Bella's MPL (luxating patella) surgery

[Minniesmthr]

My Gracie had her surgery a week ago last Friday. She has hardly needed crating at all, probably because she has not felt much like doing anything. The vet said she could go out to potty on a leash and we carry her out for that. The last couple of days though, she tries to shoot through our legs to get outside and chase "her" squirrels. That is a big NO NO...

The first vet I consulted does a lot of surgery on dogs. He told me that we would have to crate her for 6 weeks. Has anyone else heard that?

She is feeling a lot better. I think the other knee will have to be done, but am not sure I want to put her through that very soon.

Cathie

[Minniesmthr]

Gracie came home bandaged and when we went back, the skin began to separate a bit in the incision. This necessitated stapling. She didn't like that at all and even less the Elizabethian collar. I took it off when we got home and put her pajamas on. This worked much better than the collar and she doesn't fool with it... I still have to watch her closely...

Cathie

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Minniesmthr

My Gracie had her surgery a week ago last Friday. She has hardly needed crating at all, probably because she has not felt much like doing anything. The vet said she could go out to potty on a leash and we carry her out for that. The last couple of days though, she tries to shoot through our legs to get outside and chase "her" squirrels. That is a big NO NO...

The first vet I consulted does a lot of surgery on dogs. He told me that we would have to crate her for 6 weeks. Has anyone else heard that?

She is feeling a lot better. I think the other knee will have to be done, but am not sure I want to put her through that very soon.

Cathie

Gracie had her surgery the exact same day that Bella did. Bella is trained for indoor pottying on pads, so I haven't taken her outside yet, and probably won't take her out except in a stroller since once she's outdoors on a leash, she gets excited and wants to pull, and that would be too stressful for her leg. We were told to crate Bella for two weeks until her stitches come out, unless she is under direct supervision. She will be re-evaluated after her stitches come out, but we expect that she will not have to be crated as much. I've never heard of a dog having to be crated for 6 weeks after MPL surgery, but I would trust the vet because maybe Gracie's situation is different from Bella's.

Bella has mild LP in her other knee, so she may have to have the other leg done some day, but the vet said to wait and see. That would be something that I definitely would not want to put Bella or me through again.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Minniesmthr

Gracie came home bandaged and when we went back, the skin began to separate a bit in the incision. This necessitated stapling. She didn't like that at all and even less the Elizabethian collar. I took it off when we got home and put her pajamas on. This worked much better than the collar and she doesn't fool with it... I still have to watch her closely...

Cathie

Bella wasn't supposed to be bandaged when we picked her up, but they had to bandage her because there was slight bleeding from her incision. We removed the bandage ourselves later that evening, and Bella was MUCH happier after that. Bella doesn't tolerate clothes, so has to wear the collar, and she's gotten used to it.

[pstinard]

In 8 hours, Bella will be getting her stitches out! She's continuing to do well and is using her operated leg more. We took off her cone yesterday and brushed out her facial hair. We couldn't believe how much gunk had accumulated around her eyes and mouth! Can't wait until we can bathe her again! She is eating and drinking well, and she loves her Metacam so much that I don't have to pry open her mouth to squirt it in. I just squirt it on the palm of my hand and she licks it off--it smells like honey. I'll give another update this afternoon after the stitches come out.

[richards6402]

So glad she is over the worst part and is well on the road to recovery.

[kjc]

Glad to hear Bella is doing well! Yay!

[Minniesmthr]

Gracie's stitiches are out and that couldn't happen soon enough for us. She is such an active dog and it has been hard to keep her from running between our feet to get to the squirrels out back.

As much as I am sure she would like to, I think we will hold off on going to Doggie Day Camp for a few weeks. When she goes there, she comes home exhausted from playing so hard...

Don't know if you all have Doggie Day Camps (at Petsmart in the Dallas area), but they and their pet hotel are a lifesaver for us. I thought I might to have to be hospitalized unexpectedly, and they assured me she would have a place to stay as well as pet buddies to play with while my husband was working.

Yes, we have a doggie door, also a lifesaver, but our lovely little one-girl destruction crew is still a little young to trust alone here in the house.

