2011 Update on Koda

Every since Koda had his TPLO surgeries (March 15, 2010 and June 2, 2010), his mobility and stamina have not been the same as pre-surgery. His recovery was steady, but he never quite regained the athletic endurance he once had before. He was always happy and eager to go on walks, but it seemed his body could not keep up. I had accepted the reality that Koda would never run with me again.

On January 27, 2011 - I remember a wonderful trail walk with Koda in Tryon Creek State Park. It was an hour long and he trotted up and down the hills with gusto. I really thought he was "making his come back" because this was the strongest he'd been physically since the TPLO surgeries. I had all sorts of hope for him.

In the spring of 2011, Koda seemed to be "slowing down." In hindsight, I think he should have been getting stronger on his walks, but we started only taking him on the hill-less "scary forest" route. It's relatively flat and takes about 40 minutes including potty stops. It seemed that hills really bothered his legs, so we avoided them. I just chalked it all up to Koda's not returning to the same fitness as before, post-surgery knee stiffness, and just getting older. He is about 9 years old now, my guess.

On June 2, 2011 - I'd taken Koda for a walk in Tryon. It was about 45 minutes. We did the North Horse Loop and wound around back to the Nature Center. He slowed down some on the way back, but I didn't think anything of it. He seemed to do much better on trails than on neighborhood sidewalks. I think it may have to do with a more stimulating environment, more to see and sniff.

Five weeks later, Saturday, July 9: Trail walk with Koda in Tryon. It was very hard for Koda, even though we went on easy trail without hills. Within 100 yards, he had to start sitting down. Then for the next 1/2 hour, had to sit down about 8-9 times. :( Something is definitely wrong.

I took Koda straight to Banfield Pet Hospital as a walk-in after the disheartening walk in Tryon. Dr. R saw him. I told her I thought it was the leg/knee, perhaps stiff with scar tissue from the surgery, but wanted to rule out any other physical problems before seeing his doggie surgeon on Tuesday. I asked her about his slight weight loss - about 4 pounds. She checked his weight history and said he was within his normal range. She listened to his heart and lungs - said they sounded fine. Drew blood and ran the tests. She said everything looked fine - couldn't find anything wrong.

I asked her about the blood tests and half-jokingly inquired, "So the blood work is fine and it's not like he has cancer, right?"

She explained that cancer does not show up on blood tests, for some strange reason.

Damn me and my uncanny intuition.