Pierre UPDATE 5/19/10
As planned, I took Pierre's snowboard hobble off on Sunday, 5/16. First I let him soak his feet a bit to loosen up the tape.
Once free from the restraint, his formerly splayed leg assumed a slightly improved position.
It's still splayed but the sole of his foot is consistently facing down on to the ground rather than pointing up backwards behind him.
I took Pierre to see Dr. Speer for his recheck on Tuesday 5/18. Of course, his friend Piper came too.
In fact, Piper closely supervised Dr. Speer's exam of Pierre.
Dr. Speer is resisting his impulse to immediately do the second surgery and correct this remaining imperfection (the improperly positioned tibia taursus) on the chance that Pierre himself may bring the leg more into alignment with time and use. He thinks we'll likely need to do the second surgery but sees no advantage to rushing it when there is a possibility that Pierre will get his foot functional and under him on his own. We're going to give Pierre a month, at least, to decide (unless the leg gets worse rather than better).
And Pierre got some loving from his Vet tech Melody while there.
Once home, Pierre surprised me with something I've never seen in him before- male behavior.
Something has Pierre feeling differently because for the first time, he did some of the standing and bowing-type courting postures that dove cocks do.
Piper responded in what I would describe as a gracious, feminine and slightly underwhelmed fashion. They're still getting along beautifully but there's more cooing going on. I think Piper is waiting for Pierre to get his courtship dance straightened out before she'll really flirt back.
And yes- I said "him". Having finally concluded last week that Pierre must be a hen, I'm now reversing myself, convinced that he's a cock and that he just hasn't felt manly enough to declare himself before now.
Also new- I'm working on trying Pierre out on different cage bottoms in order to find something that helps him use his foot more. He did OK on the grate but I don't think it's very comfortable for him because he spent most of his time in the bowl. Next I'm going to put down some sort of log raft-type bottom. Stay tuned.
And here's a short video that I took just towards the end of Pierre's display.
Once free from the restraint, his formerly splayed leg assumed a slightly improved position.
It's still splayed but the sole of his foot is consistently facing down on to the ground rather than pointing up backwards behind him.
I took Pierre to see Dr. Speer for his recheck on Tuesday 5/18. Of course, his friend Piper came too.
In fact, Piper closely supervised Dr. Speer's exam of Pierre.
Dr. Speer is resisting his impulse to immediately do the second surgery and correct this remaining imperfection (the improperly positioned tibia taursus) on the chance that Pierre himself may bring the leg more into alignment with time and use. He thinks we'll likely need to do the second surgery but sees no advantage to rushing it when there is a possibility that Pierre will get his foot functional and under him on his own. We're going to give Pierre a month, at least, to decide (unless the leg gets worse rather than better).
And Pierre got some loving from his Vet tech Melody while there.
Once home, Pierre surprised me with something I've never seen in him before- male behavior.
Something has Pierre feeling differently because for the first time, he did some of the standing and bowing-type courting postures that dove cocks do.
Piper responded in what I would describe as a gracious, feminine and slightly underwhelmed fashion. They're still getting along beautifully but there's more cooing going on. I think Piper is waiting for Pierre to get his courtship dance straightened out before she'll really flirt back.
And yes- I said "him". Having finally concluded last week that Pierre must be a hen, I'm now reversing myself, convinced that he's a cock and that he just hasn't felt manly enough to declare himself before now.
Also new- I'm working on trying Pierre out on different cage bottoms in order to find something that helps him use his foot more. He did OK on the grate but I don't think it's very comfortable for him because he spent most of his time in the bowl. Next I'm going to put down some sort of log raft-type bottom. Stay tuned.
And here's a short video that I took just towards the end of Pierre's display.
1 Comments:
Thanks for the vid and the pics, Elizabeth. I've thought of Pierre as a male all along!
ken
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