You see, I’d love to give Juno an anti-inflamatory like Rimadyl or Metacam, but I can’t. I can’t take the chance that what she had last November wasn’t an autoimmune response to that very type of drug. So the only thing I could give her was a narcotic. And if you’ve ever had been given narcotics to treat intense pain, you know narcotics don’t make it go away, they just make you not care about it. I was heartbroken not to be able to reduce her pain, but at least I could get her high enough to knock her out for the night.

Thank Dog for acupuncture!  Anytime Juno has soreness from her hip dysplasia, it reduces inflammation and helps get blood flow to the tight muscles. Sometimes Juno needs acupuncture a lot. Sometimes she doesn’t need it for a while. It depends completely on circumstance or if she has too much fun kicking Loki’s butt.

Today she went in for her needles and her right jodhpur had much soreness! Dogtor Hilary had to massage the area a long time before Juno allowed her to stick her with the needles.

The photos below are from a previous acupuncture appointment that she had for soreness in her shoulders from digging a hole half way to Siberia. Most of the needles are in her upper back for that reason. Although it seems like a dog would not enjoy this, Juno doesn’t mind at all, in fact, most of the time, she chills right out and takes a nice long nap while her needles go to work. Sometimes Loki’s with her settles right in and naps right next to her.

Needles are in, with the help of the bag of food-ables. Juno’s wagging tail tells me she’s pretty content. The first needle to go in, is always the yin channel, to get the doggie relaxed and ready to receive more needles.

Juno’s upper back was very tight a few weeks ago. I had picked up on this when I had taken her to Physical Therapy and she looked very unhappy to be there. Usually she loves going to PT. Really. We didn’t go to the appointment and instead went to acupuncture. A good move. When Dogtor Hilary examined her, she felt a great deal of tight muscles in her upper back. Dogtor Hilary guessed that she may have been digging. Who, Juno? Nahhh….

The gratuitous jodhpur shot. For her fans.

“This amber lighting works well with my naturally beautiful eyes, doesn’t it?”

After a while, it’s sweet dreams for June-Bug:
“Hunky malamutes feeding me an endless supply of giant juicy bones!”

When she’s fully cooked, Dogtor Hilary comes back to massage her and remove her needles.

“Awe…Doc, that’s the spot. Is it really time to go? I was just getting so comfortable!”

Afterwards, Juno sets her priorities straight. She jumped up on the counter to smell the flowers. Because we should all stop and smell the flowers, right? But then …

“These flowers are quite nice, but I wouldn’t mind a few more Zukes for the road. How about it Mom?”

That’s my girl. Siberian priorities always in the right order.

I had scheduled a visit with her infection specialist for a follow up and she included a consult with an ortho because they were concerned about her joints. But I couldn’t wait that long for the consult. So, instead, this week, I scheduled an x-ray of her hips, knees, ankles and low spine with my personal vet, Dogtor Hilary.  When we took her in, she was so sore they had to sedate her just to take her x-rays. Usually, Juno is very compliant when a doing any procedure and it was obvious to them she was too painful.  While she was out, Loki got some accupuncture (seriously, but that’s another post). The X-rays confirmed it. Juno’s beautiful jodhpurs were dysplastic.

It’s likely that the dysplasia is genetic. She is only 2 years old. At only 12 months of age (before she was mine) she did a weekend of running and pulling an ATV on a sled team of huskies. That type of exercise with hips pre-disposed to this would have likely made it quite worse since her bones were not finished growing. In addition, we have been doing agility with her which is not good for her either.

Her knee joints look relatively good, but there was still some mild inflamation in them, indicating who knows what. I doubt we’ll ever really have a confirmed diagnosis of bacterial infection or autoimmune arthritis, since they’re both quite similar in symptoms—her response to antibiotics could have been entirely coincidental.  We go to visit her hospital infection specialist and the orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday. I’m glad I already ran the x-rays so we’re ahead of the game in terms of timing. The sooner we know stuff the better. It’s likely this will be a maintenance issue. Our regular vet, Dogtor Hilary, said they’ll probably recommend what she’ll want to do, which are cosequin injections, glucosomine and some other supplements to help keep the cushioning in the socket and hopefully help the head of the femurs remain round as they are now instead of grinding down to flat. But she definitely wanted a consult with an ortho before proceeding with any program for her.

 Juno Belle shows us that hip dysplasia doesn’t make jodhpurs any less sexy!

Exercise will be encouraged but rough playing will be kept to a minimum. Sorry Loki. Biting Juno’s scruff will have to be at her descretion. Then again, it always has been! No changes there.

