emergency crate training due to injury

any_name_will_suffice

6 weeks, 2 days post op.

Huge relief this morning when the vet examined both legs and said both feel stable and give him no cause for concern.

I had already changed his exercise regime to 3 x 20 minute walks, although I didn't take him for his last one yesterday as he looked quite hobbly. The vet said it's fine to tailor his routine to suit him, and on hydrotherapy days not to give him any additional exercise, so no walks, apart from a 10 minute gentle stroll an hour or two afterwards to stop him from stiffening up.

any_name_will_suffice

7 weeks 3 days post op.

I have had to send his orthopedic bed back, as after 6 1/2 weeks of use I had noticed it had become rather thread bare. I would expect a dog- mattress costing £38 to last rather longer.

i have popped his old bed in his crate for now while I hunt for a new one. I am looking to pay up to the £50 mark.

We are still on 3 x 20 minute walks each day, but he is looking rather more comfortable during these (no panting, ears pricked).

He has been to his hydrotherapy session today, and for the first time the hydrotherapist has said he is seeing a big improvement, with how much weight he puts on his leg during his rest periods, and how he is holding himself in the water. He took the buoyancy aid off today. and Rocky kept his back end high in the water while he was swimming, so that's a good sign that he's building up strength in his leg again.


Before Rocky's cruciate went this time, I had been taking him to the hydrotherapy centre for fun-swims, and since he has been having his re-hab I have been itching to get in the pool with him. I have hung back, as I am sure it's rather more scientific than I would know how to do, but I have agreed with the hydrotherapist to to go in with him and Rocky next week. I am so exicited, as it's such a cool way to bond with your dog. And as I have had to take all Rocky's toys away at home to keep him calm, it will be a great opportunity to have some fun with him.

Hopefully we will continue to make progress now. I have been ill this week, and have really wanted to take him upstairs to the sitting room and have a good snuggle on the settee, but it's at least five weeks before he's allowed to climb the stairs or onto the furniture. it's been a bit of a long- slog, but we're nearly 2/3 of the way through.....

joansgirl

Really pleased things are looking up at last. It's a long slow slog back from something like this but you're obviously getting there.

Good luck:j

any_name_will_suffice

8 weeks, 4 days post op.

We're getting there, slowly!

I went in the pool with him yesterday for hydrotherapy, and it was so nice to be able to play with toys with him (I have had to put all his toys away at home as he has a tendancy to get over excited). He's so quick in the water, much quicker than he used to be, and he could turn on a penny, he's that slick! I think I wore him out though, he was shattered all evening. :rotfl:

He didn't look too bad today, a little stiff on rising, but he's in an old, and rather thin bed, until his new one arrives this week. Having a supportive bed should help with that.

I can see he's using that leg more and more, and his leg muscles are just starting to come back, although he has a long way to go until they are even, his 'good' leg is all the more muscular now, from all that hopping he has been doing!

any_name_will_suffice

11 weeks, 2 days post op.

Rocky saw his regular vet this week for his vaccinations, and he was pleased with how well and fit Rocky is. He weighed him, and Rocky is at his heaviest he has ever been, so we need to lose maybe 2 kg.

The vet commented that we haven't done bad considering he has been on restricted walks for 3 months or so- when I reminded him he has actually been on restricted walks for some 10 or 11 months now, he had to admit that actually we have done pretty well with him weight!

We have also been discharged from the specialist vet :T

We can now start to increase his exercise and range of activities until we get back to normal. So, I am planning on using an extendable lead for a few weeks while I increase his morning walk from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 or so, and then the vet has said I can start to let him off lead. I am rather worried about this, as Rocky is not a trot-along-nicely-near-his-owner sort of dog and never has been, but the vet wasn't really phased and said we can try short periods off lead and gradually increase it.

And, with the vets agreement, I put the fleece throws back on the downstairs settee last night and Rocky came up for a cuddle- that's something I have really missed

I am not sure he is ready to tackle the stairs yet, which has also been hard as our living room, tv etc are on the first floor, so I think I will wait a week or two for that.

Our stairs aren't carpeted, and I don't think they're the safest. Does anyone use paw-wax or similar with their dog- It's something I am considering trying.

We're going to keep up the hydrotherapy weekly for now, although it is more fun-swim these days, and then cut it down to once a fortnight, probably in the new year. Rocky loves swimming there, and it's so good for him and his joints, which aren't getting any younger, so it's something I am keen to keep up for as long as he is enjoying it. He is incredibly fit these days after all the hydrotherapy sessions he has had, the hydrotherapist has commented he is one of the fittest and fastest dogs who swim there, and I reckon Rocky is probably fitter now than he has been for some time.

I can't believe how well he has done. When he came home from the hospital after his surgery, he was in so much pain and was so distressed, I thought I had made a terrible mistake putting him through the surgery. But now, I absolutely think it was worth it.

joansgirl

Oh good, you're beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel. 2kg isn't that much for him to lose but it will probably make things easier on his joints. I used to bulk my last dog out on veg when he got fat. And even now with Bailie, who hasn't got a weight problem (she's so skinny you can see her ribs!) I give her carrots and apples. But there again she'll eat ANYTHING!

any_name_will_suffice

Rocky loves most veg, especially carrots, and he will do anything for a banana!

Maybe I will start giving carrot sticks as treats!