Cathie

[pstinard]

We just got back from the vet. The vet removed the stitches, and watched Bella walk. He said that Bella's recovery was rapid, and that she was doing better than most dogs do at this stage after MPL surgery. Since she is putting weight on her leg, we do not need to do any additional physical therapy. She was also given the go-ahead to be allowed to walk up and down stairs, providing she takes them one at a time. Bella has the cone off, and she is very happy this evening!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

We just got back from the vet. The vet removed the stitches, and watched Bella walk. He said that Bella's recovery was rapid, and that she was doing better than most dogs do at this stage after MPL surgery. Since she is putting weight on her leg, we do not need to do any additional physical therapy. She was also given the go-ahead to be allowed to walk up and down stairs, providing she takes them one at a time. Bella has the cone off, and she is very happy this evening!

I know you love that vet and think he is better than a boarded surgeon and all. I am simply flabbergasted but then wth do I know? My vet would never operate on just LP on an adult. I have dealt mostly with torn CCLs. Of course one did have LP surgery after the CCL repair, but he was on very lmited exercise for another 8 weeks, but you cannot really compare one to another. I just hope this is ok for Bella. Of course you do say one step at a time..and maybe he knows you well enough to know that you know he means exactly that. I just hope your partner knows it!

Very happy that she is doing well.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I know you love that vet and think he is better than a boarded surgeon and all. I am simply flabbergasted but then wth do I know? My vet would never operate on just LP on an adult. I have dealt mostly with torn CCLs. Of course one did have LP surgery after the CCL repair, but he was on very lmited exercise for another 8 weeks, but you cannot really compare one to another. I just hope this is ok for Bella. Of course you do say one step at a time..and maybe he knows you well enough to know that you know he means exactly that. I just hope your partner knows it!

Very happy that she is doing well.

If I didn't have a vet who is a very skilled surgeon with 33 years of experience and who is a professor of veterinary medicine who trains and mentors vet students at the University of Illinois, then I'd definitely go with a board certified orthopedic surgeon. This is an exception to the rule due to my location in a Vet College town, so everyone reading this, SEE A BOARD-CERTIFIED SURGEON FOR ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY ON YOUR YORKIE.

Now that I got that disclaimer out of the way, yes, Walter is on board with Bella's rehabilitation, and there will be absolutely no outdoor leash activity (Bella goes crazy and pulls like a demon outdoors), or jumping on and off couches and beds for Bella until she is fully recuperated.

[MauiGirl]

Just checking in on Bella. How is her recovery going?

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

Just checking in on Bella. How is her recovery going?

Hi, thanks for asking! Bella's energy level is back to normal. She is using her operated leg more and more, but it's not nearly back to normal yet. She will use her leg when she's walking or running slowly, but she still picks it up when she is running more quickly. Now that the weather is better, I can take her outside for walks, and she uses her leg then. I can tell from looking at both legs that her operated leg is not as muscular as her good leg, and I'm hoping that improves with time. It's been 4 1/2 weeks since surgery, so it's still early in her rehabilitation. I'm supposed to check back in with the vet at 6 weeks.

[MauiGirl]

Good to hear she is recovering nicely. I guess these things take time, but eventually nothing holds them back.

My little Kayla was thought to have mild LP at 1 year, and things improved and tightened up over time. She just turned 5 and is due for annual checkup and I'm worried because the other day when I was trimming her toenails she pulled away and I heard a pop. She limped slightly for a day.

[OwnedByJezebel]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Hi, thanks for asking! Bella's energy level is back to normal. She is using her operated leg more and more, but it's not nearly back to normal yet. She will use her leg when she's walking or running slowly, but she still picks it up when she is running more quickly. Now that the weather is better, I can take her outside for walks, and she uses her leg then. I can tell from looking at both legs that her operated leg is not as muscular as her good leg, and I'm hoping that improves with time. It's been 4 1/2 weeks since surgery, so it's still early in her rehabilitation. I'm supposed to check back in with the vet at 6 weeks.

Wow there sure is a big difference in recovery when fixing LP only and fixing LP + torn CCL. My Jez (had both LP and CCL tear fixed) wasn't allowed to run for 8 weeks and was far more restricted.

Muscle wasting happens so quickly, doesn't it? I found it scary during that time because I knew when she was relying more on the good leg and putting more stress it that the risk was higher that she would injure that one, too.