"Field Trial
Champion"
Feather
is a
terrific field trial dog. This 7 year-old female Labrador’s arthritic left
hip, which was likely caused by an old minor injury, was threatening
retirement. A total hip replacement was performed on May 8. After 4 months
of recovery and rehabilitation (followed to the letter by her master), she
is back in competition and winning. Her master reported the following
results of her six weeks back in competition.
September 10:
Feather ran her first post-surgery trial this past weekend
in Illinois. There were 78 Open All-Age entries and she was one of 7 dogs
who finished. She received a Judges’ Award of Merit. She completed four very demanding tests
ending with a triple marking test where the route to the long bird was
over 400 yards and through six pieces of water. While very demanding
ability-wise, the physical requirements of the tests were largely
“endurance” as opposed to “strenuous” in nature. At the end of the three
days she displayed no lameness or soreness whatsoever.
September 18:
Feather took second place this past weekend in the 59 dog
Open All-Age stake at the Bluegrass Trial in Kentucky. Again, the tests
were very difficult from an ability standpoint. However, they were not as
physically demanding as those last weekend in Illinois.
September 19 :
This is a photo showing
Feather with her second place ribbon and trophy from the Bluegrass trial
in Kentucky and her Judge’s Award of Merit (green ribbon) from the
Illinois trial.
September 30:
Feather took first place in the Amateur All-Age Stake at
the South Louisiana Retriever Club field trial this past weekend. She also
finished in fifth place in the Open All-Age competition.
October 2:
Below is a photo of Feather with her first place ribbon and
trophy from the amateur All-Age stake this past weekend at the South
Louisiana Retriever Club trial. She continues to retrieve at full speed
out and back and with no noticeable lameness at the end of the day.
October 14:
I think you will be
pleased to know that I withdrew Feather from the trial in the Amateur
water tests when it required working in water with extremely thick
vegetation and other debris. It was a very difficult decision because she
was probably leading the competition at that point. (Note: Her master
used very good judgment)
How functional are hip replacements in dogs? How do
dogs feel with a hip replacement? Feather’s actions speak louder than
words. Even though the hip replacements reestablish normal function, are
durable, and are expected to “out-live” a dog, caution to avoid strenuous
exercise is always advisable.
Contributed by
William D. Liska, DVM, DACVS Houston, Texas
