Winter Bird Camp

Just got back from a couple weeks in Kentucky at a friends winter bird camp. Had a great time and was able to get a lot of work done with my dogs. My 8 month old pointer pup got lots of bird exposure, my young pointer and setter that will both turn 2 in April are now both steady to wing and shot. Unfortunately my oldest dog Echo did her ACL in about half way through the trip. She is now with one of the best in the business and will have a TPLO performed on her this week.

I took a few pictures but they were all done with my phone so they aren't the greatest. All these points were on coveys of 20 to 50 quail.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jakezilla

Just got back from a couple weeks in Kentucky at a friends winter bird camp. Had a great time and was able to get a lot of work done with my dogs. My 8 month old pointer pup got lots of bird exposure, my young pointer and setter that will both turn 2 in April are now both steady to wing and shot. Unfortunately my oldest dog Echo did her ACL in about half way through the trip. She is now with one of the best in the business and will have a TPLO performed on her this week.

I took a few pictures but they were all done with my phone so they aren't the greatest. All these points were on coveys of 20 to 50 quail.

---

That is too bad. To encourage you, my best setter at age 6 had a TPLO. She's as good as new . In very cold weather the metal will contract and give her a slight limp , but that's it. Who's doing the surgery ?

Sorry to hear about that ACL.

Very nice. How tight do those wild quail hold?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sharon

That is too bad. To encourage you, my best setter at age 6 had a TPLO. She's as good as new . In very cold weather the metal will contract and give her a slight limp , but that's it. Who's doing the surgery ?

---

pm sent

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by terrym

Very nice. How tight do those wild quail hold?

---

Down where we were it is a pre-release operation. The birds hold pretty tight when released but after about 3 days the weak ones die or the hawks get them and the rest start acting pretty wild. It is not a replacement for wild birds but we just work with what we have. Having big coveys get up really test a dog and you can get some good work done.

We did run dogs on some property next to the preserve and my young female pointer stuck a true wild covey of quail which was really fun.

Having lived through more than one ACL, I understand your dilemma. Hope things work out well in rehab. Who's doing the surgery?
How bad were the ticks?

Awesome pictures JZ, hope for a speedy recovery for Echo.

That's a big string of dogs, looks like fun. Too bad about the injury, hopefully she recovers.

The worst part with that injury is the recovery (aside from $). It is shear torture for you and the dog, forcing her not to run and play, to prevent re-injury while healing. I wonder if a cast would help? Probably prolong the recovery, but less risk of re-injury.

MC

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mastercaster

The worst part with that injury is the recovery (aside from $). It is shear torture for you and the dog, forcing her not to run and play, to prevent re-injury while healing. I wonder if a cast would help? Probably prolong the recovery, but less risk of re-injury.

MC

---

She is staying there for rehab after the surgery so I don't have to do it myself because I could see that being difficult. They have the underwater treadmill and everything to do it right.

Rehab is a long and slow process but you can get there. have used the under water tread mill once soft tissue was healed.. Bending, stretching becomes a daily practice.

Biggest issue in labs is approx. 75% blow the ACL on the other leg within the year, I believe this is common with others as well. In past years Vets did the 'fishline' process with heavy monofilament tieing the joint together. Now there are 3 other surgeries. First is the tight rope which is similar to the fishline except stainless steel buttons are used. Next is the TTA and then the TPLO which stands for tibia plateau leveling where the joint is not touched in creating correct bone alignment. The meniscus is not touched in that case. Because all 3 are still done is reflective in the Vet world that there is not agreement in what procedure is best.

Hope everything turns out well Jake....don't scimp on rehab.

I was told by the surgeon that his experience with pointers is that 1 in 3 will blow the other ACL later on. I discussed other fixes with him but his opinion was that the TPLO was the gold standard.

TPLO is the gold standard . My surgeon had done thousands with excellent success. Dog got in to see the surgeon in a week ; I have to wait 18 months. Surgeon calls 3 times to see how the dog is. What is wrong with this picture?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sharon

TPLO is the gold standard . My surgeon had done thousands with excellent success. Dog got in to see the surgeon in a week ; I have to wait 18 months. Surgeon calls 3 times to see how the dog is. What is wrong with this picture?

---

Cash is the difference.

Sorry to hear about Echo buddy! Wishing her a speedy painless recovery.