Emily's Rehab Takes Another Turn

Friday's Utter Despondency

I admit to suffering a deep despondency last Friday. Emily had been hobbling for more than a week, hopping along even around the house, raising her surgically-repaired leg as she moved from room to room. It was painful to witness, and it was not just the usual post-surgery stiffness. Ten weeks out, she should have been doing much better and readying for a switch from the short fixed-leash to a retractable version that would allow her to roam a bit. Six weeks on the retractable leash would prepare her for being off-leash completely.

Our friend and vet, Rachael Kleidon, took x-rays of her right leg. Nothing she could see, but she sent them off for closer examination by the knee surgeon who operated on Emily. What we could see was Emily not placing any weight on her paw.

I'm not sure who was more disheartened, Rachael or me.

"There's only one thing to do: we need to go back to day one of rehab. Mostly she stays put in the crate, other than to go to the bathroom in the backyard—no other w…