https://youtu.be/CiAzo0_zr7c
(Can we add a disclaimer about my ‘dog voice’? 🙂 )
So we’re almost at the month and a half mark since Mac’s big surgery! He had his first chemo a couple weeks ago and it could not have gone any better. The only side effect was a little bit of sleepiness for the remainder of that evening – he yawned a million times and was clearly wiped out. If that’s the worst of it, we can definitely deal with this. He needs about 4 rounds of chemo so 3 more to go. The next one is in 10 days.
We started taking Mac to ‘Two Hands Four Paws’ in Los Angeles and it has been quite the adventure for all of us. They really are miracle workers! Mac gets 30-ish minutes of a massage that focuses on his back muscles and his front leg, and then another 30-ish minutes of swimming. Now, I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this yet, but Mac HATES the water. But both the vet as well as the PT said that swimming will be an excellent core and front leg strengthener and it has no joint impact, so we are hoping he will learn to like it.
We took him for his 2nd PT this morning with the hopes that the swimming part wouldn’t be so scary. Oh, it was! Poor guy was so panicked the whole time. We tried enticing him along the pool with treats (he nearly bit my hand off trying to get one while splashing me!) but that didn’t seem to calm him. I’ll update later with a video of our first swim session, but for now, here’s a pic from that 1st swim session (you can’t tell in this picture but he is heading STRAIGHT for the wall!).
Here’s a random funny story: after adopting Mac from the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue (GRCGLAR), we decided to become volunteers because we loved them so much. We started conducting house visits with Mac as the ‘Golden Ambassador.’ On our very first home visit, we were shadowing another volunteer to watch how the visit is supposed to go. First, we examined the back yard, which had a large, covered pool. Mac, being the enthusiastic fellow that he is, was running around the pool chasing the other dog when BAM he fell right in! Connor had to reach in there and scoop Mac out because he doesn’t swim and didn’t know how to get out. Poor Connor and Mac had to sit outside in the sun for an hour drying off because there was no way to get through the house without going inside and they were both soaked!
I forgot to post some pictures of the aftermath from PT. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Mac quite so tired. We whipped out the air mattress so that he could hop on and snuggle. He slept for HOURS nestled right between Connor and I. He seriously melts my heart.
Love this update! He is such a champ and that story about him falling in the pool made me laugh out loud. Hang in there Mac, you are kicking butt!!!
What a handsome dog! It sounds like Mac likes the massage more than the water session. And yes, he looks focused on getting out of there! Perhaps it will turn him in to a water loving dog over time? Good for him managing the stairs so well – I look forward to seeing the video.
My kitty Mona enjoys her daily massage which I do in hopes of keeping her in alignment. I’m sure the PT Mac does will make a huge difference in developing his core. I have Mona do “situps” for her food.
Kerren and Tripawd Mona
Ohhhh yes. As you’ll see by the video I just put up, all he is thinking is ‘GET ME OUT OF HERE! Screw your squeeky toy!!!’
The massages are constant – our animals sure are lucky, aren’t they?
Shelby went there!!! its a great place. She hated water too but the water therapy really helped her.
Glad Mac’s doing well!
They are so amazing! It made me seriously consider looking into PT school for canine rehabilitation. There is a 6 mo. old golden puppy who was turned in to them to be euthanized after becoming paralyzed from a vaccine mishap. The people there said ‘no way!’ and just about 2 weeks ago he learned how to walk again.
Good to hear from you 🙂
Look at you GO Mac! Wowweee!!!
You can’t get better care than with Leslie and her crew, so hoppy to see you going there for care. 3-paws up for your great pack, you guys rock!
We send all our love and healing wishes so that the rest of chemo goes just as great.
They are amazing! I feel very lucky to be so close to an amazing facility.
Thanks, Rene…uploading more videos today of Mac and his stairs!
Cant believe its been a month and a half already! Mac may not love the water but it is so good for him. Hopefully he will learn to love it! So hoppy he is doing so well and rockin’ the stairs AND chemo 🙂 All my pack love the water but we have one that hates to swim. I think its something about not having any feet on the ground. Do they have a underwater treadmill at your PT place? Would that provide the same benefits as swimming? Maybe Mac would like the treadmill better than swimming.
xoxo,
Codie Rae and the Oaktown Pack
Can you believe it? I remember a week post op thinking ‘oh, if I could ONLY fast forward a week from now and see the progress…’
They do have an underwater treadmill and they did mention they want to try it. They said the #1 priority now is turning Mac into muscle man so we are trying to strengthen up his muscles.
Great to hear from you!!