Spike: the harsh reality

There is no easy way to share this news.  

When we left Spike at Fitzpatrick Referrals on Monday we knew that x-rays and CT scans would show the full extent of Spike’s condition within both elbows.  We also knew that his condition would fall within a spectrum of severity and possibly quite high up on that spectrum, so relatively aggressive surgery may have been required.  We then hoped that keyhole surgery would provide a solution and help Spike lead a pain free life.  We were prepared for weeks (or months) of recuperation. 

We had decided that whatever it took, we would find a way to manage his recovery and then help give him the life that he deserves. 

We were not prepared for what actually happened…. 

Forever and a day I will remember the phone call that I had yesterday with the consultant.  As I sat staring at the gates to the Broadlands Estate in Romsey tears flowed down my face.  I tried to absorb his words and all that they meant.  I listened intently but all I could see in my mind was Spike and standing beside Spike was Kobi.

They did not operate on Spike because based on the evidence from the x-ray and CT scan there is not a viable surgical option for him. 

The elbow joint is made up of three connecting bones: the ulna and radius on the lower arm and the humerus on the upper arm.  In Spike’s joints, none of them fit together properly.  In simplistic terms it is like fitting a square peg in a round hole or having a jigsaw puzzle where none of the pieces fit together.  As a result of Spike’s bones not fitting together properly they have become damaged as has the cartilage within the joints.  What this means is that Spike has the equivalent of osteoarthritis and there is no viable way to prevent it from getting progressively worse.  Even if we put him in a cage and did not allow him to move for the rest of his life it would still worsen.  Exercise is not going to adversely affect the damage and natural progression of this condition.  It will just happen.

The only surgical solution is joint replacement and that is not a viable option for a number of reasons.

1. There is no guarantee of success and it is a relatively new advancement in surgical solutions for dogs with elbow dysplasia.
2. Only one elbow can be operated on at a time – the recovery period for each elbow would be 6 months minimum.  So for 12 months Spike would be stuck in a cage, limited exercise and probably in a lot of pain.
3. Spike has hip dysplasia which has improved with exercise.  If we reduce this exercise we risk making this condition worse and ending up with Spike in pain on all four limbs.
4. Spike is one year old, probably around 14 months of age.  A life time of operations and recovery would be all that he ever knows.

From an ethical perspective we cannot contemplate putting this little dude through 12 months of potential torture.  Several operations, the stress of being away from his family and then confined to a cage for long periods of time….

So what does this mean for Spike?

We will all enjoy sunsets together...

Well that one is easy to answer…. For the remainder of his life he will live as part of a pack within a happy family environment.  He will eat good quality food, have unlimited cuddles and free access to as much exercise as he wants.  If he wants to run, he can, if he wants to stay in bed all day then he can do that.  Hell if he wants to drink beer we will even let him do that…. But maybe only in moderation….

The only downside is that the rest of his life will not be long.  He will not reach full adulthood and will never run as a Siberian Husky was born to run.

I had so many dreams for Spike, which now lay shattered by the wayside, but I refuse to lose sight of why he is a part of our lives.  His life is more important than my dreams and anyway it is thanks to him that I have been able to live some dreams and how ultimately I will live the biggest of them all.

We might even allow this....

For the rest of Spike’s life I will work towards that dream and with his help I will make it happen.  He has inspired me to create a wonderful world where good triumphs over bad.  Disabilities can be overcome and life is lived to its full.  Each time Spike has a real life adventure I create a story from it that fills pages…. The words flow and the pages take on a life of their own.  Spike has given me a great gift that I intend to share while he still lays by my side and I can still snuggle my nose into his fur.  He may not be a working husky is the conventional sense, but he certainly has a very important job to do….

Cuddles, there will be lots of cuddles...

I wish the real story could end differently, but the reality is that this little boy should never have been born.  His frail and damaged body is a direct result of human selfishness, greed and neglect.

But for the rest of his life he will know love, trust and happiness.  We can promise him that.

Spike's Christmas Dreams come true...

