mistake

Happy to hear Max is mending nicely, he's gonna be one crazy boy when that cast comes off lol, poor little boy.

Hopefully that other one will get going and that splint can come off sooner. Sasha still trying to chew it off her brother?

Every day still! LOL !

I am happy to hear that Max is healing well and received a good report from the doctor. Best wishes for him to have the splint off soon!

Oh no! The poor thing :( Hopefully it'll heal up fast and he'll be back to chasing her around the house again.

First there was bad news.


When Max went back for a follow up last week, our vet said one of the bones was not healing properly and Max would need a bone graph. After 8 weeks we would be back to square one. My heart just broke for Max because I know he cannot wait to be able to run free of the splint again. I felt so guilty because we did not crate him 100% of the time. We limited him to the kitchen while we were at work where there is nothing to climb or jump from. When we were home we would let him in the family room and he did jump off the couch a couple of times. He would be sleeping peacefully on the couch, the doorbell rings and before we can blink he is off to the races to slay the intruder. I felt so bad thinking that our trying to pamper him would cause him extended pain and rehab.


Then there was good news.


We took him to a board certified surgeon today and after looking at the x-rays he said Max definitely does NOT need surgery. He said one bone is definitely healing faster than the other but both are on track to allow him to be 100% happy and healthy again. He felt the area and said it feels very stable. He did say that it needs another 2-6 weeks of healing and that during this time Max is to be kept in a crate. He can come out of it if we are holding him in ours arms or if he is on a leash. Absolutely no freedom to run or jump. He does not need the splint any more (yaah!). We have to take him outside on the leash 2 - 3 times a day for 5 minute walks on the grass. He was very firm about the crate.



ME: Can we let him walk around the family room if we are there with him?
DOC: NO!
ME: Can he sleep in the bed with me - he does not move around at night.
DOC: NO!
ME: Can Sasha be in the crate with him?
DOC: NO!
ME: Can he...
DOC: NO!!!


Max is not going to like it but he is on lockdown as of that moment. Maybe if I had done this sooner he would have healed quicker but I am SO HAPPY and RELIEVED that he is going to be OK. We go back in 2 weeks and the doc said if it looks like he is walking well on the foot we don't even need to do another x-ray.


I will be so happy to see my big fella running free again.

You have been on a roller coaster of emotions! I am very happy for you that the specialist determined that Max will not need additional surgery.

My sympathy to Max and you for the strict crate rest. :( Enforcing rest is so hard even under much less strict terms. My Max relapsed a little with his neck/shoulder strain when I allowed him to go back to his activities too soon. I understand the internal conflict of just wanting to make your boy happy.

Best wishes to Max in his recovery.

Ouch, hope he healed up well... I gotta run and just don't have more time to read.. I shoulda opened this up sooner. All the best!

Happy to hear no surgery for Max. It's so hard to muster out the tough love, better to be strict then have him down with surgery. Hoping for next vet visit to be a positive one. Good luck on the lock down.

Great news, no surgery! Now you will have to be the drill Sgt and enforce the Dr.s rule......after its all healed then you get to be the one he can wrap around his paws. All you have to say now is "its because the Dr. Said so" . He will understand.

It was very difficult to walk out of the house this morning listening to him cry in the cage.

remember the Dr.'s words....TOUGH LOVE....when he is 100% good to go, you can make up to him and Sasha for the weeks of confinement. It is heart breaking when they cry I've been there, so hard to ignore it, but, it is a MUST GO for the health of the pup.

Because of Max's injury I am so careful of anything that has openings in it, I have patio foot rests with slots in them, who would think a dog could get their toes caught in them, after Max's accident I now put towels on them, poor little Max's accident has taught me to be more careful (and I do a good job of safety patrolling) as I am sure it has taught many ppl that have read this thread.

Joan if learning from my mistakes can help one person that makes me feel better. Thank you.


I am watching them on my "Max cam" right now. When Max 1st got hurt we bought and HD camera so we could watch him at home from our offices and on our phones. We put Sasha'a bed right next to the cage and she is laying in it sleeping while he sleeps in the cage. I thought that was special because she usually sleeps on the couch during the day. She wanted to be by her brother. He has seemed calm most of the day. When they hear noise (UPS delivered a package and must have rang the doorbell) they get a little riled up but for the most part they have been calm all day. We can hear through the camera and he has not been whining.


Only 13 more days to go!

Glad to hear surgery is not needed. It's always a hard decision to make in the beginning if you do surgery right away or try the splint. I was really hoping Max would be fine without the surgery since he's still so young. I've read on here a few times the Dr would splint, then after 8 weeks would still need the surgery, then another 8 weeks!

I wish dogs could really understand what we say to them. He doesn't know why he's in there. I'm sure he feels fine and wants to play. But it's what's better for him. Be strong!