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By Root 488 0

his ACL, Oogy’s right knee became swollen and hot to the touch. He began limping again. He was running a fever and lost his appetite. Dr. Bianco examined the leg and determined that Oogy had developed a postoperative infection. I made an appointment for that same afternoon and took Oogy back to the surgeon, who ascertained that Oogy’s body had rejected the steel implants that were holding his leg together. The surgeon told me he could prescribe an antibiotic that would knock down the infection, but he was certain it would return as soon as Oogy stopped taking the medicine. He said the only sensible course was, unfortunately, to open up Oogy’s leg again, take off the plates that were in place, and use a different kind of support. That was going to cost another fifteen hundred dollars. I considered contesting the charge since I’d had nothing to do with the decision to put that type of plate on Oogy’s leg, but I realized it was not worth antagonizing the man who was going to perform the surgery. Besides, how could I prove that the decision had been medically unwise?

Oogy spent another three days at the hospital, and when at last he returned home, we started the rehabilitative process all over again.

After this surgery, Dr. Bianco advised that it was important to keep Oogy’s weight down to reduce stress on the repaired joint. He prescribed a diet dry food that was specially formulated to provide joint lubrication. Ever since then, Oogy hasn’t had a bite of canned dog food. Twice a day I’ve fed him half a cup of dry, all-natural dog food made from organic vegetables with some chicken added in, mixed with half a cup of the prescription dry food. Neither of these has any noticeable fat content. With breakfast, he also gets a pill that is an over-the-counter lubricant for his joints, fish oil for his coat, and Ester-C for his overall health. Dinner is the same food ration without the pills, but I sprinkle on some powder made of shark cartilage. This supplement is hailed as a joint lubricant, but it also makes me feel like a sort of witch doctor: I do not know for certain that it helps, but I want to believe that it will make things easier for him.

When a month had passed, the surgeon announced that the healing had progressed to the point where Oogy could safely begin water therapy. He explained that swimming would allow Oogy to exercise his leg without straining it and would increase the rate at which his flexibility returned. The doctor told me there were two locations in the area where dogs could be taken to swim. His staff gave me the numbers, and I called both places. Knowing that Oogy disliked the feel of water on his body and that he also hated to be confined, I had a strong suspicion that he was not going to be an easy patient.

When I arrived at the facility I had decided to use, a staff member greeted me and we walked into the building that housed the exercise pool. An older dog had just exited the pool, and his owner was toweling him down. The staff member explained in a quiet voice that the dog had a degenerative spinal disease.

The staff member bent over and clasped an inflated vest on Oogy, pulling it on over his front legs. Velcro straps held the vest together on Oogy’s back, and we attached two yellow horse leads, each about twelve feet long, to rings on either side of the vest. Then we each took one of the leads and, with one of us on either side of the pool, slowly walked forward and drew a very reluctant Oogy down the steps and into the water. Oogy began to resist more actively. The staff member called over to say that Oogy would get used to it. As we guided him off the steps and into the pool itself, Oogy seemed instead to panic and flounder, inhaling large gulps of water, thrashing furiously. I saw that he was very afraid, and I could not allow that to continue. I had reached my discomfort level in seconds.

“Let’s get him out!” I said, and we pulled Oogy back to the steps. Oogy was panting laboriously; he seemed exhausted and was clearly terribly shaken.

I was told that many dogs reacted like Oogy the first