peachpics

(story continued)

At 2 months post-op, she was allowed to start gentle rehab with the underwater treadmill. Twice a week we visited the Dover, NH hospital to work with Physical Therapist Charlie Evans. Over the course of the next couple of months, Peach had to learn how to use her new knee, and start the process of rebuilding all the muscles that had wasted away. It was a very slow and gradual process. We worked with massage therapists and veterinary chiropractors in addition to her physical reconditioning program. Peach put her heart and soul into getting better. She willingly did everything I asked of her, no matter the discomfort. She kept getting better and better until.....we got a green light to start some very limited running and training work!! Her improvement since then has been nothing less than astounding. In 5 months, she has recovered close to 90-95% of her original function. She runs, plays frisbee, and is back in agility training. The smile on her face, and her sheer joy at being active is evident to all who watch her. Seeing her happy and free to be who she is, brings me profound gladness. It is more than I ever dared hoped for, and we are so grateful to all the people who offered their knowledge and expertise, support, and love along with way. Our debt to them is enormous.

I stand in awe of Peach's ability to overcome the obstacles that life has thrown at her, and her ability to stay cheerful throughout the adversity. She has risen to the challenge and overcome. Always bright eyed and eager to do whatever I'd like, Peach is a constant source of joy and pride. She is more than just peachy, she is simply amazing--she epitomizes what being a winner is all about. I am blessed and grateful to have her be a part of my life.

.October 2003: 5 months after her surgery to rebuild her knee, Peach is back in training, defying all the odds. The heart and spirit of this dog is unmatched. Her indomnitable spirit and desire to live life fully have been the key to her amazing recovery.

update Nov 2003: Peach entered her first agility trial!! 7 months after her initial debut was scheduled, and 7 months after losing all hope that she would ever run agility again, sheeee's back!! It was a thrilling weekend, with Peach earning 3 legs and winning two of them. It was almost unreal walking into the ring with her--and what a feeling knowing she was a winner before we even ran!! I am so proud of her!

update summer 2004: Peach is having the time of her life running agility! She is super fun to handle, much like driving a responsive sports car that can corner and turn, and accelerate on a dime. Not only has she earned her NA, OA, SSA, SJ, SG, ASA, and AD titles in the past two months, but she has also qualified for the Nationals in Steeplechase! She has 2 legs towards her Excellent title and just needs a pairs and a gamblers leg to finish her AAD. At her first DAM tournament, she placed 2nd in Team Jumpers and 3rd in Team Standard in the extremely competitive 22" class.

PEACH'S STORY

April 15, 2003: The week before her scheduled agility debut in the spring of 2003, Peach was slammed into by another dog. Things looked very bad indeed. Her right leg was basically in two pieces, held together by one ligament. The cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments had been completely ruptured, as well as the joint capsule. The surgeon told us her agility and competitive careers were over. Our hope was merely to have Peach be able to walk normally, and to be able to be somewhat active--for her mental health. We were devestated to think that this highly driven, highly athetic dog would not be able to run and play again. Most of all, we were deeply concerned whether she could adjust to a sedate lifestyle and still maintain her sanity.

On April 16, Dr. Peter Wadsworth of the Dover Veterinary Hospital performed a TPLO on her right stifle, and did his best to repair the lateral collateral ligament. She came through the surgery well, and went on complete crate rest for 4 weeks. We were allowed to carry her out to potty and carry her back 3 times a day. Other than that, she was confined to her crate. It was a very difficult time for her.

It didn't seem possible, but things got worse. 4 weeks after being in a full leg splint cast, she suddenly developed a terrible infection in her foot. It looked like she would lose most of her foot. The tendons were dangling loose and the pads hung off the foot. "Raw meat" doesn't begin to describe how bad it looked. Intensive nursing care of soaking, cleaning and debrading began several times a day, and once again Peach defied the odds--the foot was saved! She lost part of her big pad and one of small pads, but she had a functioning foot! Hoorah!!! Now she could start the long journey of rehab.

CUpdate Dec 2005: Peach came up 3 legged lame late summer 2004. We pulled her from competition and rested her. She was bred and had her litter in October. We then spoke at length with her surgeon and PT at Dover Vet Hospital, and they strongly felt that we had already defied the odds once, and now her career was really and truelly over. I didn't feel comfortable making the decision to retire her, so I sought a second opinion from Dr. Rich Bradley. In March we drove down to Virginia to meet with him, and he watched Peach work, examined her xrays and her leg. Great news--he thought that there was no reason she couldn't continue to be active in competition, but that we needed to modify her weekly activities. He told us we could either "train or trial", but not both. We went home, joyful, and started to rebuild her strength and training.

Peach "re-debuted" in early summer of 2005, and as usual, ran with all her heart. She has never been stronger since her leg was rebuilt. She finished her OAJ, AXJ, AX, MX, AAD, and is just two legs from her MAD. She also qualified in Steeplechase, winning a local qualifier and beating several top notch dogs, including Fizz, Wish, and Catcher. By the end of the year, her average JWW runs were between 6.2 and 6.5 yps. We still knock rails, but that is the price we pay for not being able to train like "normal" dogs. It doesn't matter--being with her is such a blast, and as always, I am in awe of her special spirit and presence.

PEACH OFFSPRING

ADCH KERALES VOODOO AX, AXJ

Susan Heckleman, D.C.

KERALES KITE AAD, AX, AXJ

Kerales Farm

Kite is a versatile dynamo. She is running in USBCHA Ranch, as well as being one of the fastest dogs in the 22" class in USDA and AKC agility.

KERALES RUBY MAD, AX, AXJ

Melanie Clark, Florida

KERALES BET MAD, OA, OAJ

Barb Swartzlander, Maine

KERALES KEEPER MAD, AX, AXJ

Diane Fecteau, Maine

KERALES ZZ

As a two year old, ZZ was running in USBCHA Open, and ran in the 2007 USBCHA National Nursery Finals. He is currently running and placing in Open.