Gracie had LP surgery today - YorkieTalk.com Forums

GracieJane · 07-09-2014, 06:53 PM

Gracie had surgery to repair her luxating patellas today. I dropped her off before 8 a.m., and she was in surgery when I checked at a little past 2. I called again about 2 hours later, and the surgeon said she had done well--she said that due to her size (2.7 lbs) they did not want to keep her under anesthesia too long and that they wanted to keep her warm during the procedure.

She will be at the hospital for at least 2 days, so I am investigating ways to "ice" the knees when she gets home. Frozen ketchup packets have been suggested-go figure!

I am concerned that her liver numbers were a "little" high--don't know exactly what that means, but they will retest in a few weeks. Obviously I can carry that to a possible outcome that scares me, but I was advised not to go there yet.

Good news is that they surgery is finally done and our sweetie can begin to recover--the surgeon said that the repair really needed to be done, but she is not quite 10 months old, so I hate that she has to go through this! I am reassured by other posters who have been there, but I wish she were well already!

katy-yorkie · 07-10-2014, 01:25 AM

Buster had LP surgery on both knees three year ago. He also had a torn ACL. He's had several other knee surgeries, the last one being last summer. He recently had the implants removed from one knee due to infection. He was about five pounds when he had his surgery not as tiny as Gracie and he was four years old. He was only in the hospital one night, which was enough for my nerves. The recovery seems to be the hardest part, it's hard to keep them from doing all of the things they aren't supposed to do, jumping, running, etc. I haven't heard of using frozen ketchup packets, but that's a good idea.

It sounds like the surgeon is going to suggest that you have Gracie's bile acids tested (BAT). But one day at a time. Good luck with your little girl and please post updates.

GracieJane · 07-10-2014, 06:43 AM

Oh, poor Buster!

I can't imagine going through all of that!

The surgeon just said that Gracie is doing well, and I will go to see her later today. I have a feeling we are in for a LOT of caregiving to get her past this, but I hope that she will do well and that we have averted a life of problems for her.

107barney · 07-10-2014, 06:55 AM

I used a bag of frozen peas until I found a little child's gel pack at Bed Bath and Beyond that was shaped like a little piggy and was a perfect size for my boy.

GracieJane · 07-10-2014, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 107barney

I used a bag of frozen peas until I found a little child's gel pack at Bed Bath and Beyond that was shaped like a little piggy and was a perfect size for my boy.

Actually, something like that was the other suggestion they made. There may be a trip to check that out before I go to pick her up. Did it work well?

I WILL surely be posting with more questions--please let me beg forgiveness in advance!

lisaly · 07-10-2014, 11:08 AM

Poor little girl. Gracie is lucky to have a mommy who is taking such great care of her. I hope your little sweetheart is soon free From pain and that she heals quickly.

rubymoon2072 · 07-10-2014, 11:21 AM

wishing gracie a full and fast recovery! glad she came through safely.

GracieJane · 07-11-2014, 11:27 AM

Gracie is home now, and she is amazing me. I have been warned-no hard floors, absolutely no running/jumping. She is going to live the life of Riley for a few weeks!

It is both incredibly sad and uplifting to see her stand on those little back legs. I don't think I would even be trying! She was on fentanyl at the vet"s and has tramadol now, along with metacam. Sounds like a ton of "stuff," but they want to try to keep her pain-free--I certainly agree.

She is shaved from the hips down--she looks silly, as my grandson would say, but that made it MUCH easier to clean when she had the poopy accident when we first got home.

I am off to do compresses, move the doggy laundry to the dryer, and love on her a little. I am sure that I will be back with questions, and if I get brave, I might try to post a pic.

Thanks for your messages!

Wylie's Mom · 07-12-2014, 07:09 AM

Glad to hear she is home, that's great! Now she can heal with all your TLC. The first few days are the roughest as they try to figure out how they're supposed to go to the bathroom etc, but after that it gets better.

I was curious - why did they keep her in the hosp for 2 whole days? My Wylie came home the same day as surgery.

GracieJane · 07-12-2014, 07:37 AM

I would like to say that it was because she is so cute, but probably not!

They apparently do this as a matter of routine, because the surgeon told me that would be the plan when we did the initial consult in April. They had her on an IV with painkillers until I picked her up yesterday morning, so I guess that pain management was the reason. She also had both legs done so that may make it a longer visit.

I didn't question it! Part of being a rule follower!

Wylie's Mom · 07-12-2014, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GracieJane

I would like to say that it was because she is so cute, but probably not!

They apparently do this as a matter of routine, because the surgeon told me that would be the plan when we did the initial consult in April. They had her on an IV with painkillers until I picked her up yesterday morning, so I guess that pain management was the reason. She also had both legs done so that may make it a longer visit.