Spike's Christmas dream list

We have been an active foster family for several husky rescue organisations.  Our own pack of Siberian Huskies has welcomed several huskies and helped them on their way to a happy future.  Each foster dog has given us something special.  Our experience with one dog in particular left a lasting memory with us all and my time shared with him has helped me to pursue an almost forgotten dream with renewed determination.

Kobi: learning to fly without wings

Kobi had been very badly treated before he came into our lives.  Underweight, flea ridden and absolutely petrified of all human beings he had clearly been traumatised by what he experienced as a very young puppy.  I felt a connection to him the first time I looked into his eyes and believed that I could help him…..

During our short time together I taught him how to love and trust a human being and in return he helped show me that the seemingly impossible can be made possible.

Sadly Kobi is no longer with us as the damage done to him before he was rescued was too severe.   As he fell asleep in my arms for the last time I promised him that our experience together would leave a lasting legacy.  I have remained true to that promise.....

Spike when he was first found

Spike was found hiding under a tarpaulin in Brentwood railway station in April this year.  Dangerously underweight and covered in mange his future did not look good.  But thanks to the kind actions of a local family and their friend he was rescued and then taken into care by Siberian Husky Club of GB Welfare. 

We became his foster family on 22^nd April and our objective was to help him gain weight, grow fur and then find him a family that would adopt him and give him happiness for the rest of his life.

Spike rapidly gained weight and soon grew a luxurious husky fur coat.  His eyes shone with health and happiness and his great character and personality shone through.  However we became more and more concerned about certain aspects of his behaviour and his conformation.  He loved to run and bounce around but he struggled to do it and frequently appeared to be in extreme pain.  As time passed we feared the worst.

Sadly our worst fears were confirmed.  Spike has hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, a deformed jaw plus other little issues that we keep discovering as time passes.

However, Spike refuses to accept that any of his “disabilities” should restrain him.  He has an amazing personality and determination to succeed in all that he does.  He loves to run and when we watch him run freely we can easily forget that he has any disabilities.  But then we watch him try to rise from a sleeping position or hobble around the house and are harshly reminded of his daily struggle with pain.  He accepts all that life harshly throws at him and does all that he can to live a normal life each and every day.

We do not know what the future holds for Spike, but if he could write a Christmas wish list I believe I know what it would be.  And this year with the help of a very special Christmas Angel his dreams are about the come true….

The Christmas Angel

It was the night before Christmas.  The last gift had been lovingly wrapped and placed beneath the tree, the lights dimmed and sleepy huskies ushered from the room.  The mince pie and carrot were placed beside the fireplace along with the glass of milk.  A visitor was expected, but no one had foreseen who would visit and what was about to happen….

As the humans climbed the stairs to bed, the huskies settled in their bedroom, but one little husky puppy felt restless and struggled to settle.  All day he had sensed something different in the house.  He did not understand what it meant and sleep did not provide the answers….

As the husky puppy wandered around the kitchen, there was suddenly a bright flash which startled him and he scampered into the corner.  When he turned around, he realised that he was not alone.  In front of him stood a husky with fur the colour of the sun and eyes that sparkled brightly.  The husky with fur the colour of the sun carried something upon his back, something that looked a lot like the bird fur that the husky puppy frequently played with…..

The husky puppy was not scared as there was something about this husky that made him instantly feel at ease.  “Who are you?” he asked of the stranger.

“I am the Christmas Angel” replied the husky with fur the colour of the sun.  “I travelled from afar because someone very special called for me.  She needs my help because she wants to give you an amazing gift, but she is scared and knows she needs the help of others”

The husky puppy was confused, but he wanted to know more as he sensed that the stranger was good and that he spoke the truth.  “What is the gift that you speak of and why does she want me to have it?”

The Christmas Angel smiled and as he did, his eyes sparkled….. “All your questions will be answered this night, but first you must come on a journey with me”

 “I cannot run far without stopping and sometimes I have to lie down as my legs hurt” said the puppy with a forlorn look upon his face.

