Work outs!

Tomorrow Max is going back up for some additional HBOT treatments and hopefully we'll get him to be able to see Carol for some additional Physical Therapy while he's up there.   We got the O.K. for additional weekly treatments!

Max's strength has come back big time, and his awareness and alertness is also SO much better than it's been since June!  He constantly wants to be practicing his exercises!!! This is the old Max back in action! He wants to practice standing, wobbling and catching himself and taking steps. He wants to practice holding his head up and he wants to turn left and right!  He also loves to practice sitting from a standing position!!

His balance has gotten much better since the beginning of the week! It's amazing!

Here are some pictures and a video of Mr. Max in action!

Hanging out before his workout

Poor lighting but practicing sitting outside

Working out on his "too big" peanut ball

Practicing standing on his own

I'm still standing... yeah yeah yeah...

(The video below is of Max as we were leaving the hospital. He may look rough but he had flopped over to try and get up in his cart. He leads with his head. This is the most I've seen his arm move on it's own!  I can now see how the techs might think he was having a seizure!!!  He was actually trying to get up!  (Video taken Easter Morning, Sun 3/31/2013)

The following Video was taken on Tuesday 3/2/2013 - Granted I've been stuck in a bean bag chair after a night of partying.. in college.. (of course) so I can clearly understand how difficult it might be to get up when one is stuck in a bean bag chair!

And the following video was taken today  Wed 3/3/2013.  Max has more movement in his legs. He has more balance and he's able to stabilize himself and if that darn ball wasn't so huge he'd probably be able to turn himself around!


*** The shaved hip and the hole in his hip are from a pressure wound from being left in the same place too long. I thought it was a hot spot when I got back from vacation but was told it was a pressure wound by the doc's at the hospital..

***The wrapping on his foot is just a pee pad held up over his hock with a loose rubberband so that he doesn't get any dirt or gunk from outside in his foot. He has no problem standing on that foot as you will see! It's still healing and a little oozy in places and scabbed in others. It's just protection..

PHYSICAL THERAPY! & LASER THERAPY FOR MAX

In addition to the added benefits from HBOT treatments helping Max neurologically get stronger and sharper, and of course curing the case of gangrene!  We also got a chance to spend time with the amazing Carol Wasmucky who is an amazing Animal Physical Therapist!  Carol spent 17 years in human sports medicine physical therapy before starting her own company Pet Rehab Inc in 2000, applying the same principals in human physical therapy to animals.  She has an exceptional track record of helping pets recover from neurologic, and physical challenges!

Carol gave us a month's worth of homework to do that will help strengthen Max and work on his balance... (He's holding his head up when he stands and getting stronger every day! He's also trying to hop on his feet sometimes now!)

Max needless to say LOVED working with Carol!!!

Carol taught Max to sit and bend his elbows!

The Incredible Super Max and the Amazing Carol Wasmucky!

Max learning to sit and hold himself!

We also went to see the Amazing Dr. Khoury who works in the Holistic department at Southpaws.  We saw her initially for Acupuncture but she did a little research and came up with some new ideas to help Max out that we were all excited about!  This one involved laser treatments!

Max getting Laser treatments from Dr. Khoury

Max Trying to Stand Up

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words... well.. how about a video! Or a few videos


Max standing in his cart working on lifting his head 10/9/2012

Max sitting in bed demonstrating how he can now turn his head 10/9/2012

Max working on pushing himself up to a standing position  10/16/2012

If you think that last video was something - check this one out!

More Progress!

After a little hiatus Max went back to Physical Therapy on Wednesday and he's been doing great!  They changed up his routine from range of motion exercises to more massage and between that and the cold laser I'm seeing more of a difference.  His back legs actually are doing more of a walking motion when he decides he's going to walk, his front arms are still behind with the program but he has some movement down to his wrists (yep... he has limp wrists still).. however he now can push using both arms when they are up in the stirrups of his cart and when he's positioned right he's cruising through the house crashing into things and rolling over Buttercup - not sure how long that will last before she loses patience...

He's been doing pretty well with eating by mouth. Sometimes it's a little slow and can take up to an hour to get a full can in there.  Tonight I was able to get him to eat his regular food finally - so he's back to eating the honest kitchen. He ate a whole bowl, no problem.. however he's still not eating it on his own, I do need to pry his mouth open to spoon the food in there - except usually the first  but he'll open his mouth up wide for that one... and the more full he gets, the more he clenches his teeth shut!

He's grunting and sighing sometimes when he wants something and smacks his lips when he wants attention.  His eyes are starting to follow a little more... and.... he's starting to lift his head up in his cart!  Below is a video - all be it not a great one... of him lifting his head up a little bit.  (In Physical Therapy they've also been having him practice standing up on his own  and leaning against them. It's helping to build up strength in his upper arms and his neck. )

The other thing that Super Max has started to do is push himself up to a standing position if he's  propped up on pillows the right way and his legs are bent under him...   Will get a video of that one of these days - but he requires spotting..