I'm so glad there was an update before I went to bed! Yay...little Roxy's done with her surgery and on the mend! Bless her little heart! Now I hope and pray TJ doesn't end up needing surgery too!!! I hope Roxy's recovery is quick and complete!!! Big hugs to you...all of you!!! Maddie sends get well kisses!!! Keep us updated!

I'm so glad to hear that everything went well. You must have felt such relief after the Dr. called...

You're so RIGHT - Friday will be soon enough to pick her up. The recovery is long but you'll be amazed at how quickly it will go! The reward will be watching Roxy walk without any limp or pain.

This was an Orthopaedic Surgeon who did the surgery or your regular Vet? Hope you don't mind my asking....

Ask about a glucosamine supplement for her and it wouldn't hurt TJ either! They say it aids in the healing process especially with the ligaments and tendons. I didn't start Chan until the end of the first recovery period and this time he's been on it the whole time.

Rest well and get ready for her homecoming - Nurse TLC....

The Doctor said Roxy is doing well today. But she does need to stay again tonight (good!) The Doctor will call me tomorrow and we will go from there!

I can visit, if I'd like (of course, I'd love to see her), but I think it is best that I do not go. I really do not want to get Roxy excited and then stressed when I have to leave.

In my mind, I keep seeing the silly things she does at home and I can even hear her barking for me...:D :D :D

I will be so happy to hold her again. It truly is amazing how much love we can have for these little ones. I feel like they are my children and I would do anything for them, I really do live for them :)

Yorkiemalt:
Roxy is at The Center for Specialized Vet. Care (Westbury, New York)
Dr. Hinton, DVM is the Director of Surgery, Small Animal Surgery. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Veterinary Surgery.

I hope that answers your question?

TLC,

I'm glad you mentioned that you can almost see and hear her even when she's not there - OMG, that's too funny - I did the same thing except got really upset because I feel like a "loon"! lol

I think you made the right choice with not visiting. There is no sense letting her think you're there to take her home and then turning around and having to leave. She'll rest better without any excitement.

And yes, you did answer my question about her surgeon. I see too many people going to their regular Vets for such a specialized surgery - scares the hell out of me! Don't get me wrong, I adore and trust my Vet completely but he does not do enough of these surgeries on a daily basis as an Orthopaedic Surgeon does. I want experience to be a key factor in such a surgery - I remember asking Chan's surgeon's office "How many knees he did a month?". I'll never forget she hesitated and I thought, Oh No! - but quickly came back and said "Can I tell you how many a week?" To say the least, he does MANY and has been doing them for over 20 years. JMHO, but makes me feel a whole lot better.

Rest well, don't forget the scarves and please let me know how she's doing....you'll both be on my mind!

Oh, here comes the "Cheering Section" - Chan is 6 weeks post-op today and doing wonderful! I had forgotten from the first knee in April till now how quickly they start to improve after like week 5. It's almost a daily improvement and very comforting to see......there is an end in sight!

Hugs to you both....

Kim

Thanks for the update, Nicole! Dear little Roxy! I will be so glad to hear when she's back with you! I also think you made the right choice in not going there. It would be hard to stay away, but harder to leave once there. Hugs to you! I hope you are feeling a lot better now! Thinking of you!!! Is TJ still doing okay???

OMG!!! I realy nervous!!!

The hospital called, Roxy is doing good and I can take her home as long as I feel like I can take care of her, b/c sheis NOT getting up and walking on her own. I must help her get up to go potty, eat and drink...

I am so scared. They said every dog is different. I asked them this: If I take her home and in a couple of days she is not making enough progress do I bring her back? They said yes, that I can call the Doctor and express my concerns and then go from there. I told them I will call them back b/c I have to talk to my husband. Troy says to bring her home, b/c she is probably scared and that she might start to do better at home with Mommy, Daddy and TJ. I am waiting now for the Hospital to call me back so I can arrange what time to go and get her.

Also, TJ has NOT POOPED yet. The last time he went was around 8pm Tuesday night. I tried a little pumpkin (he wouldn't eat it, so he really only had a SMALL amount). I called his regular Vet for advise. I have to try more pumpkin tonight, and maybe when he sees Roxy he will go. IF NOT, I have a 10:30 am appt. tomorrow for an :eek: ENIMA!!!! OMG - MY POOR BABIES!!!!