“I will help you” replied the Christmas Angel.  And with that he did a little twirl and the husky puppy was suddenly on top of his back, between the bird fur, which was warm and snuggly.  “Hold on” he said and suddenly the bird fur grew very big and moved swiftly back and forth.

“Wow” said the husky puppy “you have wings like a bird!”

And with that, the Christmas Angel leapt high into the night sky and soon they were soaring above the twinkling Christmas lights of the sleeping village.

They flew across the world as the husky puppy gazed in wonder at everything on the ground far below and in the sky around him.  The stars twinkled in the night sky and the city lights below them cast light and shadows that were fascinating to watch. 

The Christmas Angel suddenly swooped down and landed in front of a barn where a donkey was standing.  People were wondering in and out of the barn doors carrying little gifts which they were placing beside a manger in the corner of the barn.  In the manger was a sleeping baby.

“We cannot go in there” said the Christmas Angel “you are looking at a vision from the past.  Many people in the modern world have long forgotten about the birth of this special baby and they celebrate something they either fear or do not understand.  I bring you here so that you know why tomorrow is a special day – it is a celebration of this child’s birth day.  It can also be a day of magic if you believe…”

The Christmas Angel once again took to the skies as the people below continued to smile sweetly upon the child asleep in the manger.

There was darkness beneath them as they flew across the sea and then bright whiteness.  The Christmas Angel suddenly dropped from the sky and landed on the whiteness.  It was cold but very beautiful and the husky puppy was entranced by the sight and smell of it.  He wanted to leap into it and dig deep beneath the surface, but the Christmas Angel stopped him.

“No, you are not yet ready to run here.  We are where everyone aspires to be and one must be ready before they are allowed this privilege”

“Where are we?” asked the husky puppy, “What is so special about this place?”

“We are on top of the world” replied the Christmas Angel.  “Imagine what it would feel like to run on top of the world…” And with that, he flapped his wings and they were flying across the world once again.

They arrived in front of a house with a very big garden and inside the house were a little family playing with their little pack of dogs.  All of them were smiling and laughing at the youngest dog that was rapidly dashing from room to room with a big fluffy toy in his mouth.

Spike with his forever pack

“Can I play with them?  Please.” asked the husky puppy.  “They look so happy and friendly and it would be great to be part of a family and fun to play with a fluffy toy”

The Christmas Angel smiled and swiftly flapped his wings.  “Not yet” was the reply.  “I have more to show you”….

They travelled to many places and saw a great many things.  There was a glistening silver trophy, a harness with the puppy’s name upon it and bits of paper that also had the puppy’s name on them.

They flew above a big building where lots of un-well dogs were being treated by special vets.  The poorly dogs went in one end of the building unhappy and in pain and came out the other end of the building all bouncy and happy.

Finally they returned to the house where all the other huskies slept and the Christmas Angel gently folded his wings as the husky puppy jumped onto the ground.

“Thank you” said the husky puppy as he was a very polite dog and was grateful for the experience he has just had with the Christmas Angel.

The Christmas Angel smiled at him and looked towards the little bit of paper that the husky puppy had lovingly carried throughout their journey.  It was his dream list….

Dear Father Christmas,

Please, for Christmas may I ask for…

1.       A family all of my own that I can live with forever

2.       Big strong legs that don’t hurt so I can run like the big boy huskies

3.       My own fluffy toy that big boy huskies don’t steal from me

Spike

Dreaming of fluffy toys...

“When you wake tomorrow your dreams will start coming true” said the Christmas Angel.  “There is a family who are ready to adopt you and welcome you into their family forever.  A very special Veterinary is ready to use all his experience to make your legs better and underneath the Christmas tree in the corner is a present that I think you will like…”

The husky puppy was speechless (for once) and gazed in wonder at the Christmas Angel.

“I only ask for one thing in return” said the Christmas Angel “your dreams will be realised if you can make me one promise?”

He and I refuse to accept that we should not run...

The husky puppy nodded and tried to mumble some words, but only a soft woo, wooing noise could be heard.

