Luxating Patella Surgery - Do Both Knees At The Same Time? Or One?

[Lolasmom1211]

Oh my goodness, have you done your homework! I had no idea you had done so much for this boy - now I feel bad about offering any advice! I'm so happy to see that he's in such capable hands - what a lucky, lucky boy to have you as his mommy. I know how hard it is when they hurt and while they are away from us in surgery. Please know that you have many, many Yorkie lovers praying for you this morning and we're all here for you (maybe with too any opinions!) if you ever need us. I've found such helpful advice in the past and one invaluable friendship on this board...I hope you'll keep us updated today and in the future. I'll be thinking about you and sweet Max.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Lolasmom1211

Oh my goodness, have you done your homework! I had no idea you had done so much for this boy - now I feel bad about offering any advice! I'm so happy to see that he's in such capable hands - what a lucky, lucky boy to have you as his mommy. I know how hard it is when they hurt and while they are away from us in surgery. Please know that you have many, many Yorkie lovers praying for you this morning and we're all here for you (maybe with too any opinions!) if you ever need us. I've found such helpful advice in the past and one invaluable friendship on this board...I hope you'll keep us updated today and in the future. I'll be thinking about you and sweet Max.

We should not feel badly about the advice though because perhaps it will help another some day.

And, yes, this board is awesome! <3

[pstinard]

We're all waiting for Max updates! Best wishes to Max on his surgery!

[ladyjane]

Sure hope little Max is doing well today. Please update when you can.

[Gew]

Max has, as anticipated, had a rough time since Tuesday's surgery. The surgeon prior to the operation took more radiography and concluded that my reg vet's original assessment of a 2 and a 3 should be revised to a 4 and 3+. He said as the consulting surgeon said that both would require surgery soon. Neither could state whether one , the other or both were the cause of his pain. When extending his leg , Max reacted to both with the same pain reaction. Therefore, he elected to do both together.

Yesterday and last night were rough. They tried different pain medication combinations without too much success until about 4:30 am today. The doctor said I could visit this afternoon and try to feed him some food from home. When I saw him with his both legs bandaged with tiger bandages from his toes to his top thigh and his collar on, I just thought what have I done this time. However his bright little round eyes wrinkled a hello and his legs swung back and forth in welcome. The vet nurse said Max had turned the corner and he was doing much better. He said if Max continues to improve the doctor may let him go home tomorrow. They allowed me an hour visit.

Not sure how this will evolve, but I can't wait until tomorrow.

Thanks for asking.

Gew

[ladyjane]

The first day is the hardest....hopefully he will be much brighter tomorrow. I am sure your visit helped his spirits.

Thank you for updating...

Prayers for a speedy recovery for little Max.

[Gew]

Today it is one week since Max had his double knee luxating patella surgery. He has been so accepting of his confinement. I got him a thirty inch play pen with soft sides. It has windows all around and he looks out and the other dogs visit.he spends most of his time there, but for a change of venue we put him in a wire pen which is larger and has only carpet so he can move around a little. I take him into the library, leaving the other dogs out, and let him wander for a few minutes on the dense carpet. I carry him outside to toilet. He has had no problem with that. The cone is a real issue mostly for me, but we got an inflateable one and he can get to his leg with it, so back went the plastic one. He has had no problem eating his regular food. His both rear legs are heavily bandaged. The surgeon wants to see him in 14 days post surgery. I try so hard to pick him up carefully, but once in a while he yelps, and I feel so badly. Getting his boots on to wear whenever he goes out as per the surgeon, are terribly hard to get on him without a whimper.

Only one week down and he has been great. I wish I were more skillful and could find ways to make it easier for him. I can't imagine nine more weeks. I never leave him alone unless I am taking the others out, and I am really getting anxious.

Gew

[ladyjane]

I just put plastic bags (the food storage type) on them when I take them out. So much easier....I then use tape or vet wrap to keep it on the leg.

Glad things are going well for Max!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Lyme can cause joint issues so you might want to wait and see how he is doing after the doxyclicline. LP surgery is nothing something to just jump to right away especially at 7 years old. It's a rough surgerynthey actually have to cut into the bone and the first two weeks are very rough and hard because they are hurting so bad even with all the meds and they don't want to eat. They have to be confined for 8 weeks sometimes 12 weeks.

