Milo got mail!

27 February 2014

This week there was a large package at the front door addressed to Milo.  Inside was a very festive and colorful crate mat and matching bag - along with a very nice donation check for collie rescue.

What a lovely surprise!    Thank you Nancy!  We are so sorry that the bad weather prevented us from getting together over the weekend.  Hopefully there will be another opportunity to try it again soon.

More on our weekend adventures very soon.

My Valentine...

14 February 2014

We received some good news today! Milo's blood work is normal for the very first time - the low end of normal but we'll take it! Dr. Choi at the U of MN is cautiously optimistic that things will continue to improve more fully into the normal zone. She is prescribing another round of herbs that are less potent than the last batch, but will add some herbs to help his back issues. Yay! 

When we arrived at our appointment today, both the veterinary student  - same one as last week - and Dr. Choi remarked that he was much less "sloped" in his posture.  He had more acupuncture today as well for his back.   Milo has been starting to trot with the jaunty bounce that makes those gorgeous tipped ears bob with each step.  I love it!  

Cautiously optimistic is due to fact that last time Milo had a break from the herbs his CBC took a significant step backwards with regard to platelets and monocytes - so we will have to keep an eye on that.   

I'm quite relieved!

Milo at his appointment with Dr. Choi.  She is demonstrating to the veterinary student some diagnostic points in Oriental Medicine.  You can see how weak his back was before the acupuncture.  

Milo and Leo in June of 2012

Wired Up

9 February 2014

On Friday Milo went to his appointment with Dr. Choi at the Univesity of Minnesota for the issues he's been having with his back.   Dr. Choi found that his rear left leg is very weak and the muscles in that limb are much less developed than on the other side.  Not sure if it is due to an old injury, but he has been compensating by using the other hind leg much more.  Dr. Choi provided electroacupuncture for him which he enjoyed very much.  Dr. Choi didn't think that an x-ray at this time would show much since she feels that the problem is soft tissue and/or tendon related.

I need to get him in for a blood test so she can look at where his monocytes are after finishing his latest round of herbs.  I tried on Saturday, but wasn't able to get a tech appointment to do so.  Once we have a blood panel she can prescribe herbs that may help his leg as well as his white blood cell levels if needed.

Dr. Choi wishes to see Milo again next week for more acupuncture and have made an appointment for Friday.  Hopefully I will be able to bring along a blood panel for her to see.

I asked her if I should restrict his activity, but she said it really would not matter at this time.  She is concerned that he may be developing arthritis.   He is young-ish for this to occur, but the severity of his condition may be aging him prematurely.  We have no idea how long he was sick and fending for himself before he was rescued.

Milo was pretty blissed out during the experience.

Rock your world

1 February 2014

Milo had a very big week last week.  And he did not enjoy it.

I picked up a young collie in need of help because his family lost their home and brought him back to the house.  Milo did not approve in any way, shape or form.  He demonstrated this in his actions; he didn't finish his meals, he began having accidents in the house and some of his fearful behaviors re-surfaced.   The puppy was here for one day before I sought assistance with finding a different for home for him.

The photos below demonstrate how sad it made Milo to have this "interloper" in his life.  

Milo's world is now back to normal and he is much relieved.  No more sad eyes. 

Milo had a trip to the canine chiropractor for an adjustment.  This week he has been doing some trembling at certain times and I'm not sure if it is related to stress or the subzero temperatures we've been experiencing.  He did a bit of the trembling at the beginning of the appointment, but seemed to relax a bit following the adjustment.  

We have an appointment on Friday to see Dr. Choi at the University of Minnesota to see if we can help him with some acupuncture and maybe some herbs.  He finished the herbs he was on for his monocytosis on Thursday, so we'll see what his blood levels say about his overall health.  

Feels So Good

20 January 2014

Yesterday Milo went for some massage work with our friend Kathy to help him loosen up his back and spine.  He really enjoyed it.  

He is moving much better after the massage, but will see the chiropractor again next week.  

I spoke with Dr. Choi about his back and because the herbs he is currently on for his monocytosis are so very strong and concentrated it is not safe for him to take anything for his back until he finishes those herbs.  I'll be making an appointment for him to see Dr. Choi as she can give him acupuncture to help his back.  

Poor guy!    I'm not sure if this is a muscle issue or a skeletal one.  He had no muscle tone when he first came to me because his body had metabolised everything due to starvation.  I've always been worried about his muscles, but his blood values had recently eclipsed that concern.  Will be seeking answers so we can provide the best relief for him.  

Back again

18 January 2014

Milo has been having more back problems.  His back end is very weak and if you run your hand down the length of his body he sinks into a sit.  I brought him back to the doggie chiropractor and she proclaimed that he is so tense and "guarding" that she couldn't really do a full adjustment for him.  So... we are going to take him for a massage tomorrow and follow up with the chiro about a week following the massage.   I talked to Dr. Choi about this in case some herbs would help him, but the herbs he is currently taking for the monocytosis are so strong that he can't take anything for his back/spine issues right now.  If the massage and chiro don't do the trick he'll need acupuncture.   Poor guy.  I think he's been in pain but is very stoic about it as collies tend to be in my experience.

I snapped this photo the other evening before we went to the chiropractor.   What a face!

  

This morning Milo was using Leo as a pillow.  

Back to status quo

6 January 2014

We have spent the last 10 days puppy sitting for a little terrier mix friend named Zoey.  Wild collie Leo and Zoey are great pals and spent much of the time running, running, running and wrestling.  Sometimes wrestling while running.  An example:

Leo!  You have a terrier on your neck! 

Milo was not so impressed.  He has been very disgusted that this unruly little upstart usurped the attention of his pal Leo as well as my affection.  The experience seemed to be quite difficult for him and he seems to be quite pleased that Zoey has returned home and things are back to normal.