Moose's LP Surgery is Tommorow!

[LBH]

So Moose is feeling frisky today! Good!...but bad also. You guys were totally right about Moose thinking he's feeling better and wanting to move around.

He slept fine without the pain meds last night so that is great news too. He is going after his stitches less and less and his eyes look so much better minus that "painful" look. He's even playing with his bone while he is lying down and has a big appetite! Hopefully it's ok to play as long as he is sitting and playing? Gosh he wants to jump around and play SO bad! It's killing me!

But.. he is trying to walk and move more and I'm concerned about him re-injuring his leg. I think that I can keep him contained enough until next Tuesday when his stitches are removed..but then what? I have to have something tall enough that he cannot jump out of, but not high enough that he will try to stand on his hind legs and get out. I hate to put him in a tiny 3 x 3 kennel but is that the only option?

-I posted a picture of something I found on the internet, what do you guys think of it? Is he going to try to jump out of this? The panels are 21 inches high. The top is a zippered mesh top so he might not stand up in it if he "sees" the top on it. His old pen had no top.

Whatcha think? Thanks!!!

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by LBH

So Moose is feeling frisky today! Good!...but bad also. You guys were totally right about Moose thinking he's feeling better and wanting to move around.

He slept fine without the pain meds last night so that is great news too. He is going after his stitches less and less and his eyes look so much better minus that "painful" look. He's even playing with his bone while he is lying down and has a big appetite! Hopefully it's ok to play as long as he is sitting and playing? Gosh he wants to jump around and play SO bad! It's killing me!

But.. he is trying to walk and move more and I'm concerned about him re-injuring his leg. I think that I can keep him contained enough until next Tuesday when his stitches are removed..but then what? I have to have something tall enough that he cannot jump out of, but not high enough that he will try to stand on his hind legs and get out. I hate to put him in a tiny 3 x 3 kennel but is that the only option?

-I posted a picture of something I found on the internet, what do you guys think of it? Is he going to try to jump out of this? The panels are 21 inches high. The top is a zippered mesh top so he might not stand up in it if he "sees" the top on it. His old pen had no top.

Whatcha think? Thanks!!!

We had to cover the mesh on top of Ranger's house... sigh... they are SUCH BOYS!!! However, when it was covered he wouldn't try to look out the top.

I know it's hard but just think of it like this- one week down, seven more to go! I know it sounds bad, but I promise it seems to go by quicker each week.

xoxo

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by amandawash

We had to cover the mesh on top of Ranger's house... sigh... they are SUCH BOYS!!! However, when it was covered he wouldn't try to look out the top.

I know it's hard but just think of it like this- one week down, seven more to go! I know it sounds bad, but I promise it seems to go by quicker each week.

xoxo

Glad to hear that Moose is feeling better. lol, I agree, they are SUCH BOYS!!! I had gotten a collapsible carrier/house from Bed Bath and beyond for $19.99 (and used a coupon so it was $15.00) that might be good. We also had Hot Rod's wire crate from when we first got him. The poor baby looked like he was in jail. You can't really see, but the last picture, his nose is actually sticking out through the opening in the crate. Talk about feeling guilty! It broke my heart. That's when I started to put his harness on him and clipped a neck lanyard on him and wrapped it around my wrist so he didn't have to stay in the crate during the evening. He did sleep in the crate at night and was in there while we were out.

I know it is hard, but just keep thinking of the end result, it will be such a good thing. Hugs, Bo

[LBH]

Thanks SO much for the pictures! Thats exactly what I needed to see-- Moose has one of these that he used to sleep in so that's what I'll have to use. He has been so frisky today, wanting to play and go out- he definitely thinks he's all better! And it's been scaring me to death watching him hobble around. So in he shall go!

It is so heartbraking though! So 8 weeks of in the crate?!! Gosh I want to cry.. know its what is best for him though. : )

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Hi there, just checking up on Moose, is he doing better? How is the keeping him still going? I am sure you are probably about ready to pull your hair out. lol. Stay strong! Hugs and kisses to Moosie.

[LBH]

Originally Posted by Mom to Hot Rod

Hi there, just checking up on Moose, is he doing better? How is the keeping him still going? I am sure you are probably about ready to pull your hair out. lol. Stay strong! Hugs and kisses to Moosie.

Hi there! Yes you are right about the hair part, haha He's feeling so much better which its great but makes it so much harder to keep him down- he really believes he is all better! He got stitches out yesterday and the surgeon was truly amazed at how much he was using the legs. The wound sites look good and Dr. Erne said it was great to see that there is no lameness and it's only week 2. It is great that he is healing so quickly but the "lay still and recover" phase is over in Moose's mind. It's like trying to keep a hummingbird confined!

I posted an update in this forum "Moose had a great day + Present's"- you'll have to look at it to see what we got from Amanda- it was so sweet! Just made our day.

I'm gonna post a picture soon too of Moose's new "Alcatraz Confinement Palace" as we call it haha. I've figured out a way to give him plenty of room to walk, eat, play a little, and sleep but with no chance that he can stand on his hind legs or bounce around. I'm like a crazy woman that's had too much time to think being right next to him 24/7 but I think this solution is pretty genius!

[kalina82]

Sounds like everything is going great!

can't wait to see pictures of Moose in Alcatraz! LOL

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Just checking in on Moose and mommy. Hope all is well. I hadn't seen an update on your other thread about his pin. Was everything okay with that? Hugs.

[LBH]

Originally Posted by Mom to Hot Rod

Just checking in on Moose and mommy. Hope all is well. I hadn't seen an update on your other thread about his pin. Was everything okay with that? Hugs.