The Christmas Angel smiled and echoing the “woo, woo” noise he said to the husky puppy “just be yourself, that is all I ask you to promise.  Always be yourself and that alone will provide an amazing gift to the one that wants to help you.  She will share your story and together you will inspire others to believe that the impossible is possible…. but maybe just tone down the barking a little as well as huskies are not supposed to bark!”   And with that there was a bright flash and the Christmas Angel was gone.

Tomorrow is another special day

The husky puppy was suddenly very sleepy.  He closed his eyes and fell fast asleep knowing that tomorrow was going to be a very special day…..

(Photos courtesy of the Coppin family and Ian J Berry)

Spike: against all odds he wants to run

Our foster husky Spike has been chronically lame in his front legs for nearly 4 months.  While his hind legs (hip dysplasia) have improved immensely through a combination of hydrotherapy, exercise and good nutrition his front leg lameness has progressively worsened.

This week we took Spike to Fitzpatrick Referrals to determine what is causing his lameness.  The consultant we met had already been given the full details of Spike’s medical history from our local vet who has treated him since April.  He also had the x-rays of all four limbs taken in August.

Long story short, Spike has degenerative joint disease in his elbows and without surgical intervention it will worsen.  Based on his deterioration in the past few months this means that if we do not act quickly Spike does not have a long term future.

The orthopaedic consultant was able to see the elbow joint abnormalities on the original x-rays.  How much it has worsened since then is presently a guess based on Spike’s behaviour and movement.

His elbow joints will continue to deteriorate and he will require more and more assisted pain relief.  There will come a time when his body will no longer be able to cope with the medication and the pain.

If we intervene with surgery then we can prolong his life and with careful rehabilitation he may go on to live a semi normal pet dog life.

Surgery is very expensive, between £4k and £15k and involves between 3-6 months of cage rest, which as you can imagine would be quite a challenge for a husky puppy.

As we do not know the extent of the damage within the joints, the corrective surgery and rehabilitation is an estimate within this spectrum.

Watching the big boy huskies run....

My immediate thought when told the news was that Spike should not run, full stop.  However, the consultant has advised us to continue doing exactly what we have been doing since Spike came to live with us.  The combination of hydrotherapy and controlled running is without a doubt helping him.  In general he is fit and healthy and the muscle development in his hind legs is helping his hip dysplasia.  If we reduce his exercise furthermore this will deteriorate and we risk a more rapid deterioration in his mental health and well-being.  This is good news as Spike loves to run and when he does not he becomes depressed and stressed. 

Happiness is...

Through all of this, Spike continues to smile when he can and run when he can.  I have no intention of denying him this basic right.

His condition is not dissimilar to the condition of my ankle joint prior to surgical intervention and look what happened there…. For those that do not know me I was advised to never run more than a mile and that I would be a cripple within 5 years…. I refused to accept this and since then have run nearly 100 marathons and ultra marathons and represented Scotland and Great Britain in international competitions.

Spike was born with deformed hip, elbow and jaw joints and his poor start in life has contributed to their deterioration.  It is highly likely that Spike has other health issues that will be discovered over time.

Realistically Spike will never run the way normal well-bred Siberian Huskies can, but he can still have a happy future that includes running - if we can find a way to manage his surgery and rehabilitation.

We have tough decisions to make in the coming days and we will make them with Spike’s best interests in our hearts and minds. 

Spike: the difference a weekend makes...

What a difference one weekend can make…

On Thursday evening my mind went into meltdown as a result of lack of sleep, pain management and too much to do.  Spike was struggling and I could not help him, or so I thought….

A very busy week, concerns about Spike’s progress and the discovery of further medical problems had prompted me to make the decision to severely restrict Spike’s physical activity, i.e. no running.  There were walks/ trots twice every day, but nothing faster than a very slow jog.

On Friday I travelled to London fearful of the future for Spike.  A life of pain and struggling is no life for a Siberian Husky - a creature that is bred to run.  As I travelled to London I was also fearful of my future, I know I am on “borrowed” time as far as my running career is concerned.  Imminent surgery for me is a scary prospect, a future unknown.  Managing chronic ankle pain for most of my life has caused me other issues, one of which is a severely deformed and arthritic big toe.  My “good” leg has had so much to cope with over the years and finally it wants some “down time”….

