by Martha McMillian

Created on: September 16, 2009

My first little love was Freeway, a miniature poodle found on the highway (hence the name). He was my first indoor dog and soon became the light of my eye. After a few years he began to be in a good deal of pain. The vet said his knee cap was slipping in and out of place and recommended surgery.

It was heartbreaking to see him with the collar around his head and the bandages on his leg. I must admit it was hilarious to see him learn to drink and walk with the collar on. Then he figured out to turn himself at just the right angles to chew at his bandages. I should have realized he would figure it out since he removed his own stitches after being fixed. We moved up to a bigger collar but that made it impossible for him to eat and drink. Needless to say, I was so happy the day we went to have the bandages removed and I looked forward to having my happy boy back. Unfortunately that was not to be.

After Freeway continued to not even try to use the leg for a week, I called the vet. He refused to put weight on the recovering leg and was walking around on just three legs. I was told we had to make him do it. Suggestions included:

1) Taping a bottle cap with the ridges against the pad of the good foot.

Freeways solution to that: he sat and stared at us, as soon as we turned our heads, he chewed the tape off and kept on walking.

2) Bend the good leg and tape it up so that he couldn't walk on it at all.

Freeway's solution: walking on the front legs only! He continued like that for a day. He did not even perform bodily functions during this day. He finally manage to chew enough of the tape off to walk on the good leg.

3) Hold a treat in the air until both back feet are on the ground.

Freeway just limped away and laid down, glaring at me the whole time.

4) Make him swim by filling up the garden tub with water, this was to strengthened the leg and make him realize he could use it.

Freeway managed, with very little movement, to get to the far side of the tub and proceeded to hold himself there by resting his chin on the edge!

All-in-all nothing worked! I ended up sending him to the vet for a week of intense physical therapy where he finally used the leg to walk 3 steps and stand up for an animal cracker, nothing else worked!

In the long run he would use the leg when he felt like it, but he never really regained the full use. It was a couple of years later that the intense pains returned and we decided to put him to sleep where he is no longer in pain and hopefully using all 4 legs!

Learn more about this author, Martha McMillian.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.