Likely they will recommend low impact exercise to build up hip muscles, and, get ready: swimming! Ever since I saw Honey the Great Dane swim, I’ve wanted to do it with my dogs too. Now’s a great opportunity. Juno will likely hate it at first, but I’m very confident I can get her to like it. She’s become the type of dog that really wants to work and “do” stuff. It’s likely I’ll need hot dogs and tri-tip the first few times but I’m pretty sure eventually enjoy it. I’ve seen evidence of some huskies who like to swim!

The worst part is I’ll have to change my training tools from skillets and rolling pins to a wet noodle. One must always modify training tools for the disabled.

“What’s that you said about swimming? You’d better make sure my gumdrop nose does not get wet or it will melt!”

This photo is for The Thundering Herd. Go ahead. Say something. I dare you.

“Where you talking about moi and my fur alterations?”

“Talk to the Jodhpurs, Herd.”

“It’s Monday? What’s a Monday? Is it a free treat?”

“It’s not a free treat? If I close my eyes real tight, can I make Monday go away?”

“Talk to the Jodhpurs, Monday, ‘cuz this sibe’s not listenin’. “

“Wake me up when it’s Friday.” 

PUPDATE: This morning Juno wouldn’t let me take her temperature. I guess things are improving. Though she gave me a scare last night with some panting, she drank some ice water and went to bed. When I did get around to testing her temperature today, it was 100.3, down from yesterday’s 101.5 and 101.2. Day before that was 102.1 and 101.9. So it seems to be dropping. Yesterday, though she could barely walk, she was confident enough to steal Loki’s tug. And she doesn’t like tugs. Just to remind him who’s boss. She’s full of piss-n-vinegar though and chased Loki until she wiped out because she’s not strong enough. Gosh, if the doc found out I accidentally let her run, I’d be reported or she’d be pup-napped. I can tell she’s getting stronger but she’s still very weak in the legs. I remember she walked like that a lot, long before she got ill, and I have to wonder if she was pre-disposed to weakness in this area or if it really can still be autoimmune arthritis, which really would strike when the dog gets ill in the first place.  Blood and joint cultures are still negative on bacterial growth but we still have until Sunday before we confirm a final result. Why she’s responding to antibiotics without finding the infection is scary and curious.

 Well, look who the cat dragged into the kitchen! We haven’t seen a husky in the kitchen whilst preparing dinner in far too long!

I approach and her propeller winds up. “Hi mom! I’m so happy to see you!”

“Must concentrate on propeller motor speed.”

“OK, propeller is up to speed. You may approach me with that tri-tip now.”

 Loki plays indifferent but he’s secretly happy to have his partner in crime back!

Jodhpurs has entered the building.

Juno’s home! When she came into the private room at the hospital yesterday, she acted almost normal. She jumped on me, licked me at least 87 times and play bowed about 16 times. She cried happy cries. She knew she was coming home. Nurses at VMS continue to rave on about her wonderful behavior, sweet disposition and happy personality. Nurses I never met, came into the room to say good bye. They all know Juno. It’s a good thing I was picking her up. I get the feeling she was on the verge of being pup-napped.

She’s not out of the woods yet. Her temp is holding normal and when she left the hospital it was 101.9. She’s on Clindamycin and Baytril for antibiotics and Tramadol (narcotic) for pain. They’re still reluctant to give steroids because it’s seeming to show bacterial but we still don’t have cultures back.

The spinal tap showed negative on “growth” cultures, so no bacteria in her spine or head (though she thinks we should test Loki’s head to see if we find anything in it at all). We’re still waiting on blood cultures and cultures from the second round of joint taps done on Sunday on her right back knee, which will take about 7 days. They tapped her left knee but it wasn’t nearly as bad so they won’t culture it.  The doctor is truly hoping to see something grow in them because then we can name it and really knock this out. She’s leaning away from it being autoimmune arthritis (thank dogs) because it doesn’t act like this. She also x-rayed her back legs and they did not show degenerative arthritis (praise cheeses).  So we’re hunting for the name of the bacterial infection. How she got this septic infection, we’ll never know. Septic arthritis is usually from an open infected wound, which she did not have.

Though Juno’s temperature responded within a day to the clindamycin, an antimicrobial. The infection and inflamation in her joints showed up on Saturday & Sunday, three days after hospitalization, after being on the antibiotic and after her first joint tap. The doctor informed me that it can take a while for antibiotics to reach the joint.

Her temp leaving the hospital was 101.9 and holding. She seemed to walk better, but now that’s she’s home, she’s in a lot of pain and limping a lot. Her appetitie is great. She ate an entire chicken (meat only) and later on some tri-tip.  I’ll be taking her temperature twice daily and in contact with the doctor. Let’s hope we find out what bacteria this is so we can really nail it!

Loki’s happy to have her home, and acting like a gentleman. He’s not being overly pushy or needy and seems to know to behave around her. 