I'll write back soon!

P.S. ANY THOUGHTS!!! Words of Wisdom?????

I have many Words of Wisdom - lol ! Just don't know where to begin....

If you don't feel comfortable bringing her home and are worried about her care - then don't! It's not easy....she cannot walk without help, she cannot be out of her crate and between the icing and medications the first 2 weeks are crazy.

Do you plan on being home 24-7?

Why don't you do this - go visit - let them explain all her care directions (I received 8 pages of them!). Have them show you how you'll have to walk her and go from there.

Also ask if she stays in the hospital will she receive IV pain meds as opposed to what they'll send you home with!

Hope that helps a little....

Still waiting for them to call me back.

Yorkiemalt, now I am terrified. My plan was to bring her home today and be with her 24-7 until Tuesday morning when I was going to bring her to my girlfriends house who lives 5 mins. from my work, b/c I have to go back to work. I was going to get a webcam and set it up at home b/c starting Wednesday she will be home b/c I have to go to work. I was going to set her up in a spare room (alone) with the wee-wee pads, beds, food and water and just watch her from work. That would be starting 1 week from her surgery. Do you think that is NO GOOD??? Can she not be alone starting next Wednesday. I can probably go home at lunch to check on her. The problem is that is takes 45 mins. to get home and then 45 mins. to get back. So I could probably only stay at home for 30 mins.

What should I do???

Don't panic.....hope I haven't done that to you! Sometimes too much information is a bad thing - I just didn't want you to be "in the dark" like I was.

I would play it by ear, I'm sure going back to work Tuesday will be OK.

What I, jmho, think wouldn't be OK is a whole room to herself. Any type of quick movement, jumping will undo everything that has been done. At least that is how it was explained to me!

My choice was crate, crate or crate. Unfortunately, Chan goes NUTS in a crate and hence the x-pen worked well for him. I made it small enough so he could only stand up and turn around. Of course he could see out of it and that comforted him somewhat.

Do you have an x-pen? Know anyone who does? I got it on the way to pick him up - here in northern NJ there's a place called JB Pet Supply....only paid $50 for it.

Wish I was done with it, I'd drive it out to LI for you....

**Write down ALL your questions and ASK when you go to get her! Even if you think it's a stupid question, ASK!!

Yes I do have an X-pen. I can set that up very small in her room. I think she would go INSANE zipped in the crate (she has in the past - she has HIGH ANXIETY - I think the crate would do MORE HARM. But I can make an area with the x-pen very small. The x-pen I have is the tall plastic play-yard. I can probaly use just 3 or 4 panels to enclose her. Oh I just hope that she would be able to get up slightly to potty and drink next week while I am at work. OMG I guess I really had no idea!!! The only thing I had to go by was someone here at work just had it down to his dog (she is approx. 20lbs.) He had his general Vet do the surgery. It was done on Monday and he picked her up on a Friday. He said she was ok by then. He tried to crate his dog and he has a webcam here at work, she was going NUTS. And he tried to keep that cone on her too, but the dog was seriously going hurt herself. So her kept her in the kitchen but she found a way out. He raced home and put her in the bathroom, and when he got home, the bathroom was DESTROYED!!! So he put her back in the kitchen, but this time made sure she couldn't get out. I think by week 3 he let her out b/c she started to go NUTS again. he made pillow stairs, b/c all she wanted to do was just lye on the couch. He is also going on week 6, like you, but feels it is going to be another month of recovery.
This is killing me. I feel like the first day I went to go pick them up. I was terrified that b/c they were so little that I wasn't going to know what to do.

I am going to call the hospital again.

Kim, How long was Chan in the Hospital before you took him home?

Also, I just realized you are from northern NJ...I was born and lived until I went away to College in Rockaway NJ. My parents moved to AZ last year. My 2 brothers and stepfather are still in NJ now. My parents have a business that my stepdad has to stick around to sell before he heads out to AZ!

TLC,

Chan was only in the hospital 24 hours after the surgery....but remember he only had 1 leg done at a time.

You'll do just fine - ask all your questions, make sure you understand everything and go from there.