Jackson was completely holding his back leg up years ago. I really thought it was fractured, or broken, etc. Did x-rays. Nothing. It was the lymes affecting his joints. Our old cockapoo had lymes disease for years and would limp off/on. She was my parents dog though and they didn't really ever take care of the issue, sadly. She could've been on meds etc to help her but they never did.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Gew

Today it is one week since Max had his double knee luxating patella surgery. He has been so accepting of his confinement. I got him a thirty inch play pen with soft sides. It has windows all around and he looks out and the other dogs visit.he spends most of his time there, but for a change of venue we put him in a wire pen which is larger and has only carpet so he can move around a little. I take him into the library, leaving the other dogs out, and let him wander for a few minutes on the dense carpet. I carry him outside to toilet. He has had no problem with that. The cone is a real issue mostly for me, but we got an inflateable one and he can get to his leg with it, so back went the plastic one. He has had no problem eating his regular food. His both rear legs are heavily bandaged. The surgeon wants to see him in 14 days post surgery. I try so hard to pick him up carefully, but once in a while he yelps, and I feel so badly. Getting his boots on to wear whenever he goes out as per the surgeon, are terribly hard to get on him without a whimper.

Only one week down and he has been great. I wish I were more skillful and could find ways to make it easier for him. I can't imagine nine more weeks. I never leave him alone unless I am taking the others out, and I am really getting anxious.

Gew

Just saw this! Glad he's doing okay. I'm sure the confinement is going to be tricky. Sounds like you are taking great care of him.

[Gew]

True, the Lymes complicated the situation. However, review of the X-rays left no doubt in the minds of the three doctors, two surgeons. Doxycycline is sure easier than surgery.

Does anyone know how long the cone must be worn? The stitches don't come out until a week from this Thursday. I really hate it more than Max.

Thanks for the plastic bag idea. I also tried the plastic Glad wrap. They are easier, but just holding to pull the tape or unwind the wrap sometimes makes him yelp. Guess it's good I didn't become a nurse.

Gew

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Gew

True, the Lymes complicated the situation. However, review of the X-rays left no doubt in the minds of the three doctors, two surgeons. Doxycycline is sure easier than surgery.

Does anyone know how long the cone must be worn? The stitches don't come out until a week from this Thursday. I really hate it more than Max.

Thanks for the plastic bag idea. I also tried the plastic Glad wrap. They are easier, but just holding to pull the tape or unwind the wrap sometimes makes him yelp. Guess it's good I didn't become a nurse.

Gew

Once the sutures are out, the collar can come off!!

Honestly, I doubt it hurts him (it shouldn't)...he is probably just super sensitive and worried it might.

[Gew]

The nurse at the hospital did say he was very dramatic. So it's eight days till the cone can come off. That helps. I thought perhaps they would say that more time was needed to heal where the stiches were.

Honestly this week has been a month to me. Imagine how it's been for him!

By the way, yesterday I had Max out and Spenser came out too. Four hawks were soon circling. Spenser is so good. I called him to heal, scooped up Max and hurried inside. Our yard is 1/2 acre and open to the sky in large part. Hawks and an owl are often around because the river flows nearby.

Thanks. I am getting squirrelly.

Gew

[matese]

So happy to hear Max is doing so well, I think we as mommies suffer more then the pups do in all the worrying we go through in trying to make them as comfortable as we can. Max found a super mom in you, bless you for taking such good care of this senior boy.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Gew

The nurse at the hospital did say he was very dramatic. So it's eight days till the cone can come off. That helps. I thought perhaps they would say that more time was needed to heal where the stiches were.

Honestly this week has been a month to me. Imagine how it's been for him!

By the way, yesterday I had Max out and Spenser came out too. Four hawks were soon circling. Spenser is so good. I called him to heal, scooped up Max and hurried inside. Our yard is 1/2 acre and open to the sky in large part. Hawks and an owl are often around because the river flows nearby.

Thanks. I am getting squirrelly.

Gew

We have hawks here ... I am always creeped out by them. There is also an owl who lives by here...I don't see him often but I know he is around.