“I’m in the hospital for 5 whole days and HOW many times did you come? Only twice. And did you bring me any flowers or bones? No. You’ve got a lot of ‘splainin’ to do, buddy!”
“But… I don’t drive… and besides, Mom’s mini was in the shop. By the way did you know she dropped her cell-phone in the toilet while you were gone? That’s pretty funny, huh? You had to be there I guess.”

“Ah cupcake, I miss your smell so much, i just need to bury my nose here for just a second…”

“Wow, they sure did a major makeover to your coat. Is this patchwork shaving the new Northern Breed Living in CA trend?”
“Watch it buster. You’re walkin’ on thin ice. And since  you’re not a husky, you wouldn’t know the first thing about surviving on thin ice.”

“Let me just check to see if your jodhpurs are sill in place. It’s very disturbing that they can just give you this make over so quickly.”

“Yup, jodhpurs were spared. Thank dog!”

 ”I swear! I tried to visit you every day! But Mom wouldn’t let me!”
“Don’t you jive talk me Formosan boy. I know a line when I hear it.”

Patchwork Juno doesn’t look too pleased. She feels a bit like a hobo.

“Oh my dog! I’m so happy the jodhpurs were not taken!”

Though her temperature is still down, Juno does a lot of this above. While it may appear normal, believe me, it takes a mack truck to get her up because the  pain is still quite bad in her back legs. 

Juno Belle Jodhpurs remains an unsolved mystery and a puzzle for every Vet on her case. I just hope we can find the bacteria so we can get her better faster and possibly give her anti-inflamatory, rather than a narcotic, so she can walk without pain soon.

"My biggest medical problem seems to be the human attached to my left side. Doctors, please remove this human tumor and send me home."

Mr. Wild Dingo, Loki and I visited Juno Belle Jodhpurs on Saturday. Her temperature was down to 101-102-ish and she seemed alert.  I showed up first and took her for a walk and then Mr. Wild Dingo showed up. She actually wagged at him, as if she liked him or something. I left Loki in the car and we got to spend some quality time with her alone before we invited the beast in to see her. Loki cried the entire time while Juno, the strong little warrior she is, looked at him pathetically and said “Quit your whining wussy boy. You’re not the one in agony, hooked up to tubes and shaved like some patchwork quilt.”  She ate about 47 lamb jerkeys and a little boiled chicken.

The double whammy of two broad spectrum antibiotics seemed to be working as her temperature was down. Her joint fluids from the tap results showed mild, but non-remarkable inflamation. There they go again, dosing out those negative adjectives describing my remarkable Sibe. Silly doctors!  Her spinal tap results weren’t in yet but the doctor offered us to visit with her on Sunday.

Pop, don't even THINK about making me work for that treat!

Today, I got up bright and early, stuffed a kong full of treats and headed over. I got to take her out of her kennel and on a walk, where she practically pulled me onto the highway, claiming that she could go the speed limit with no problems.

The doctor told me that she noticed earlier a huge limp in her back right leg. I also noticed that when she got sick, she couldn’t really lay on her right side without panting. The Wednesday night before she went to VMS, she was panting non-stop and laying on her right side. I physically picked her up and scooted her to the left and she went to sleep peacefully. Today during her visit, she got on the sofa and I noticed she laid on her right side and within 15 minutes she was panting heavily. I snuggled with her a long time and  when we got up, she put no weight on the back right leg. The doctor said she would tap that leg for fluid today and check. She said it felt inflamed.

So far we know that with the double dose of antibiotics and fluids her temperature has come down. Her other taps (joint and spinal) show mild inflammation but nothing significant. Now she’s showing a huge limp in the back leg. It all makes me wonder if she had a virus, turned infection, that also made her body respond with auto-immune in the joints. Auto-immune disease is hard to diagnose because it shows up when you get sick (after the immune system kicks in and then it attacks the good cells in the body) and there’s no real pattern. We’ll know more tomorrow when we tap that back right leg and I speak with both doctors. For now, Juno Jodhpurs continues to be an unsolved mystery. But at least she’s resting comfortably and in good hands.

Oh heavens. The gumdrop nose is turning pink. The dogtor thinks this is a sign of something is up.

“Mom, they are taking my coat apart, piece by piece. Do not let them near my jodhpurs or my gumdrop nose.”

“Finally, something other than hospital food! Though you can’t be serious and make me actually work for it, right?”

This shot is for Khyra. Power of the Floof!

“I’m withering away here. I’m already down 54 lbs. There’s not much more of my beauty I can lose here. Bring me the bloody mary tri-tip!”

Puparazzi Headlines read: “Juno Belle Jodhpurs Caught with her Tongue Down”

Juno’s not actively licking here. She fell asleep with her tongue out and resting on her paw. And now its on the Internet. Oh the shame!