Dera

Serving the Dog Agility Community and located near the Eastern Illinois Border
Last Updated June 2, 2008

She's my inspiration, my fire, my fervor, my strength, my teacher, my student, my partner, my very best friend who has always been there

to protect me, tease me, yell at me, laugh at me, inspire me and run not just with me but with those few I have entrusted with her

that I knew would appreciate her and the joy and thrill she brings to a moment...

she is: Blitzen's Dera Wildwind Soul - the original "I Dare Ya!" dog-much more than just another Border Collie

This page will be the story of the journey Dera and I are now on.

Dera has always been there for me - now - it's my turn to really be there for her.

The following is something I wrote about Der some time ago before any of this current experience was ever on the horizon.

Less than 60 seconds to dance

The bond is invisible - yet everyone can see it - The course has been timed - it's under a minute.

You walk side by side - two feet and four paws - Your place is determined by luck of the draws

Your names are called to move into place - Brown eyes lock on yours and hold to your face

You feel your heart pound with the game near its start - Your ritual tells the team the excitement in your heart

Somewhere in your head you hear NASCAR engines roar - You step closer to the line as you've done countless times before

There are strains on your lead, "Oh let me run!" - You console softly "Soon as that team is done."

You think through the plan you've designed only moments ago - Preparing in your mind when to cue your turns and flow

The anticipation in you becomes a sound pounding in your ears - You take your place and put four paws in theirs

You're in control. You're the one who sets the pace - But as you well know - four paws win this race

The voice from aside says it's your turn to try - Paws prance in the grass only too ready to fly

You get to your spot - now it's ready or not. - You give the nod and you're both off like a shot.

A jump, tunnel and right turn to the A - This is a game only dog and handler can play

You point and you cue your dog is all about you - The team lead is your job and you must follow through

More jumps set in sequence - you're already nearly done - There's the turn to the weaves - it's a beautiful run

A few more jumps to the end - you've arrived at the finish - A course beat to death - you knew that you could win it

Your dog is upon you celebrating this chance - Such wonder there is - in a less than sixty second dance

The following will take you through the history since Dera's incident in 2007 that we think caused the current situation:

8/07	This is where the story really started. When unloading from a show - my other half released Dera from her kennel in the minivan first and didn't notice where Dera was when releasing Flipside from his kennel beside her. I arrived at the back of the van with Trek in my arms, in the instant to see Flip launch from his kennel to land squarely on Dera's back. Dera didn't yipe or cry out - but stood on three legs. I believe this is what started this entire saga. I, of course, was at Dera's side in an instant and checked her left rear. She had full mobility and then placed weight on the leg, but I could clearly see she was not comfortable doing so. Immediately we went to bed rest for 24 hours. Next day - there was nothing to indicate any deeper injury so the next week - it was day to day life as usual. (Okay - I'll admit - after I crabbed at poor Troy for being so oblivious to the way I ask for certain things to be done in a certain way when it comes to Dera and Flipside and let's let it just go at that - Troy feels bad enough as it is because we really believe this is the instant this all started this ball rolling.)
11/07	I take Der into our local country vet for an exam because I'm concerned over her not being able to get up in her kennel at a trial in October. She was fine when she got home, but it was completely unlike Dera to ever have any difficulty getting up. I ended up pulling her from that last run of the day after that because the behavior concerned me. By the time we got home, there wasn't any hint of the same difficulty - but we rested for a week to be on what I thought was the 'safe side.'
12//07	I mention to Dr. Becker the periods of lameness Dera has experienced. She examines Der and can find nothing at that time to indicate any injury that should be explored further - but we decide our plan is to up her supplements and monitor any subsequent issues.
2/22-24/08	Dera runs the IKC show without issue other than standing with her left rear leg slightly out from under her body. She finished a JWW title and Novice FAST and earned another 1st in Open FAST on Sunday of this show in true Dera style. Her NQs were as memorable, if not more so, than her 1st place Q's.
3/15/08	I put Dera on completely restricted activity after she came home from a class and got out of her kennel on three legs after only doing one run of 8 obstacles in practice. The history evolved over several months of periodic lameness starting as early as October 2007 that persisted and intensified. Indications were that there was something deeper wrong to me, but until I decided the frequency was becoming a more recurring pattern that could not be ignored, we continued to run in agility together until the end of Feb 08 at the International Kennel Club Show in Chicago. For the record, it was my heart and not my head that once again decided to take action. So often I beat myself up or get worked up because I'm a touchy, feely gal - but it was this day that my heart said, "Something just isn't right." and we need to look deeper. If ya had asked Deri, she would have said, "No - I'm fine - look - I can jump up and down - good to go - now let's go rip a course to bits!"

