We've been getting our Kona chiropractic care for the last couple of weeks and it's been a blessing.

Kona hurt her remaining back leg and then tweaked her back (bulging disc or nerve pinch, they're not sure) and then she was put on prednosone and tramadol………….the prednosone, we found out too late, takes muscle, and in less than two weeks after being put on the drugs, she lost all function in her back end, including the leg. We've had to go through a horrible withdrawl of both drugs (very bad)  and she's been getting home visit chiropractic (we're very lucky) visits  and she's been improving. Now has bowel and urine control and is getting feeling and maybe more although we know that it will take time…we ordered a rehab cart for her so she get walk with it, even run, and it's also for rehab.

Yes, absolutely yes, I'm sold on the benefits of chiropractic for my Kona.

We drive Shelby to the chiropractor every 6 weeks.

Dr Deppe really focuses on her hips and where her spine and rib cage meet.  She says the way Shelby hops and moves puts a lot of torque on her her spine and rib cage area. She also pays close attention to Shelby's shoulder, she wants to make sure that the nerves and the tendons, muscles are working together. She also pays a great deal of attention to her feet and checks each of her toes. She checks from the tip of her tail all the way up her spine making small adjutments as she goes along.

I have seen her adjust Shelby twice where the spine and the base of the skull meet. 

We feel quite comfortable with the way that Dr Deppe works with Shelby and we can see the difference after the adjusts are done.

And she does it all in 20 to 25 minutes.

I just posted on the forum "Hopping Along" regarding back or leg injury (leg buckling) and now I've read over the posts on this forum and I'm feeling so hopeful!  My Old English Sheepdog, Sylvia, has been on "strict crate rest" and prednisone for the past three weeks and I've been thinking all this time that there's got to be something better.  From shortly after her amputation, it made sense to me that we should pursue some sort of muscle-strengthening treatment to help her adjust to life on three legs.  But as good as I believe her oncologist and surgeon are, I think they should've been more forthcoming with suggestions for following up amputation.  And, yes, I should have asked more questions.  (I hate when our mistakes or omissions hurt our furry kids, who are depending on us to care for them.) 

Tomorrow a.m. I plan to begin researching alternative treatments and physical therapists for dogs in earnest!  I've sort of browsed the Internet for some in our area (Dayton, OH), and do have the name of a chiropracter that I got from a coworker.  I've had a harder time finding a doggie physical therapist.

Anyway – Thank you all for the great information that you share via these posts!!

- Sylvia and dog-mom Karen

Hi Maggie's Mom, Tracy – Thanks for the words of encouragement.  After I'd posted yesterday evening, I was so wide-awake that I knew there was no point trying for sleep at that time.  So I started searching for doggie physical therapists and chiropracters in my area and found the only one in Dayton who actually has a website.  Turns out she is the same woman who came to my dog club about a year and a half ago to talk about "Sports Medicine" for canine athletes.  Most of the two-day workshop dealt with strengthening excercises for agility dogs.  I attended because I do agility with Sylvia's brother Charlie and sister Banjo.  I don't know why I'd completely forgotten that, and the fact that the instructor was from here in Dayton.  Anyway – She requires a referral from the vet before she works with an animal, so I can ask about this tomorrow.  I also found the contact information for the chiropracter that my work friend had recommended. 

It is too bad that even the folks that I believe are very good at what they do (Sylvia's oncologist and surgeon) can sometimes be a bit short-sighted.  You've sure hit the nail on the head when you write about preparing our tripawds for LIFE after surgery instead of narrowly focusing on the healing of the surgical site and potential side effects of chemo.  There's so much more!  Altho I wish I'd found the tripawds website earlier in our jouney so I could've been more knowledgeable, at least I now know where to go and am learning what to ask!