The pen sounds fine - I was told the "horror" stories of the dogs that jumped, ran and then had to go back and have the surgery done again......scared the hell out of me.

I also am "a direction follower"! Another word for it is - ANAL - lol!

As far the the co-worker's dog - there are different degrees of which the surgery is done. I could tell you a story about my Vet's receptionist who just had her Pom's knee redone because she thought keeping the dog contained meant tying it to a doorknob! I wasn't willing to take the chance of anything going wrong and STILL do not allow him freedom. It's just not worth it....

Oh, I checked the website from your Surgeon. WOW - quite impressive! Her credentials are outstanding and the hospital itself looks "state of the art"! I don't know about you, but that's comforting to me....I wanna know the BEST surgeon fixed my dog.

Rockaway is 30 minutes away from me...I love the Rockaway mall! Small world isn't it?

Keep me posted.....and yes I, too, was nervous picking him up! Wish I could post pictures on here, I'd show you the incision so you're prepared and the "shave job"! NOT BAD - don't worry!

Kim

Kim, THANKS I feel better.

The hospital still hasn't called me back. I am going to call by 1 pm if they do not call me first.

YES about the Dr. and the Hospital...I do think I did choose the RIGHT PLACE and PERSON!

My house was 5 min. from the Rockaway Mall. My family had a business there. Timepiece Jewelers (it was downstairs next to Lord and Taylors). Now the whole family moved to AZ. Yes SMALL WORLD!

TLC,

I just pm'ed you....my first one ever! Sure hope it went through....

Kim

How is she doing TLC?

I'm thinking about you two....

I'm also wondering about little Roxy. Is she home? How's she doing and also...how are YOU doing????

Hi Guys, Yes we are home...

Roxy is doing well. Within 10 minutes of getting home on Friday night, TJ pooped - GREAT - NO ENIMA!!! Roxy was very happy to be home. I mostly carried her around. She slept in the spare room with me and TJ slept with Daddy. I covered the bed in wee wee pads, she finally peed at 12 am. Saturday was a little tough, b/c she was getting heavy, so I set up the x-pen in the kitchen, I put a 'big' washable wee wee pad down, blankets, food, water. At first she was scared, but then got better. She only want to eat green beans, and I gave her a teaspoon of activa (so I could put the pain meds in for her to eat). I had to take that patch off - OMG - it took forever to get off. Then I brushed ALL the mats out and her "shave is not too bad either. Neither of them are really eatting too much, just a little here and there. Roxy finally pooped this morning and nothing again for TJ now since Friday night. Roxy's left leg seems great. Her right one though she is not 100% comfortable with. That leg is the one were her knee cap wanted to face the wrong way. The insision (sp?) is still alittle red and puffy as compared to the other one, but today it does look a little better. I keep flexing her legs, b/c she doesn't really walk. She will stand when I place her standing in the x-pen, but she is very shaky when she walks. She is very anxieous and I think she thinks she is fine, but when she tries to walk it must hurt and then she just plops down. I don't think that is really good to be doing that, so i am trying to watch her and not let her just fall. She has tried to 'bite' that area too, so I have to keep telling her no and push her head away from that leg. I am going to try walking her a Little using a scarf for support. I'll write again tommorow, I hope she starts to get a little more better tommorow! Thanks again!

Glad to hear she's doing well...

Hugs to Roxy....

Ahhhh...poor little Roxy! I hope she is a lot better by tomorrow! Made me feel sad to read your post, because it sounds like such a struggle for her! Bot...I guess each day will show improvement and you just take it one day at a time! I hope you're doing okay and able to get some rest too!!! Thinking of you!

