I am so sorry little Ranger is hurting. Hopefully he will get some relief soon. :( Sending lots of hugs your way!!

One thing I am really concerned about is this new generation of dogs growing up. Some breeders spay/neuter at 12 weeks to make sure they are not used for breeding and resues s/n at as early as 8 wks sometimes since they are so concerned it will never be done if they don't. These dogs do not have time to let their bones mature and will be in great danger. My vet will not do it before 6 months ever.

Oh poor baby! Now remember, they've just been through a lot and they do not understand what is wrong with them. Hot Rod was very sore the first couple of days and would wimper whenver we picked him up. It was like everything was just painful to him. He did sleep through the night for us though. I don't know if it makes any difference or not and you may not want to try it but I usually hold him before he goes to bed. I feel that this way he drifts off and is in a deep sleep by the time he goes into either his pen (prior to surgery) or in his crate now after surgery.

It is heartwrenching when they moan and wimper. Trust me I know. Maybe a different pain med might be helpful. Is Clavamox a pain med? I don't know the other med you are giving.

As far as eating, Hot Rod ate good for the first few meals and then all of a sudden didn't want anything, even chicken. And he wasn't drinking a whole (hardly any) water for a while. Hubby and I would put the water bowl up to him constantly and he would turn his head from it.

I hope the surgeon can recommend something that will alleviate the pain. We'll keep Ranger in our thoughts and prayers. Mommy is taking really good care of you baby! :) Hugs and kisses from Hot Rod, Maggie and mommy.

It is actually very interesting. I set him down and the left leg was hanging, and his right leg touching the ground. But when he went to take a few steps, he lifted his back end up and walked on his front legs. He is using his back legs again this morning, so I think it was just from getting up in the middle of the night and being stiff.

He was neutered at 7 months.

Some also said that depending on the size of the dog, the patch might not be good for them. I believe that was Kalina82 who said it. How big is Ranger? Hot Rod is 4 lbs, he was too small for it.

Ya, we spoke about that on Tuesday. Ranger is 4.7 but they actually just cut the patch to about one quarter. The smallest patch is for under 20lbs I believe, so one quarter of it would be good for 5lbs. But I think it was just freaking him out. I don't know if it subsides that rapidly, but he already feels much calmer. I guess we'll know for sure what we have in about 4 hours.....

Awwww water and a strawberry, now you're feeling alittle better:)

Not that I wish Ranger pain but I hope that is what it is so he can get something that won't freak him out. Poor baby. :(

I know what you mean. I do not know who quickly the effect of the patch wears off (I was told 4-5 hours) but he is already so much calmer :confused: I wonder if by just taking it off the edge is coming down. I would rather him be in pain than totally freaked out and in pain :( His breathing has calmed, no shaking and he's actually sleeping, not just starring straight ahead.

Hoping Ranger feels better.....so sorry he had a bad nite. He fell asleep with his head on yr hand......awwww. It's so hard to see these sweet babies in any pain at all. Sending thoughts/prayers that the worse part is over for sweet adorable Ranger & the healing & recovery process will be smooth. HUGS little guy!

Just sending Ranger get well wishes again today.
Hope today is a better one for him and tomorrow is even better.

He's chewing a bully!!!!!!!!
 

Ok, so it's been 3hrs since the removal of the Fentanyl Patch. Ranger is alert, MUCH brighter and is CHEWING A BULLY!!

He's shaking a bit but he went out and went potty, said hi to his big brother and sister who are out enjoying the sunshine, and came in and started going to town on his bully stick.

I *think*hope*pray* that the worst is behind us, and Ranger will be a pain in my butt in no time!!!!

Hey girl....was just popping in to check on Ranger! I read your update and I am SO sorry to hear that he was hurting so badly last night, but I'm glad to hear that he seems to be doing a little better today!

Tatum is on Metacam for the pain and it helps her TREMENDOUSLY. This is also the pain medication I used BEFORE the LP surgery, when she was just in pain on some of her "bad days".

Are you doing at-home PT with Ranger? We do this three times daily with Tatum and we have been since day one. We also do the heat therapy and the cold compresses....it truly, truly does help her *so* much. We have missed PT only a couple of times, but hubby and I both noticed that on the couple of times that we did miss, she was actually hurting more and WOULD NOT use her left leg at all, and was limping pretty badly on her right....so the hot/cold therapy and PT is very, very important. Her surgeon stressed this so much. And now after having been doing it, and even missing it a couple of times, I really do see and understand the importance of it all. It truly helps them. It is important to help the knees/bones flex as they are sooo tight after the surgery, and our babies are used to having pretty badly "messed up knees" - so the "tightness" they feel after surgery is a whole new thing for them. Flexing the knees really helps to loosen them up and make them feel better. The hot/cold therapy also helps with pain and swelling and it is so imperative that you do this to help with those two things.

Let me know if you have any questions girl and give that sweet boy a kiss for me....we love him ya know! ;) I hope he is feeling better soon...keep us posted!

I forgot to add....the way we do the hot/cold therapy is by first taking a warm washcloth (fairly warm, but not so hot that it will burn them) and gently holding it on the knee (right where the incision is) for 5 minutes. Just hold him in your lap comfortably while you are doing this. Then, after 5 minutes have passed, start flexing the knee, 25 times on each knee - but ONLY do this after you have done the heat therapy for 5 minutes. Bend the knee naturally like it would normally bend, the extend it outward in a slow and gentle motion. After you have done this therapy 25 times, then immediately follow with cold therapy. We do this by putting crushed ice into a ziplock sandwich baggie and then putting a (dry) washcloth over the bag. You will then place it on the knee, directly where the incision is, for 10 minutes.

Do this on each knee, 3 times daily. It helps them tremendously with not only the pain, but flexing the knees/bones which helps them get use of those little knees again ;)