I didn't question it! Part of being a rule follower!

Lol...I bet you're right...it was bc she was just too dang CUTE and they wanted more of her

!

Interesting...I've never heard of them keeping like that after LP...but each practice has their own standards, so maybe it's just the way they do it. I will say it's nice to have your kiddo on IV painkillers for a couple days.

Btw, my Wylie had both knees done and was shaved from waist down too - he looked like a little lion!

Best of luck w/ her continued healing

.

07-09-2014, 06:53 PM	#1
GracieJane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 176	Gracie had LP surgery today Gracie had surgery to repair her luxating patellas today. I dropped her off before 8 a.m., and she was in surgery when I checked at a little past 2. I called again about 2 hours later, and the surgeon said she had done well--she said that due to her size (2.7 lbs) they did not want to keep her under anesthesia too long and that they wanted to keep her warm during the procedure. She will be at the hospital for at least 2 days, so I am investigating ways to "ice" the knees when she gets home. Frozen ketchup packets have been suggested-go figure! I am concerned that her liver numbers were a "little" high--don't know exactly what that means, but they will retest in a few weeks. Obviously I can carry that to a possible outcome that scares me, but I was advised not to go there yet. Good news is that they surgery is finally done and our sweetie can begin to recover--the surgeon said that the repair really needed to be done, but she is not quite 10 months old, so I hate that she has to go through this! I am reassured by other posters who have been there, but I wish she were well already!

07-10-2014, 01:25 AM	#2
katy-yorkie Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Katy, Texas USA Posts: 1,458	Buster had LP surgery on both knees three year ago. He also had a torn ACL. He's had several other knee surgeries, the last one being last summer. He recently had the implants removed from one knee due to infection. He was about five pounds when he had his surgery not as tiny as Gracie and he was four years old. He was only in the hospital one night, which was enough for my nerves. The recovery seems to be the hardest part, it's hard to keep them from doing all of the things they aren't supposed to do, jumping, running, etc. I haven't heard of using frozen ketchup packets, but that's a good idea. It sounds like the surgeon is going to suggest that you have Gracie's bile acids tested (BAT). But one day at a time. Good luck with your little girl and please post updates. __________________ Jeanie, mom to Buster and Maggie

07-10-2014, 06:55 AM	#4
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	I used a bag of frozen peas until I found a little child's gel pack at Bed Bath and Beyond that was shaped like a little piggy and was a perfect size for my boy. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

07-10-2014, 11:21 AM	#7
rubymoon2072 Cedric♥Lola♥Keylo Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Gilford, NH, USA Posts: 9,209	wishing gracie a full and fast recovery! glad she came through safely. __________________ Cedric N Lola N Keylo RIP Punkee Princess

07-12-2014, 07:09 AM	#9
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Glad to hear she is home, that's great! Now she can heal with all your TLC. The first few days are the roughest as they try to figure out how they're supposed to go to the bathroom etc, but after that it gets better. I was curious - why did they keep her in the hosp for 2 whole days? My Wylie came home the same day as surgery. __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

07-10-2014, 06:43 AM	#3
GracieJane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 176	Oh, poor Buster! I can't imagine going through all of that! The surgeon just said that Gracie is doing well, and I will go to see her later today. I have a feeling we are in for a LOT of caregiving to get her past this, but I hope that she will do well and that we have averted a life of problems for her.

07-10-2014, 11:08 AM	#6
lisaly Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 5,892	Poor little girl. Gracie is lucky to have a mommy who is taking such great care of her. I hope your little sweetheart is soon free From pain and that she heals quickly.

07-11-2014, 11:27 AM	#8
GracieJane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 176	Gracie is home now, and she is amazing me. I have been warned-no hard floors, absolutely no running/jumping. She is going to live the life of Riley for a few weeks! It is both incredibly sad and uplifting to see her stand on those little back legs. I don't think I would even be trying! She was on fentanyl at the vet"s and has tramadol now, along with metacam. Sounds like a ton of "stuff," but they want to try to keep her pain-free--I certainly agree. She is shaved from the hips down--she looks silly, as my grandson would say, but that made it MUCH easier to clean when she had the poopy accident when we first got home. I am off to do compresses, move the doggy laundry to the dryer, and love on her a little. I am sure that I will be back with questions, and if I get brave, I might try to post a pic. Thanks for your messages!

07-12-2014, 07:37 AM	#10
GracieJane Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 176	I would like to say that it was because she is so cute, but probably not! They apparently do this as a matter of routine, because the surgeon told me that would be the plan when we did the initial consult in April. They had her on an IV with painkillers until I picked her up yesterday morning, so I guess that pain management was the reason. She also had both legs done so that may make it a longer visit. I didn't question it! Part of being a rule follower!