Luxating Patella-surgery on Monday
 

Dinky is 5 years old, and we've been "keeping an eye" on the patella as long as we have had him. He did pretty well. He can walk over a mile. Well, he could.
Two weeks ago, he yelped when he lunged on his leash. We kept him off it for a day, then each day he seemed to do better and better. Then yesterday, I told DH that I noticed Dinky was going backward in use of his leg. So we brought him in today and got the verdict-the ligament is torn.
We can get him in on Monday. He will have to stay there for at least two nights.
We are getting his hair cut this week, but we will tell the groomer to leave that entire leg and hip alone. (Vet said okay to do this since he is a stoic and still little guy for her and for groomer).
The vet likes to keep the dogs for "rehab" for 2 weeks. We can visit and even try to take him home at night, and if he comes back without backsliding, we will do that. She also said if we want, we can take him home and do the rehab ourselves. the rehab seems mostly to be to keep him crated and then short times out.
At this point, I think we know he has to be there for two or three nights. After that, we will just judge how he is doing.
Any advice on ideas for pre op and post op?
Thanks

The reason for grooming is not appearance. We figure it might be easier to keep him clean during his convalescence. Also the weather in NC is getting warmer by the day here, and he was due for a hair cut next week. (At this point, we have not heard back from groomer about bringing him in this week.

Do not have a regular vet do this surgery! It needs to be done by an orthopedic surgeon or more then likely you will have to go back and get it fixed by one. I have done this surgery twice with my dog now although I stay at home all the time it was only necessary for the dog to stay one night. Also there is no need for them to stay for two weeks for rehab in my opinion. We did most of ours at home but went once a week to do the water treadmill.

Sasha just had an FHO performed 11 days ago. Had it done on a Wed and took her home on Friday. The biggest challenge is keeping her calm. She wants to run, jump and play and obviously those are exactly what she CANNOT do right now. We both work so we bought 2 large cages. 1 went to work with me and the other stayed home. I have taken her to work with me every day. She does not like the cage as we have never crated her. She has spent a lot of time cuddled up in my arms because of that. I will put her down in enclosed areas only (my office, family room blocked off, etc) so that she has no chance to get a running start and do damage to the healing. She needs to use the leg but only in small amounts. Her progress has been excellent. She gets the stitches out this Thursday and hopefully loses the cone then too.


Our vet has said water therapy would be great for her. She said we could take Sasha somewhere and pay a lot of money or do it ourselves. Since she is so small, she suggested filling the tub to a level slightly taller than Sasha, buying a life vest for her at the local pet store and letting her swim every day. If we had a German Shepherd we would not be able to do this but since Sasha barely tips the scales at 3 pounds this is an option. We have not reached the rehab point yet but hopefully we can do most of it at home. We will be going back to the vet for regular check ups and as long as she tells us Sasha is making progress, home rehab is where we will be.


I am sure Dinky will come through this like a trooper. It's amazing the strength and tolerance these little ones have. Good Luck !!!

The rehab that was suggested for LP surgery is different and is done on a treadmill in water not swimming so it's a completly different rehab thing. I'm not sure swimming is suggested as rehab for LP surgery.

As stated above: I would never have a regular vet do surgery on a torn CCL. I have had a couple of my pups who had this surgery and multiple fosters in the past. I only use board certified surgeons. That's just me.

I have never had to do any type of rehab at all. I definitely would not be putting my pup in a swimming pool, but that's just me. I have taken pups to PT for other things and it is an exact science. There are specific exercises that are done based upon condition.

Good luck with your pup's surgery.

Thanks, so much great advice and info here.
Tomorrow, I will be calling a vet who does only surgery. We know someone who works for a dog rescue and got the name from him.
The vet is over an hour away, but we have no choices closer.
I do have to explain about our dear vet: She says when she keeps the dogs for rehab the long term prognosis is almost always better. We retired a couple of years ago and ended up in a rural area of NC. Beautiful area, nice people, but there are a lot of people who are irresponsible pet owners around here.
I would not be surprised if many of the pet owners she deals with don't follow the instructions. So I think she 's trying to help the dogs. She was the third vet we tried after we moved here.


Still, we are very likely to be going to the surgeon who is so far. I don't have to tell anyone on this forum how deeply we love our little guy.


Adding to the stress of all of this is that we are in the process of moving from here! We have our place back in MI already and have been counting the weeks until we could return. Now we will wait until Dinky has the surgery and a few weeks recovery time.
thanks for listening to all of this!

I have no doubt you will do what's best for Dinky.


What part of Michigan?

maxdog, we are near Grand Rapids in Michigan. We are originally from the other side of the state. DH's folks and sis are in GR. DD is a short train ride away in Chicago. Bliss.

Downriver area (just south of Detroit) here.

We lived in Lake Orion for about 15 years.

We have appointment with board certified surgeon in Asheville Thursday morning!

