Let's see, for at least the first 2 weeks we carried him everywhere. At night I brought the crate upstairs to our bedroom...normally they sleep in an expen in the family room. I would make sure that he was alseep and then I would go to bed. I had to listen for him to need to potty as they have a pad in with them in the expen. When I put him on his pad, I gently put him down front legs first, then gently let him down in the hinds--ready to catch him if necessary. It was about 2 weeks or better before we attempted to take outside to potty and hubby did that, I was too scared to.
For the most part, he was basically held or in his crate or on the table top between the sofa seats with a short leash on his harness for pretty much 5 1/2 weeks. When I took him out so we could all walk, I would wrap him in a blanket to support him from under neath and absorb some of the "shock" from walking.
I pretty much hand fed him for the first couple of weeks. I pretty much hand watered him too. I would hold his water bowl up to him.
We didn't get the patch, I didn't even know what it was until someone brought it up on here. From my understanding, little dogs do not tolerate it very well. And that doesn't mean it is for all the bigger dogs either. You'll need to ask vet and see how he does on it. Amandawash's little one had trouble with it. I think that his pain med upset Hot Rod's tummy so vet took him off after 3 days, was supposed to take it all week. He said that he had enough of it in his system to get him through the last few days.
Don't be too alarmed if appetite and drinking is slow to restart and then don't be alarmed if he changes his habit a couple of days into it. Oh, and it was probably 3 days before he pooped!
I was told by another member to keep the bedding in the crate as simple as possible so he would not get tangled up in anything or misstep over a blanket/pillow. Even at his 2 week checkup, he was not walking on his leg. He would keep it up and walk on 3. Still to this day, he will pick his leg up from time to time when he is running the grass. I guess the lumps and bumps in the soil aggrevates him a little. lol.
Our surgeon told us that it will take some time and not be worried if at 2 months he is still showing signs of the pain. We had a scare recently and though his knee was having issues. I was almost in tears and told hubby that if he needed surgery again, he was coming to work with me cause I would not be able to leave him alone during his recuperation. Everything was good to go though.
Does this info help? If there is anything else, don't hesitate to pm me. Also, I highly recommend writing all your questions and concerns down on paper when you are speaking with the doctor. You will be amazed how much stress you will be under and then how glad you will be when you pick him. Write down his answers and ask all your questions. Take someone with you if you can as they can listen also.
Hope this helps. Feel free to pm me 85 - 90% of your anxiety will go away once the surgery is over! The other stress will be keeping him still for 6 weeks! ahhhh! lol. I hope this helps.
As far as eating for the first few days, he ate the first 2 meals and then got finicky-I think from the meds. |