3/25/08	Dera is diagnosed 'loosely' with a meniscus tear following x-rays at Dr. Becker's. We are advised that next steps are to await the review from Dr. Ianokov, the preferred ortho. surgeon. Dera is kept on restricted activity - specifically - she spends her days in her x-pen. I take her in and out of the house on lead and carry her up and down the stairs in the house.
4/3/08	This was the hardest day so far. Dr. Becker confirmed today that Dera has torn her anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and meniscus in her left rear leg. Dr. Ianokov believes that because of Dera's young age, surgery is the approach we should take and the sooner the better. The exact words I heard over the phone today were, "She's too young to not run again." She will be 7 yrs old on May 19th. Now we wait to hear on the timing and price quote. Emotions are high - obviously. The feelings of guilt for me are still intense. Dera sure fooled me. Money is an issue. Having lost over $25K of annual income in unexpected job changes between myself and Troy last year - took it's toll on the old credit rating. Okay - that and the fact that my agility lifestyle didn't adjust much with that income reduction....baaaaaaaaaaaaaaadddddd me. Friends are rallying and keeping the ideas flowing on options - don't know where I would be without you all (besides letting myself have one hec of a solo pity party!). Options are there - and are being investigated. Tomorrow is another day and we'll see where we go from here. I'm taking a lesson from Der once again today. I realized in trading mails with my favorite group of agility 'buddies' today, that through all this Dera never once said in the K9 equivalent, "I can't." or "It hurts." or "It's too much to deal with and I don't feel up to it." She just said, "We're good to go. I've got this if you've got that." So for Dera; "I've got this one, babe. I'll figure the 'human' side of the reality of it. You just soak up the "healing" vibes from all that know and care about you and we'll be back out there - together and healthy - in no time. I promise, we'll find a way to make sure you can be where I know you want to be - on that course ripping it up and chortling the way only you do at the end of all, screaming, "We nailed it! I'm so proud of you! Really you sucked, bubblehead, but I got ya and love you anyway! Let's go again!" (By the by, you have to have heard Dera scream at the end of a run to really understand this one.) More to come.
4/7/08	Surgery Day - after much soul searching, emailing, googling, reading, asking this that and the other - it came down to it today. Dera had TTA on her left rear. Apparently, when they went in they found the ACL was not completely torn and explains why we kept seeing her acting Dera normal and able to bear weight. The meniscus in the knee also was reported as looking good - so lots of good news there if you can find any in an injury such as this for such an active girl as Der. She comes home tomorrow. The tech at the vet, Amanda, said they were really working to keep Dera down shortly after recovery from surgery and was not amused at being there. Surprise. So now we're off to phase 2 - let the healing begin. It's going to be a long, long road. We'll be taking things one step and one day at a time from here. Good news is - the roughest part is over - making the decision and releasing her to the vet. It was downright painful to make the decision but after all was said and done - I really feel I made the best decision for her based on information and not emotion. That was tough for me! I'm counting the minutes to go pick her up and bring her home where she belongs.
4/8/08	Day 1 home! Dera is battered and bruised and stitched. But she's home. She's on three legs, very woosey, but happy to be home. The incision is a bit grizzly to look at - the leg is swollen and there's a little oozing - but it's all normal. She's been wagging her tail and has been alert through many periods of deep sleep since we got back late this afternoon. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow and as we move along the healing process. For now - it's time to rest.
4/9/08	How we're lookin' today... As you can see, not much swelling left as her muscle tone is showing clearly today-this was not the case 24 hours ago. She's her perky little self - as you can well see - over achiever that she is - already trying to toe touch! (our post opp instructions say, and I quote, "Most dogs do not bear weight on their surgical leg for 4 weeks.) Guess someone should have told Der to milk it for all it was worth! Actually, she's keeping me pretty busy and she's one step short of getting the lovely elizabethan collar attached. I was on a conference call for work and hear to my right....slurp, slurp, slurp...and see her chewing - as soon as I told her to stop - yes, she pulled out and was eating one of her stitches! We're safe - the wound didn't open - but darn if she doesn't keep you on your toes no matter what!
4/28/08	So here we are 3 weeks to the day of all this starting. Below are two new pics of sexy - minus her stitches. She's so funny showing off for the camera! It's so very amazing to me that 21 days have gone by and she looks like this. She's standing full square on all four paws. You can't tell in the pics cause she's modeling. Her expression just cracks me up - "So, is this sexy enough for ya??? I can do sexy - look - all leg and everything." Oh how she lives to be the center of attention any way she can. No wonder she's my dog!
