Gibson back in lift harness after a set back. Having an ailing pup can be a rollercoaster ride for sure. We enjoy the exhilaration when things are looking up, then just as quick as a blink of an eye, we are whipped around into a direction of fear and uncertainty. Then it's back through the loop-de-loop on the road to whole health once again. The last we updated progress on Gibson's rehabilitation since his fall on Christmas Eve 2013, he was doing pretty well after eight months of rehabilitation via Conservative Care Treatment (also referred to as Conservative Care Management), which is a non-surgical holistic option for healing. In Gib's case, it was for a torn CCL and an injury to an already weakened hind end from the Epi-medications. At first, it did not seem like anything was happening; not too much improvement to report. Then he started getting a little stronger each day, until I had reported he had all four paws back on the ground solo! It was a huge achievement! ...

One week ago today, Wolf went in for surgery on his other CCL. Pictured above, Wolf on his way home from ortho surgeon with my husband and daughter. What made this extremely difficult was that I could not accompany Wolf to or from surgery as I have been sick with acute bronchitis at first, which was upgraded just a few days ago to pneumonia. Wolf's surgery went well for a completely torn CCL, blown meniscus, and a lot of arthritis. He was heavy medicated, but prognosis is good, just like his other leg that healed well after surgery last Halloween. We've been convalescing buddies. Wolf being greeted by his pack family (sis Bandit on the left and "momma" Harley on the right) as he he is helped up the ramp to the back deck with a sling by Hu-Dad. Everyone is so happy he is back home. Wolf all nestled onto his bed with one of his buddies, on the road to healing. As soon as I am feeling more myself and healthier, I'll be back on to updat...

Wolf, cuddling his buddies the night before surgery. So here we are ~ again ~ a place all-to-familiar to us. A blown CCL. While this one was no real surprise, as we were advised that after Wolf's imbrication surgery last October when he blew out his right CCL while running (see HERE for list of Wolf's previous updates), we could/should expect his other to give out in about a year's time. Well, it's been nine months and over the past month he has started showing the telltale signs of his left CCL going, and then this weekend, he was no longer able to put weight on the paw and I knew it was time. So this morning, my boy travelled with his Hu-Dad to the surgical hospital to prep for his surgery today. What makes this especially difficult is that I could not travel with them today as I myself was in Emergency Care this past weekend with acute bronchitis. But, his daddy reported back that he went in with the surgeon like a big boy! Just a few minutes ago, the surgeon p...

Another wonderful update on Gibson to report! The other day we took a little adventure out to the front yard, assisted with the harness. Once again, he was able to walk unassisted for a few strides (woo-woo!), then he sniffed some roses, and enjoyed some resting time on the grass. He was tired out, even though it was a very short walk, but he did very well. His in-home laser treatments have now been extended to every other week. I'm so very proud of my boy! Baby steps, baby steps, wh ich will hopefully continue to lead to bigger and stronger steps each day! THANK YOU all so much for you continuous care and support of Gibson! He surely feels all the love! And even though the past six months of rehabbing my boy has kept me busy as he really needed my attention and steady care, as he hopefully continues to gain his strength, we hope to get back to posting more and once again sharing news, photos, videos, reviews, and giveaways!  A little back story: For those of you who ...

  As many of you know, my beautiful 8-year-old wooly boy, Gibson, is an Epi-dog, having been diagnosed shortly after his third birthday with idopathic epilepsy. Since then, he and I have embarked upon a "Live Gib Strong K9 Epilepsy Awareness Campaign" to help others understand Epi-dogs can and do live happy, full lives. He suffers from weak hind issues for years as a result of his meds, but we work through it with laser therapy, diet, light exercise, home massage, supplements, sling harness when necessary, and this past Christmas he slipped on ice and tore a CCL, which I am treating with through Conservative Care Management and the aid of an Woundwear A-Trac Stability brace and a GingerLead Dog Support & Rehabilitation Harness.  (review to come). Gibson is amazing...his spirit and will unwavering. He has the courage of a lion. Every step of progress he makes, just makes my day! I've been reporting periodic updates of his progress, which is slow and steady a...

