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Mercy has hit her goal weight!

Thanks to everyone for their support after Mercy's appearance on Animal House Calls, donations are the key to Mercy being able to continue with rehab. Mercy doing well and getting stronger all of the time.  The swimming is really showing great benefit. 

Mercy has finally hit her goal weight of 25lbs!

Relay's Diner www.RelaysDiner.com has generously donated a feeding station to Mercy to help her to be more comfortable when eating. Once it arrives we will post some pics!

A day in the life of Mercy

Mercy continues to live each day to the fullest, charming the pants off of everyone she meets.
She continues her weekly appointments at the Canine Wellness Centre where she maintains that delightful puppy enthusiasm for anything put in front of her.  She revisited her exercise on the long and narrow air mattress to work on building her strength.  Mercy really has to use all of her muscles in order to keep her little legs under her for walking on the mattress. 
Additional low level laser treatment, five minutes of swim class, then directly to sleepy time under her beach towel on the snoozer for the car ride home. 
 
Sweet Mercy made a new boxer friend at the park this week too.  She did some galloping and shared one of her toys.  She had a drink from the water spiggot (maybe more of a facewash), plus plenty of time sunbathing, stretched out on the grass. 
A super outing with lots of fresh air and fun for our girl.  She surely knows her stroller by now and will set herself down right beside it when she's ready to cuddle in for the walk home.

Mercy will continue with her at home exercises and her appointment at Canine Wellness to make her as strong as possible. Canine Wellness is offering a very generous discount to this special little rescue girl, but every penny donated will help Mercy become as strong and healthy as she can be.
 


 

Mercy working on her rehab

Mercy is continuing with her work at the Canine Wellness Center to help build up her strength and endurance. She has been really enjoying all the one-on-one attention, and is the best little patient ever! Mercy's week included the following:  low level laser treatment, a homework assignment (find the hiding biscuit!), five laps in the pool and relaxing with Colby on his big boy boxer bed.

Mercy also got out to play with her friends at the park, this video gives you a glimpse at how fast she can get around when she wants to! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvo90Xystw

Mercy goes for some swim therapy at the Canine Wellness Center

Mercy paid a visit to the Wellness Centre where she received a complete and thorough examination which included a swim trial.  The range of motion for her legs actually lands in the normal category.  She really showed no pain indicators with all of the fussing and even did her best to help out by chewing on the ruler if it came near enough that she could snatch it.
 
Miss Mercy didn't know what to make of the pool and despite being a bit frightened, she paddled away  completing two laps with a short rest in between. 
After she was dried off, she scampered all over the show, playing keep away with her new friends.  In addition, Mercy really took ownership of the Wellness Centre's luxurious orthopedic bed.  Many, many thanks to Tania for sending it along with Mercy to use at home! 
 
Going forward, we will continue very short sessions of swim therapy accompanied by low level laser treatment.  The hope being that in building both muscle mass and endurance in the pool, Mercy will be better able to more comfortably navigate her little wonky body about on her own.  The laser treatment is an avenue to pain management. 
We're making no changes at her foster home as yet with regard to her prescribed medications.  For now, we are building a time table to see what works best for sweet Mercy. 
 
It goes without saying that Mercy's personality is that of a joyful, happy dog.  Everyone that meets her falls under her spell and wants to do all that they can to help her. 
 
You can check out some video of Mercy doing her laps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLruxnOYytQ&feature=channel
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhSs4EHUDZ0&feature=channel
 

Prognosis for Mercy

Mercy has settled in nicely in her temporary foster home. We have increased her pain meds as she seems to be quite uncomfortable. The vets and specialists feel that Mercy likely has HOD - Hypertrophy Osteodysplasia, unfortunately there is nothing that can be done for Mercy surgically to correct her front legs or to fix her hips.

Mercy will likely need to be placed in a hospice foster home for the time that she has left. Boxer Rescue will continue to cover all costs of Mercy's care and ensure she has the best life possible. Mercy will need to have limited exercise, no stairs and ensure that her caregivers can monitor her pain and quality of life. Our fingers are crossed that Mercy has the chance for lots of happy days to make up for all the struggles that she has been through so far in her short life.

Mercy's X-Rays

The verdict hasn't yet arrived on Mercy's X-Ray's. Beaches Animal Hospital was reaching out to a couple specialist to hear what everyone thought of this poor little girl.

Her front legs, are obviously deformed, this is easy to see just by looking at her. Her rib cage is another matter, it is quite misshapen and has significant additional bone growth. Her hips are another matter in themselves. Her left hip is almost out of the socket and often when you are carrying her you can feel it popping somewhat.

On a good news note, Mercy has gained just over 1kg. I have been feeding her like a full size boxer rather than the 1/2 pint that she is, so she should continue to gain weight, she also has a huge appetite for such a little girl.

We are now going to give Mercy some Medicam each day, more to help with any discomfort from her hips than anything else. All that being said Mercy has no idea that anything is out of sorts, she is happy as can be. Mercy will be heading to another foster home for a week or so as I will be out of town. Brinley my own boxer will be absolutely crushed to see her go, they have become best buddies and do everything together from non-stop wrestle-mania to sleeping all cuddled up. My Pug on the other hand likely won't miss her!