My Wire Fox Terrier, Mouse, is seven years old. Mouse and I have been in 4-H together for all seven years. During these times I had noticed that Mouse was limping and she was always very sensitive about people touching her right back hip. We asked the vet and she said that it was probably caused when Mouse fell down the stairs in our back yard when she was just about a year. This did not slow down Mouse and I. We have won King county reserve champion, in 1999. After 2000 are sixth year at fair, I took Mouse to the vet to have a check up on her hip, because it seemed to be bothering her even more. I was shocked to hear that Mouse had Arthritis in her right hip. Dr. Wendy, our vet, said she could remove the part of the hip with the Arthritis and we could rebuild the muscle in her hip area. I was worried this would be the end of our showing career. After the surgery, Mouse came home and was instantly her normal terrier self. The vet told us not to let her go upstairs, but Mouse seemed to refuse to be held down. She was up the stairs before I could catch her. A couple of days later I had a 4-H practice, but I couldn't bring Mouse because she needed more time to repair. So I brought my Smooth Fox terrier Jimmy instead. Mouse didn't like this one bit. She started to compete for my attention as if she thought I liked Jimmy better and through her off to the side. I felt just awful but I didn't know what to do to help her. Luckily, my friend Angela told me about Sheila and how she had taken her dog to her and how swimming had strengthened her dogs hips. I jumped at the chance to help Mouse. Sheila got her in the pool, Mouse wasn't too happy about swimming, but she did great, and Sheila showed me how to massage her leg and stretch it for her. Just after our second appointment, I saw a huge improvement in Mouse. She was doing so much more and so much better. We could see the difference in her movement and she was walking without a limp. She used it more and I could take her to 4-H again. I was so happy and still cannot thank Sheila more for all her help. Mouse and I went to King County for 2002 and won "Best Intermediate Show in the Fair". We qualified to go to State and while we were there. We won" Best in State" It was all because of the massage and swimming that Mouse was able to go to. Thank you again Sheila, Mouse and I are doing great.

Your friend,

Katrina Andrews

MOUSE  and  KATrina,
with some of their
show winning ribbons

First Place
Novice Jr. Handler
Wenatchee Kennel Club
Summer 2001

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Revised: 15 Apr 2006 14:48
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