So here I am back at work. The 2 monster are at home. Roxy is confined to her x-pen and TJ is free downstairs. I put Roxy's x-pen in the foyer b/c TJ likes to hang out on the couch all day looking out the window. Roxy is pretty much doing well, but she is NOT EATTING. I give her a spoon of activa in the morning so I can put her meds in (Metacam). She will eat that. This morning I put some Nutrical in there too. She wasn't so thrilled about that, but I was able to make her eat it. She will not eat her wet or dry food, NO MATTER how much I 'doctor' it up!!! She will eat romaine lettuce (the center part, no leafs) and she will eat the chicken jerky (from costco). That's it. I put Pedilite in her water and gave her a Merrick Curly Q and she was happy to chew on that. She sleeps a lot. She only pees maybe 2-3 times a day, and poops 1-2 times. I read about the Metacam and it can cause 'loss of appetite'. I don't know what to do. She feels so skinny now! I hate to do it, but from reading on YT, it seems that LOTS of dogs LOVE Cesaers. I think I will buy a can and just mix a tiny bit in her food and maybe she will eat that. Her food now is Merrick, Natural Balance Lamb roll, Hills Prescpt. t/d. She won't even eat it if I put cottage cheese, fresh chicken, chicken broth, parm. cheese, etc...
I spoke with the Dr. last night, (of course, I was so wrap up in asking other things, I didn't mention about the food, stupid me...) But I told her how Roxy walks a little and then drops down and whips around to bite at her back leg. She does it more with the right leg and that's the leg that the knee cap wanted to face the wrong way. The Dr. hopes that she just needs to walk more and that she just feels uncomfortable b/c she tighten the muscle a lot. She wants me to start to give her some walking room and time. She said to put her harness on and bring her outside and place her on the grass and see how she does. The Dr. feels that being outside is very exciting for dogs and it might 'jump' start Roxy to uses her legs and being more comfortable. So we will try that and see how she does over the next week. And of course, there is always the possibility that that leg is luxating again...HOPEFULLY that is not the case.
My concern today is that Roxy hasn't really ate anything substantail. Sunday was the only day I can really say that she 'kinda' ate well...
Any thoughts???

Hi Nicole. I don't know what to say about her not eating. What is the medication she is on...what is it for. Is it for pain? She's got to eat and I have no clue about how to get them to eat if they don't want to. Have you tried hand feeding her...sometimes I have to do that to get Maddie to eat. Just offer her a kibble from my hand to get her interested. Sounds like you've tried most everything that would normally look very good to a dog, so I just don't have any advice on that. Let us know...I'll be praying that she gets her appetite back. Poor little sweetie!

devoted to Lucy
 

Poor baby. I'm so glad she's home. That's got to make her feel some better. Lucy hurt her right back leg a couple of months ago jumping off a chair. I took her to the vet for x-rays and it wasn't broken, but she wouldn't put it down at all. I was so afraid the vet had missed something that I was going to take her back.

My son suggested filling the bathtub up with warm water ( deep enough to make her swim) while supporting under her belly with my hand. It worked and she was full speed in about 3 days.

I don't know if you can do this with your baby because of stitches, but you might ask the vet if swimming would be good after the stitches come out.


Kim & Lucy:aimeeyork

Thanks everyone. My main concern today is getting her to eat! I'll let you know how that goes tonight.

Roxy has 'imbeded' stiches, that will disolve on their own. I can't get her wet for a while. But mabye in another week or two, I will ask the Dr. if I can do that with her, in the bathtub! Thanks.

Perhaps when you do take her outside for some fresh air and exercise it might "spark" her appetite!

I know, myself, if I'm not feeling well or I'm in pain I am not the LEAST big hungry.

Here's hoping the "great outdoors" cheers her up and gives her an appetite!

I'm also glad the Dr. suggested exercise - it was always my understanding that that was the "key" to a successful recovery. The knee is a major joint and needs to move.

Oh I hope so. I am going to leave work today at 3pm. I went to Target at lunch break and bought 2 cans of Cesars :eek: :thumbdown (YUK!!!) and a bag of 'beggin strips' bacn/cheese flavor :eek: :thumbdown (YUK again!)
I don't mean to offend anyone, I just prefer not to feed Roxy and TJ anything with by-products....but...I really need to get her to eat, of course, I am only going to mix a tiny bit of Cesar in with her normal Merrick food and then if I must I will crumble the beggin strips ontop as well. I hope she gets going just from being outside! I'll write later.

Good Luck!

Let me know how she makes out.......

Remember the first 2 weeks are the toughest! You already have the first week behind you!

Hugs to Roxy....

Did Roxy eat? I sure hope so!

Hi Connie, Yes she did eat this morning, I was happy with the amount that she ate. I am going to try and walk her a little bit after work today as well. Thanks for thinking of us! We are on the road to recovery!!! :)