Bree on compo

Learn how Bree copes when injury catches up to her.

Bree never ceases to amaze me……

There can be no doubt, guide dogs do an amazing job. They are a visually impaired person’s eyes, ears, and stomach (in Bree’s case, and I’m sure a lot of other Labrador guide dogs too). They are also a visually impaired person’s constant companion. When I was organizing to get a guide dog, the trainer matched me with Bree because my family and I are quite active. We enjoy going to the beach, caravanning, going for long walks, and I enjoy running. I was also keen to partner up with a dog who would encourage me to get out in public more and be more engaging.

For six years, Bree has stomped the pavement with me and been my constant shadow when I was participating in Parkrun. Rain, hail, or sunshine, she would wag her tail and put one paw in front of the other.

I guess dogs are like people. Age catches up and injury is inevitable, especially if you are an active dog. About six months ago, my wife and kids noticed Bree was limping a bit. I had noticed her gait had changed a little too. I took her to the vets and the news wasn’t great. She had aggravated her Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL. I remember the vet took one quick look at her and said, “She’s done an footy player’s injury.”

I went home with a container of anti-inflammatory tablets for Bree and strict instructions that she do light duty. In other words, stop being a bouncy Labrador.
After a few weeks, and the family and I constantly stopping her from running around the house and back yard like a lunatic, she was good again.
Things were back to normal, or so I thought. Recently, she exhibited the same limping gait. Back to the vets we went and this time, they didn’t muck around. They did an x-ray and discovered the ligament on her left back leg was torn, quite badly and needed surgery.

Bree has now had her surgery. I’ve been told ACL operations for dogs have advanced recently. She was able to come home on the same day of her surgery. Right now, she has six to eight weeks of rest and recovery. I’ve been told, the first week or so will be sore and painful for her, and she won’t be able to run around like a headless chook. Chances of success are pretty high so I’m confident I will get Bree back to normal in no time.

There is going to be a few changes which I’m not too excited about. Obviously, life still goes on for me. I will still need to go to work. When I do, and Bree is looked after at home, I will have to stomp the pavements on my own with my cane and no other shadow next to me. It’s definitely different after relying on a guide dog to return to using the cane. On top of that, you don’t get to have the adventures like I always had with Bree.

Fingers crossed she comes back to work soon. I will miss her.

So, what have I learnt?
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As reluctant as I was to get a guide dog all those years ago, I am inextricably linked to Bree. We make an unusual but effective team, and I can’t wait till she returns to normal action.

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