Dinky is scheduled for surgery with the board certified vet who just does surgery.
I am so thankful for the advice here. Not only is this vet doing two parts of the surgery with improved techniques than the regular vet, but they have staff there 24 hours. We even met the nurse who will tend to him at night. Also, he explained everything in detail with models and charts, and he did a great job of explaining the post op care.
I feel so hopeful now, and before I was feeling dread.
Also, if anyone hesitates to go to a surgeon bc of cost, you should know that the cost at the surgeon is 25% less than the regular vet and he has no charge for post op visits.
The surgery will be on Monday still.
I'm so glad I checked in here and got the advice to go to a surgeon!

I am so glad you went to see a board certified surgeon. My Jezebel had luxating patellas and tore the CCL in one knee. Her surgery and post-op care and rehab was so different from what you described in your first post.

Firstly, there were two separate procedures, one to fix the LP and another (TPLO) to fix the torn ligament.

Second, there was no rehab during the first two weeks. She was only allowed to walk (on-leash) for potty breaks, otherwise she was confined. After she got her stitches removed @ 2 weeks post-op, THEN she was allowed to do rehab. It was simply 2-3 sessions of on-leash walks per day. The first week of rehab each session was 5 minutes, the second week was 10 minute sessions, the third week was 15 minute sessions, etc increasing by 5 minutes each week until she reached 25-30 minutes per session. That is all the rehab she required, and she is doing great now.

Also great to know they have staff there 24 hours. It made me feel good that she would be in their hands overnight so that when it came to pain management they would have it all figured out by the time I picked her up.

Praying for a very successful surgery and quick healing.

I'm so glad. Please keep us update.

I am so happy to hear this! Please keep us posted!! :)

Tomorrow we bring Dinky in for surgery. We are bringing his blanket, monkey toy, and a little container of chicken I roasted today. I'm nervous but happy his little leg will be better.

There is a ton of happy thoughts going out to Dinky!

Prayers for Dinky...

Prayers for Dinky. And just as a note I have been very pleased with physio for my dogs. I think they heal faster and end up stronger overall in terms of health. Remember the profession of physio for dogs is relatively new, and many ortho canine surgeons don't recommend it - remininscent of the early days with medical doctors and physiotherapists.


The physio in my experience will give you at home exercises to do - and one of them may be swimming in the bathtub. Underwater treadmill you would have to do at the physio - those machines are uber expensive!! $50K or more


My best wishes for you and dinky

Dinky is out of surgery. The surgeon called and said things went well. He had a completely torn ligament. He is a little stoic. Except or the yelp when he injured himself, no whimpering or crying. His appetite has been good. And yet, I kept telling DH, "I just know he hurts."
No pins were necessary. Two fiber lengths of fiber "fishing line" are in.
He said the staff told him Dinky seemed scared as he was waiting, which is hard to know, but I love the honesty. He told me he is giving the night nurse directions to hold him in her lap tonight! It's hard knowing this is hard on him emotionally, but I just remind myself that he is getting what he needs.
We are to call in the morning and should be picking him some time before 3 tomorrow.
Thank you all for caring and crucial information. We'll take our walk without our little guy tonight. I can hardly wait to hug him tomorrow.

gemy, I did not see your post. I will ask about the physio tomorrow. I will look online about it tonight. thanks!

So glad to hear it went well.

Glad to hear all went well. Definitely listen closely to what they say about activity. These surgeries can come undone.

As for physical therapy, I have never used it for a CCL recovery, but I know that some do. My pups all did fantastic without it (I have had multiple personal and foster pups with torn CCL repairs). The hospital I use has had physical therapy for many years. First time it was suggested to me was for a pup who had some leg defects requiring multiple pins and fixes. He went to PT for 10 weeks. That was in, I believe, 2006. The surgeon I use only suggests it if absolutely necessary and he does not routinely use it for LP and/or CCL repairs. If people wish to use it, certainly he does not discourage it.

I'm glad to hear all went well...I hope the homecoming goes well also. I'm sure he will do fine overnight even though it will be difficult for you.

So glad to hear he is out of surgery and doing well!!

Dinky is home and has finally relaxed. I think we were crossing the mountain divide between Asheville and where we live when he realized there was not a veterinary surgical clinic in sight! For all he knew, we were taking him to another one for more surgery. It was such an intense experience for him.
The instructions are very clear and good. In a nutshell, strict limitations on l activity for 6-8 weeks and supervise him like crazy to avoid jumping. We go back in 2 weeks to have sutures removed.
He's still out of it, but he feels safe again and is so happy and relieved to be home. I know the feeling!

Great news indeed! Relax now Momma your boy is home under your loving arms again.

Great news! Now the hard part begins. Keeping a yorkie calm? Like trying to keep me out of the fridge - next to impossible! We bought a big cage for Sasha and the only time she was allowed out was when we were holding her (which was a lot!). Her small bed, pee pad and food/water fit in the cage. She whined a lot because we have never crated her but she got used to it. She go the stitches out last Thursday and now I can say "Cage" and she goes in it. Of course she only goes in long enough to get the treat I give her and then she come out!

Thanks Maxdog, today, I'm sitting with him. He's pretty much sleeping. I got him to drink some water. Hopefully tonight, he will be hungry enough to eat something.
He has a crate that is about 18 by 28 inches. He won't like being in it when we are around, but he will be if we can't hold him.