08/29/2026
I haven't shared much lately because there has genuinely been so much going on. It's time for a full update.
On June 28th, Rumor was set to have elbow and shoulder surgery. She went in, had a CT and ultrasound done, and they ended up not doing surgery because the results were inconclusive. She was diagnosed with "medial shoulder instability."
That same night, Roulette went into respiratory distress and needed an emergency vet visit.
Rumor started rehab for the shoulder diagnosis. She wasn't improving with rehab and rest.
Roulette had another emergency visit, this time for ripping out his dewclaw.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, the van I'd bought turned out to be a dud with a blown cylinder head, and the dealership refused to do anything about it.
Roulette then got bit by another dog on his paw. Another emergency visit.
Rumor kept getting worse, not better, and I felt like no one was taking it seriously. So we pushed for a full body CT. Turns out she doesn't have medial shoulder instability at all. Her shoulders and elbows are completely normal. The actual problem is in her lower spine: degenerative disc disease at the lumbosacral junction with nerve compression on her right L7 nerve root. That's what's been causing her pain and lameness this whole time.
So then came the search for a neurologist and a real plan to treat the actual issue instead of the wrong one. We've now had both consults and we're moving forward with an MRI along with a series of epidurals. Rumor gets her first epidural on 9/8, another 2 weeks after that, and a final one 4 weeks after that. Along with all of it, a smarter rehab plan built around what's actually going on.
And in the middle of all of it, Roulette's puppies were born. Nine perfect puppies, six boys and three girls. Yes, I am absolutely keeping one, a little girl, and I already have her name picked out. I'm so excited to bring everyone along on this puppy raising journey.
We also finally got rid of the dud van and replaced it with a 2023 Chrysler Voyager with a great warranty. I'm out about 7k on the first one, but that beats what it would have cost to replace the engine. I decided not to pursue legal action against the original dealership. It would have taken time and energy away from Rumor's care, Roulette, the puppies, and my client dogs, and I need to protect that time right now.
I've also been having issues with my email. I believe it's resolved now, but if you've been waiting on an email from me that I sent and you may not have received, please send me a message.
To everyone who has followed along, been a client, checked in, or shown patience while I've had to reschedule or adjust things, thank you. Truly. Rumor, Roulette, and I feel so supported by this community.
We are now booking for mid to end of October and November. If you have dates you need, reach out soon so I can hold them for you.