Caught in the act of ignoring house rules...

On Friday I travelled back from London with fire in my belly and a determination that Spike and I were going to succeed, whatever it takes…

Spending time with Ian, friends and GBR Athletes reminded me of a few things and of how exciting the future is… 2014 is going to be a very special year as is 2015, 2016……. Now is tough, but it is not forever.  Pain can be managed, both physical and emotional.

And so, on Saturday morning I awoke with optimism and excitement… a relaxing weekend lay ahead, one that would involve running, beer and fun….

First step, Spike’s hydro therapy session.  It went well, we took all four huskies to “spectate” and Spike showed off to everyone…. 

And then embarrassed himself by screaming at the top of his voice when the other huskies went towards the exit door…

Next up was a trip to Greenham Common and the Newbury Parkrun course where Kez, Kroi and I run our 15 minute 5ks.  It was nearly mid-day by the time we reached the “start line” and with temperatures approaching 20 degrees, I knew a fast training session was out of the question…

Apple scrumping with Kroi..

The plan was for Ian to walk Spike and Kroft as I ran with the two brothers.  We headed off and within seconds Kez was getting grumpy with Kroi.  A quick stop to sort them out and then we were off again… only to stop for Kez to emmm, I will not embarrass him by telling, but suffice to say that there is always a first time for everything…

Finally in full flow, we fast approached the ¾ mile point to discover off lead and out of control dogs all over the track.  We slowed down and deviated onto the grass to avoid them and by the time we reached the full mile mark we were totally lacking motivation and overheating – both huskies and I.

We jogged the remainder of the course, stopping to splash around in all the big puddles en-route.

By the time we reached Ian and the other huskies I was feeling a little despondent, but accepting of the conditions which were way too hot for huskies – fine for trotting with them, but not galloping or making them “work”.  For some reason I chose to ignore the fact that our first mile was just over 5 minutes, even with two stops and a severe “slow down”…

Playing with the "main man" of the pack..

Ian had been struggling with Spike’s “enthusiasm” when walking him as I ran the others.  Frustrated and with too much energy to burn……  So, I decided to “have a go” with Kroi and Spike, run them together in harness.  Just for a few hundred yards or so, a distance too short to cause any overheating issues but long enough for them to have fun.

It worked.  Spike and Kroi ran like a little dream team and for the first time ever Spike displayed a “working attitude”.  Finally his Siberian Husky genes were winning through….

Spike was a little stiff in the evening and completely exhausted, but a very contented exhaustion – he cuddled up to all the other huskies, trying to be as close as possible to Kroi.

In the morning my intention was for Spike to have a “rest” day while the others ran.  His enthusiasm when I went to put on his collar to take him for a walk made me hesitate in my decision.  I swapped his collar for a harness and headed out the door….

Born to run...

I never regretted that decision.  Spike ran in a way I have never before seen him run.  He did not want to stop and he did not stop “working”.  We only ran a short distance, but it was a breakthrough.  A definite sign that Spike is improving and wants to run.

I then went out running for a couple of hours with the two brothers and when I returned Spike came charging over to me expecting to go out for another run…..

This evening Spike looks stiff in his fore legs each time he rises, but is clearly very content.  He has a big smile across his face when either Ian or I talk to him. 

Next week I am going to try running him again with Kroi.  We are a long way from 15 minute 5Ks or sub 4 minute miles, but there is no reason why we cannot start the journey now..

Spike Update: Giving up is not an option...

A sad Spike

The good news is that as each week passes. Spike’s hind legs are definitely getting stronger.  As the muscles around his joints develop, his ability to jump and propel himself around the house and garden improves. 

In his quest for human attention he has become very confident standing on his hind legs whilst trying to sneak a cuddle with any human that says hello to him.  I even caught him “leaping” onto our bed the other day – oh yes, he has also started challenging the house rules – as he rapidly moves into the “teenager” phase of his life….