5/9/08	So here we are a month later. Today was Dera's 4 week recheck visit with Dr. Becker. Saying she passed with flying colors - mostly sums things up. Her leg has healed beautifully to this point. I'm overjoyed today with the results of what has been a very challenging time - not in keeping Dera quiet, but keeping her from becoming bored and irritated with being in an X pen constantly and only out for potty stops. See, to me, I firmly believe that for us as well as for our dogs, if we're happy, we feel good. If our brain is telling our bodies things are good - all the internal chemicals pump to aid and sustain healing. I really believe this in a deep way on many levels and because of that - I set out to make sure, to every extent possible, Dera could be kept feeling happy and normal. Travelling made a difference since she knows in the car in her kennel - we're going some place and she's a part of it. Being at shows and showered with attention and affection from everyone has been a boost to her spirits as she's still the center of the universe in her own mind - tee hee. Not to mention that at a show - everyone is kenneled and to Dera it made total sense and felt completely normal to be in her kennel through the day. Seriously, I'm certain this has been a boost to her morale and more goes to proving it has helped in her healing at the rate she has been. Now we can start our physical therapy!!!! You can call this Stage 1 of physical therapy really and will cover the next 5 weeks. It's going to look like this: Week 1 - walking controlled beside me 5 minutes, 3 times per day - if our pool was up we would start with short swims too, but alas - no pool just yet. To keep to a weekly schedule - this will commence on a strictly adhered to schedule on Monday, May 12th Week 2 - walking increased in length from 5 to 10 minutes per day. Hopefully the pool will be up and running - and swims will go to 15 minutes. Week 3 - walks go up to 20 minutes per day with a 5 minute warm up and a 5 minute cool down. Curb work will start this week too. This consists of finding a 6-10" curb for Der to step up and down on her left side for 10 minutes at 5 second intervals. This also begins her twice daily 15 minute swims. Week 4 things get exciting - 3 walks a day - fast pace for 20 minutes! Der will be thrilled! That will be the norm until June 13 - when Dera goes back to Dr. Becker for a progress check and to get clearance for OFF LEAD WORK!!!!!!! I'll add some more pics of the progress soon!
6/2/08	Well here we are - Week 4 of rehab! The pool is finally up and running - after finding and fixing 5 holes in the ring that keeps the darn thing up - was much like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack! As you can see from pic 1 and Dera's expression, "See, told you - I'M FINE!" Der started therapy swimming this morning and we did our 20 minute walk. She follows me around the pool like a shark - and I would almost swear you can see her wagging her tail under the water when she stops. Please note - I filled this pool yesterday from the hose - so the metals haven't quite filtered out of the water yet - but I tested the water before Deri went in and the chlorine levels were okay - and she was chortling and screaming like a wild woman possessed to get into the pool - so - we went for it. Also - wanted to show some pics of her gait and stance. I'm so thrilled to see muscle re-developing shape in that leg again in the first picture below-compared to the way it looked on the April 28th update above - quite a difference in just 4 weeks. She's really coming along! It's getting tougher and tougher to tell this was ever a leg that wasn't working right! As you can see below, she's fully extending the left as she moves. Plus the alignment in her gait is quite smooth these days too. Tangent time: in the 2nd and 4th pics - look at the shadow Dera casts - Pic 2 the head - do you see the hawk screaming? In Pic 4 - do you see the Wolf in her shadow walking with her? I love American Indian folk lore - so had to include this commentary. Those must be Dera's spirit guides. Dera is now back in her xpen - rolling on blankets and wagging her tail drying off - chortling away with such contentment. You can just hear in her vocalizing, "Ahhhh life is getting back to normal! Cool." Oh and please note the intent in Dera's head and ears and tension on the leash as she is trying to get to the agility field off to the right.....go figure...you can just hear her thoughts, "I know I can convince her to let me in there! I'm FINE! All my legs work!!! Just let me show you!!!!" 1 2 3 4 5 So from here we continue on with 3 walks a day mixing between slow, medium and fast pace, 2 - 15 minute swims, curb work and keep counting down the days until our next recheck on June 13th! - Added benefit to all this....it's doing wonders on my middle age spread! lol. Funny how you forget how much fun walking with your dog can be. I'm actually strict in following Dera's prescribed therapy....so - I can't do it for myself - but don't think twice about doing it for my dog.