Entlebucher Sennenhund - Michael von Adhem

Here I am together with my physical therapist Irene Park at Adobe Animal Hospital in Oxnard, California walking the underwater treadmill

Shortly after surgery, I started my rehabilitation. At first I could only go out and potty, and then go straight back to my crate.
My owner had to gently move my leg and bend the knee about 10 times, a few times per day. Until the stitches and staples were taken out, I was pretty miserable because I had to wear a cone. After that, I got to go out 10 minutes at a time, three - four times per day. My stomach got upset from all the medicin, but we got that straightened out.

I had to be continually sedated so that I wouldn't get too stir-crazy in my crate or when I got to go outside. It was very difficult because I could hear all the other dogs out there having fun together.

As I started feeling better, I my short visits outside was increased with a few minutes. By six weeks of healing time I got to walk around on leash for 10 minutes, 4 times per day. That was great!

At eight weeks of healing I was ready to run. Little did I know that I had to start all over again.

Dr. Wright performed surgery on my second knee 9 weeks after my first surgery and again I had to wear that stupid cone. But this time in the hospital I met my physical therapist Irene who said that I could get help with healing and building my strength in a safe way. That gave me new hope!

About one month after my second surgery I started my physical therapy. They fitted me with a life-west, took me into a glassed cubicle and filled it up with water until I was floating. Naturally, I started swimming right away. It felt good. Then the water was lowered so that I could reach the bottom and walk on the treadmill but enough water was left so that I was almost boyant.

Each week of physical therapy, Irene would increase the workout time and lower the water level just a little bit. By now I'm starting to feel that my muscle tissue is building. I'm getting stronger and it feels great!

As I started feeling better, my short visits outside were increased with a few minutes. By six weeks of healing time I got to walk around on leash for 10 minutes, 4 times per day. That was great! At eight weeks of healing I was ready to run. Little did I know that I had to start all over again.

Dr. Wright performed surgery on my second knee 9 weeks after my first surgery and again I had to wear that stupid cone. But this time in the hospital I met my physical therapist who said that I could get help with healing and building my strength in a safe way. That gave me new hope!

About one month after my second surgery I started my physical therapy. They put a life-west on me, led me into a glassed cubicle and filled it up with water until I was floating. Naturally, I started swimming right away. It felt good. Then the water was lowered so that I could reach the bottom and walk on the treadmill but enough water was left so that I was almost boyant.

Each week of physical therapy, Irene would increase the workout time and lower the water level just a little bit. Now I'm starting to feel that my muscle tissue is building. It's great!

Now, at the end of July, 2008 and it has been 10 weeks since my second knee surgery and I get to walk on leash for 20 minutes twice a day and then also go out for short potty visits a couple of times per day. I also get to be outside all morning, but I can't move around too much. Still, life is slowly getting better for me.

Update January 2009: After continuous rehabilitation until the end of August 2008 I took a break to evaluate my health and healing. I was stronger, but not altogether healed. Because I continued to short-step and occassionaly limp, I had to go and see Dr. Wright for x-rays and evaluation. The news were good and bad. I found out that my knees have healed ok but that my muscles on my right side

Michael von Adhem

An Entlebucher Puppy with Bilateral Luxating Patellas, An Inherited Disease.

This is my story...

have not developed enough. Also, it was determined that I have hip dysplasia bad enought to affect my knees and gait. Dr. Wright recommended more surgeries, so I had to go for a second opinion. Dr. Otto at Carpinteria Veterinary Hospital examined me thoroughly analyzed both x-rays and my gait. He found that my right knee still dislocates due to lack of muscle-strength. Dr. Otto recommended more rehabilitation to achieve stability in my knees.

I'm back in the watertank again, swimming and walking twice a week. I've made progress and built muscle mass. When my thighs were measured after swimming for four weeks they had increased with 2 cm. I'm working towards eight to ten weeks, then I'll go back to Dr. Otto and Dr. Wright for another evaluation. Hopefully I'll get strong and stabil enough to not need any more surgeries.