He weighs nearly 24 kg and has a lovely luxurious coat and sparkling blue eyes.  He eats well, loves to play and tries his best to tease the big boys at least twice per day.  He is tenacious, refusing to give up on things that matter to him – to chase the last butterflies of the summer, retrieve his toy from another husky, be cuddled by a human….

Last weekend for the first time we took all four Huskies to a parkrun event.  Spike loved meeting so many people and had a great time, he even got to sample some rather yummy homemade cake in celebration of a friend running their 1000^th race – yes 1000 races, how impressive is that!  I wonder if Kez and Kroi told him about the good old days at parkrun, when we ran together as a team and had so much fun racing against the clock…    

A happy Spike

The bad news is that most days he is lame on both his front legs.  He needs to be carried to bed at night and when he falls asleep he does not stir until I arise in the morning to take the others running.  Some days are worse than others.  Today is a bad day.  He is clearly in a lot of pain and is struggling to move around the house.  Each time he rises from a laying down position his front legs refuse to move properly and he shuffles/ stumbles across the room. 

When I see him like this, I fear the worst.

But then I compare his situation with mine.  More often than not when I stand up, I limp.  The pain in my ankle and my toe causes me to move my body in an awkward way.  It soon eases and by the time I have my trainers and running clothes on, I am ready to run.  The stiffness subsides and I can move “normally”.  The pain may return momentarily when I land awkwardly on the ground or stand on a stone, but it does not stop me doing what I love, I just grit my teeth and adapt my movement accordingly.  I have learned to manage pain and it does not stop me running or enjoying a very high quality of life.  I don’t see Spike accepting a lesser life just because he sometimes feels pain.

Sometimes I need to take painkillers and sometimes Spike needs some help with pain relief, but neither of us will ever be dependent upon it….

Watching him suffer today has helped me make an important decision regarding my future.  I was in denial about proposed surgery to ease the pain in my foot and a worsening condition.  The prospect of a very long recovery and no running for 6 weeks too much to bear.

One day Spike may need surgery.  How can I make the decision to go ahead with surgical intervention for Spike it if I refuse to accept surgical help for me?

In the meantime, we will both continue to do all that we can, and if we linger each time we rise… well that just gives us more time to dream about where we are going…..

Spike update: The husky that always smiles

The smiling husky

Spike is definitely responding well to his hydrotherapy sessions and the personal training plan that I have adapted for him…

He loves his twice weekly trips to Top Dog Hydrotherapy where he gets to splash in water, eat treats and have the undivided attention of all the people in the room!  I don’t like the 4am starts that I have to endure in order for him to make his after work appointments but his happiness and improvement makes it all worthwhile.

Happy husky preparing for his hydro therapy

Sometimes I do wonder if our house is the best place for a disabled puppy to live as he undergoes intense therapy and is supposed to have restricted exercise….
Our family home is a hive of activity, with two full time working and running humans and a pack of huskies.   There is always something happening and it is rare for us to “just sit down”.  We refuse to confine Spike to cage rest as we know the impact that will have on his mental well-being.  As a result Spike can dash around to his heart’s content, get up to mischief and generally live the life of a “normal” puppy…

In action at Top Dog Hydrotherapy

And why should he not do that?  Yes he has physical impairments that restrict his ability, but he knows that.  He knows his limits and when he has reached them he stops.  He may limp for a while and he may be a little stiff every time he rises, but he is happy and that is what matters most.  This little dude wants to run and wants to have fun and I will not refuse him that.

Spike’s circumstances are not far from my own – I was once told I would be a cripple by the age of 30 and that I should not even attempt to run further than a mile….  I guess representing Great Britain twice in ultra distance events has proven that sometimes triumph can be achieved against adversity and the human body and mind is actually a lot stronger than some people believe.

Spike is not human, but in my experience huskies are much stronger and much more determined than us humans….

It has been very emotional recently for Ian and I, all in relation to Spike and whether we are doing the right thing for him.  

