comfy cone a bit since Taj has mastered the art of

Taj's First Neighborhood "Walk" Post-Surgery

2011-05-23T19:43:00.002-04:00

Go Mr. T! Curiously intrigued... Today we went on a big two-block wagon ride around the neighborhood. Taj was a very good boy and didn't try to get out of the wagon at all despite my "Lemuel Gulliver "safety tie-down method (I really wanted to ensure this is a safe experience for my recovering dog - and trust me sight hounds are always on the watch for prey). The ties are give and take,

Taj Crate Modifications and the B-Spec Wagon

2011-05-23T19:34:00.002-04:00

Modified crate with quilted bumpers So I wanted to post a bit about how I modified Taj's old crate (which I first had to go find and pull out of storage). I created "bumpers" around the crate with quilted padding fabric. These are simply held up with string via holes cut in the fabric and tied onto the crate at regular intervals. I attached the bumpers so that his fixator braces can not catch

Lounging with 'Lukis

2011-05-22T23:20:00.002-04:00

My 'kind' friends decided to take these pictures of me passed out exhausted in various places in the house. I think it takes more energy to manage an immobile saluki than a mobile one. Between work, life duties, and caring for Taj ... all has caught up with me. Carrying Taj about has taken a bit of a toll on my lower back too, but luckily for me with all the TLC he is doing much better and can