Thanks for checking! Moose has been doing pretty well- I need a straight jacket for him though! haha Turned out when I thought I saw a pin he had just licked at his incision site really hard and it was irratated. But I'm so anxious to see the x-rays on Thursday- it's like I need hard core proof that those pins are still there!

We did have a big scare yesterday, Moose was in his little restricted area an on his blanket but he somehow slipped when he was playing with a toy and he came up limping, with the right leg stuck straight out! I was terrified! He recovered after a few seconds but I'm so worried he might've moved something around in there- so I moved up the x-ray appt. to Thursday!

[LBH]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to post an update on Moose. He had his final x-ray consultation today to check on his progress and we got good and not-so-good news. I'm going to quote what was on his examination report from the surgeon.

"Weight-bearing on both rear limbs with no evidence of limping. The left patella is stable. The right patella is mildly unstable, but is central the majority of the time."

"Both tibial tuberosities have healed and implants are stable, both patella are centrally located in the trochlear groove."

"The instability of the right patella should no be a problem; however, if he begins showing signs of limping or lameness, the tissues around the knee cap may have to be tightened. Overall, Moose's function is good. He may return to normal activity."

The surgeon had an emergency arrive right before we were scheduled to talk with him so he is going to call me later this evening so we can talk personally.

So..thats good! and bad news for Moose. Why would it already be riding to the outside right after we had it fixed?! I'm so disappointed. It rode a little to the inside before the lp surgery and now its more toward the outside.

Maybe the surgeon will be able to explain more when I talk to him. Moose is VERY groggy and confused after they sedated him for x-rays. His breaths-per-minute are pretty slow and he seems naseous and confused. The nurses assured me this is normal after sedation but I'm watching him very close! He had Torbugesic, DexDomitor, and Antisedan for the x-rays (just in case any of you techies that are smarter than me know what those are exactly!)

So this is good news for Moose I guess? What do we think about him giving the go for normal activity? It's only been 4 weeks!

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by LBH

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to post an update on Moose. He had his final x-ray consultation today to check on his progress and we got good and not-so-good news. I'm going to quote what was on his examination report from the surgeon.

"Weight-bearing on both rear limbs with no evidence of limping. The left patella is stable. The right patella is mildly unstable, but is central the majority of the time."

"Both tibial tuberosities have healed and implants are stable, both patella are centrally located in the trochlear groove."

"The instability of the right patella should no be a problem; however, if he begins showing signs of limping or lameness, the tissues around the knee cap may have to be tightened. Overall, Moose's function is good. He may return to normal activity."

The surgeon had an emergency arrive right before we were scheduled to talk with him so he is going to call me later this evening so we can talk personally.

So..thats good! and bad news for Moose. Why would it already be riding to the outside right after we had it fixed?! I'm so disappointed. It rode a little to the inside before the lp surgery and now its more toward the outside.

Maybe the surgeon will be able to explain more when I talk to him. Moose is VERY groggy and confused after they sedated him for x-rays. His breaths-per-minute are pretty slow and he seems naseous and confused. The nurses assured me this is normal after sedation but I'm watching him very close! He had Torbugesic, DexDomitor, and Antisedan for the x-rays (just in case any of you techies that are smarter than me know what those are exactly!)

So this is good news for Moose I guess? What do we think about him giving the go for normal activity? It's only been 4 weeks!

I'm confused. Did the vet release him for normal activity?

[brownminerva]

Hi:
Hope little Moose feels better soon and that the surgery turns out well.
The pink mesh 'cage' is really great. I have used it and it works very well, and has enough space for bed/pee-pad/food etc. It is very light but strong and packs into a very thin package when not in use.
Keep up the good work Moose!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by amandawash

I'm confused. Did the vet release him for normal activity?

I agree??? It was at least 6 weeks before we were "allowed" to resume normal activities. Granted Hot Rod was a terror by week 5 but we still limited his movements as best we could. I would definitely ask your vet if he should still be kept still, especially with the right knee being unstable. I would imagine that Moose would favor that leg and do more harm than good.

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by Mom to Hot Rod

I agree??? It was at least 6 weeks before we were "allowed" to resume normal activities. Granted Hot Rod was a terror by week 5 but we still limited his movements as best we could. I would definitely ask your vet if he should still be kept still, especially with the right knee being unstable. I would imagine that Moose would favor that leg and do more harm than good.

We were eight, and were told that with orthopedic (bone) surgery, it can take almost a full year for the bones to truly heal. Ranger still held up his leg every now and then until about a month ago. Laura even if he gets "cleared" I sure would keep him quiet for another month, or at least the rest of November. The though of going through that again just makes me ill!

[chels]

Originally Posted by LBH

So Moose is feeling frisky today! Good!...but bad also. You guys were totally right about Moose thinking he's feeling better and wanting to move around.

He slept fine without the pain meds last night so that is great news too. He is going after his stitches less and less and his eyes look so much better minus that "painful" look. He's even playing with his bone while he is lying down and has a big appetite! Hopefully it's ok to play as long as he is sitting and playing? Gosh he wants to jump around and play SO bad! It's killing me!

But.. he is trying to walk and move more and I'm concerned about him re-injuring his leg. I think that I can keep him contained enough until next Tuesday when his stitches are removed..but then what? I have to have something tall enough that he cannot jump out of, but not high enough that he will try to stand on his hind legs and get out. I hate to put him in a tiny 3 x 3 kennel but is that the only option?

-I posted a picture of something I found on the internet, what do you guys think of it? Is he going to try to jump out of this? The panels are 21 inches high. The top is a zippered mesh top so he might not stand up in it if he "sees" the top on it. His old pen had no top.

Whatcha think? Thanks!!!

i have that same playpen for payslee! i loved it until the stinker figured out how to get out of it lol. even if we tied the zippers with something she still managed to get out haha.