Brentwood Station - where the angels found Spike

Ian visited the place where Spike was rescued and we found the people responsible for saving his life.  We owe them so much gratitude for what they did when so many other people would just have walked on by and the result would be that Spike would not have lived beyond the age of six months…

Knowing what we now know has made Ian and I even more determined to ensure that Spike has the life he deserves.  A puppy abandoned by humans, neglected and close to death, he refuses to dislike humans.  He loves people and he loves life, even though he has just reason to hate and to distrust humans.

So, long story short, while Spike remains in our care he will live life as we do.  If he wants to run the wall of death around the garden he can.  When I take him out and he wants to break into a run, I am not going to stop him.

While Spike lives with us and we are responsible for making decisions for him, we will make them based on his happiness.  And to him running = happiness.  Well he is a husky after all!

And why am I confident that our approach is the best approach?
Because Spike is proving to us that what we are doing is working, he is getting better and stronger each and every week.

No doubt I will continue to question my ability to cope with the situation in the coming weeks and months.  Question whether I am doing the right thing by letting Spike live by my convictions.  But each and every time I do I will look to Spike for guidance – if he is happy then I know that what I am doing is right. 

I am a dreamer and as I work towards one of my ultimate dreams, Spike will continue to pursue his own destiny with guidance from us.  I would love for him to join me in this dream and there is a big part of me that believes he will.

No matter what the future holds I know that Kobi would be proud and my promise to him is one step closer to being fulfilled….

(Photos courtesy of tzruns and me....)

Spike update: the water baby husky

It is amazing the difference a week can make. 

Last week Spike had been really struggling and I was so concerned about him that I pulled out of my dream race for 2013.  I did not want to leave him while I went chasing a dream that could wait for another day.

This week has seen a huge improvement in his condition, so much so that I am now creating new dreams and they involve running a very special even with Spike some way in the future….

The water baby...

We have not given Spike any medication since Monday and he also had his first hydrotherapy session.  The two are not directly related, just coincidence.   

The objective of the hydrotherapy is to improve the muscle development and movement of his joints without the stresses when performed on land.  On land as Spike moves a shockwave effect is created that travels up each limb and gets absorbed by his bones, tendons and ligaments.  Whilst these stresses are necessary to maintain healthy strong bones in Spike’s case it can make his condition worse.  Suffering from hip and elbow dysplasia has caused Spike to adopt “wonky” movement in all four legs, from hobbling to a bunny hopping style of gait.

Spike went to Top Dog Hydrotherapy this week to begin the process of teaching his body to walk and run properly.  Spike loves playing water and so we were pretty confident that he would take to the aquatic treadmill very easily.  He did and over the coming weeks he will be returning there twice per week.

The water treadmil

The aquatic treadmill has glass sides, which allow assessment of all movement, gait and stride length.  The water level and speed can be adjusted very easily, allowing various flexion and extension of the joints and limbs.

Watching Spike on the treadmill was fascinating.  Feeling very unstable he initially walked very wide, but as he gained confidence he moved his legs inwards and was soon walking almost “normally” as the water level increased.  He was clearly comfortable with the situation, or perhaps it was the tasty treats on offer that helped him feel relaxed and chilled!

Speaking of treats, I had a very interesting experience with Spike and food this week.  In nearly two decades of living with huskies, I have never used food as a reward for anything that I ask the huskies to do.  They all are trained purely by voice command and their only reward is praise.  None are motivated by food and will happily leave food in preference for a run with me…  Praise as reward has worked exceptionally well for me, but I decided to try a different approach with Spike, who is a very food motivated dog….

On our solo excursions from the house I took food with me to see how Spike would respond.  Long story short, we now have a very obedient dog that will sit, stay and walk to heel, all for food….  A lot of work is still required, but it would appear that using food as training is an easy option for this dog!!

Dreams propel us into action....

We are very proud of the positive adaptation to his challenges of the past week, but Spike has many times reminded us of his fragility and the struggles that he faces on a daily basis. 

His tenacity, my dreams and the support of his growing band of fans will triumph over adversity. 

(Illustration and photographs courtesy of Melissa Simm, and tzruns)