emergency crate training due to injury

any_name_will_suffice

8 days post op

any_name_will_suffice

And before he started having problems with his knee, in his favourite place (the beach)

any_name_will_suffice

We've just got back from our four week (well, on thursday) check up at the veterinary hospital.

The specialist was really pleased with his progress, and how he is walking and sitting, and the joint felt stable to him when he manipulated it, although dog is still having some pain when his leg is extended.

So, double the walks from tomorrow, either 2 x 30minutes or 3 x 20minutes, and I can contact the hydrotherapy centre about starting that up for rehabillitation. In the last couple of days he's really been struggling with the inactivity, so this will be a welcome relief!

All good news, and it feels like we're on the down hill bit now, after a very long journey. :T

joansgirl

Glad he's on the mend.

My friend had one of her elderly (11) Labs crutiates rupture earlier this year and while the poor dog was recovering from the op, the other one went! So the dog couldn't walk at all. She said toilet breaks were horrendous as she had to be carried everywhere, and she's no lightweight. She recovered well though and the hydrotherapy worked wonders. To look at her now you wouldn't realise there had ever been anything wrong apart from her knees feeling a bit lumpy if you touch them.

Just take everything very slowly. Not easy, I know when they're champing at the bit.

Good luck.

any_name_will_suffice

joansgirl wrote: »

My friend had one of her elderly (11) Labs crutiates rupture earlier this year and while the poor dog was recovering from the op, the other one went! So the dog couldn't walk at all. She said toilet breaks were horrendous as she had to be carried everywhere, and she's no lightweight. She recovered well though and the hydrotherapy worked wonders. To look at her now you wouldn't realise there had ever been anything wrong apart from her knees feeling a bit lumpy if you touch them.



Good luck.

Gosh, poor thing. Both knees must have been so uncomfortable and painful, and quite traumatic I would imagine.

I didn't have to carry Rocky, but he did seem to have trouble squatting to do his business, and I did notice for the first week or so he was leaving poo- smears everywhere he sat down :eek:

First hydrotherapy session booked for saturday....

joansgirl

any_name_will_suffice wrote: »

Gosh, poor thing. Both knees must have been so uncomfortable and painful, and quite traumatic I would imagine.

I didn't have to carry Rocky, but he did seem to have trouble squatting to do his business, and I did notice for the first week or so he was leaving poo- smears everywhere he sat down :eek:

First hydrotherapy session booked for saturday....

I think that it helped with her being a bit older as she's sort of slowing down these days. It must have been very difficult with a younger, fitter dog. And you feel so flippin' useless, watching them struggle.

any_name_will_suffice

Yesterday was 4 weeks and 2 days post op, and we went for our first hydrotherapy session.

Rocky knows the pool, as we had started going there for fun- swim sessions before his op, so he was very happy to be there.

The hydrotherapist kept it fun for him, using his favourite toy, and he managed 9 minutes in the water :T. He wore a buoyancy aid, and had no hesitation getting into the water. Rocky has always been a strong and confident swimmer, which has put him in a good place for this.

I think the timing was just about right, he was shattered afterwards, and I cut his evening walk down to 20 minutes as he looked like he was struggling a bit, but he didn't look like he was particularly in pain, and he looks great this morning. We're going back on Tuesday, I will try and get a piccie!

There's 8 cm difference in his back leg measurements, so lots of muscle wastage, although I would maybe allow 10% of that for hair, as he was obviously shaved for his op, and the hydrotherapist also commented on his fitness being quite poor, but we're hopeful that will build up again quite quickly.

We're aiming for twice a week for the first couple of weeks, and then cutting it down to once a week, which is good for my bank balance as it's not cheap! However, we've come so far, we will do whatever it takes now to get him fully rehabilitated.

any_name_will_suffice

We had the second hydrotherapy session yesterday, and he managed 12 minutes in the water (with lots of rest inbetween actual swimming). I shortened his walk last night to 15 minutes, as I am worried about him overdoing it.

But he was full of beans this morning, and we did the full 30 minutes (I love having these longer walks as we can get to the woods) and he looked great, he's walking really well and standing really well when stationary.

I can't believe the difference in him, and how well he's doing! :T

(Tomorrow is 5 weeks post op)

any_name_will_suffice

5 weeks, 2 days post op, and at hydrotherapy.

any_name_will_suffice

Boooooo, we're off back to the specialist tomorrow. I spoke to him on the phone in the week, and he's worried mutt has damage to his meniscus (shock absorbing pad in the knee) as he is still quite hobbly. And I am worried about his right knee, as he keeps looking at it, and
i caught him licking it this morning.

I am hoping that, if there is meniscal tear, he can remove the damaged part through keyhole rather than opening his knee up again. And as for the other knee, I feel sick at the though of putting him through the surgery again, but if it is torn, I don't think we have much choice.

This year has been pants, I am ready for it to be over