Wolf home from his hospital stay. It's been a little while since we've posted here and we really miss our Bloggerville family and friends and hope to catch up with everyone's blogs soon. As many of you know, we've been rehabbing Gibson from his fall on Christmas Eve...he is now in a brace and harness sling to aid in supporting him so he can walk. He has a long road ahead of him, but he is now helping to pull himself up, and on his Birthday he even gave me the greatest gift when he managed to wobbily stand up on all fours on his own! I'm taking this as a positive sign that going Conservative Care Management/Treatment once again with this leg is the way to go. It will be a long, slow road as he only just blew out his CCL on the right leg last December (and it is quite common to blow both within a year or so of each other and he tore his left one almost a year to the month this December). He also suffers from weak hind end issues caused by his Epi-meds, and he is a...

Please join us in a #pawcircle of healing and prayer for my boy Gibson. We had a very scary Christmas Eve...a sudden snow squall happened that at first was beautiful, but it turned icy very quickly, like in seconds. While outside with the furbabies, my boy Gibson slipped in the icy snow and went down crying. He could not walk and we did get him back inside by semi-carrying him (he is 95 pounds of wooly Husky!). He needs assistance with a sling to go "out" as he can not walk on his own. It appears to me that he may have torn his other CCL (he tore his left one last year and we were advised that he could blow out his other in a year or so, and it's been a little over a year). As most of you know, he is a canine epileptic, and has had a weak hind end for years as a result of meds, which adds to my concern. It is unclear at this point whether it is indeed a cruciate issue, even though does appear to be, and if he will ultimately need a double surgery on his ba...

Wolf and Bandit having fun running in the leaves. It started off as any ordinary day...a fun Autumn afternoon of Wolf and Bandit enjoying some fun playing together in the backyard. We still can not believe it has happened again. While running around playing in the leaves with his sister Bandit, Wolf suddenly went down, screaming. I was out there with them, photographing their fun, and I still can't believe it happened. One second they are playing and running together, and then I am at his side trying to figure out what happened. Did Bandit crash into him? Did he step on something? Did he twist and sprain something? And then that little nagging voice whispers "CCL." Now I hear a lot of talk about odds...but seriously, what are the odds that four out of my five Huskies would have some degree of tears to their cruciate ligaments? Three of them from the same bloodline. First off, we had Chloe, who if you recall blew out both of her knees over a year ago and underwe...

Here's my boy Gibson just relaxing at the vet's today. It's one of his favorite places to visit! He went in for his K-LaserUSA treatment for his torn Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL - ACL in humans) and weak hind end issues. And...it was also his annual check-up and we received some great news...as most of you know, we've been doing Conservative Care Management (CCM - also sometimes called Conservative Care Treatment), which included the laser treatments and his wearing a Woundwear stability brace (that he is now wearing just on long walks) for his CCL tear. Since he's an Epi-Husky (canine epileptic), we wanted to hold off on surgery if we could to see if CCM would be beneficial to him without surgery...and today, after almost 6 months of rehab under CCM, the vet said his knee with the CCL tear is getting a little tighter! Woo! I was so excited to hear this. Continuing with  the CCM for the CCL - s.l.o.w. and e.a.s.y - that's our motto! To re...

Love is...sharing rehab together! 'Tis the season for rehabbing Huskies here...I haven't done an update in quite some time, so I thought I'd bring everyone up to speed on what's happening here. As you recall, Chloe, who was just four years old, had double bilateral cruciate imbrication surgery last summer. She, I am happy to report, is progressing nicely! Where she had no ability to stand or walk after collapsing from a simple jump up on the bed only to discover she had shredded both hind CCLs and mensiscuses (deemed most likely from a genetic problem as she was from an irresponsible breeder). While there is a hitch to her gait now, she now can jump up on furniture, counter surf (which we discourage, however, seeing her stand up on the counter for the first time in almost a year was just wonderful! So I reached for my camera to capture it!), run with her with siblings, and even kick up dirt with her hind legs! Oh happy days! Gibson also tore his CCL while pla...

Chloe Update: My daughter just received a call from the surgeon and Chloe is out of surgery and just went into recovery. Her knees were really bad. In addition to the torn ACLs (CCLs in dogs) in both legs, she had both meniscuses blown, and her cruciates were torn. Our poor baby girl. They will have a full progress report for us tomorrow. Lots of calls in to check on her will be happening today. Will post more when she is back home. Thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts, for all your wonderful thoughts, prayers, comments, and support! I know our Chloe is feeling all the love!