Amanda, I just thought of something. If you want me to video a session of Tate's PT and hot/cold therapy, I would be happy to this it for ya. Or Bo, don't know if you are doing this (PT, hot/cold therapy) but if either of you need to see a video....just let me know ;)

Of course I will shorten it down so that you don't have to sit and watch the heat therapy for 5 minutes, or the cold therapy for 10, lol...but I can show you exactly what we do (knee flexes, etc.) if you feel like you need/want to see it :)

Thanks, I may want to see that. Amanda just asked me if I got instructions for pt. The surgeon never mentioned it. As a matter of fact he didn't want any extra movement on the knee. :confused: Unfortunately my surgeon is out of town so we'll be seeing a different dr. next week so I will make sure to ask if that is something I should be doing. I would think that he needs some type of movement just so he doesn't become too inactive.

My dr. didn't want us doing anything like that either. He really stressed the no extra movement thing, too, saying that very short walks (a few steps here and there, several times a day) is sufficient for the next two to three weeks. He said PT wasn't necessary in this case, and could actually do more harm than good at this time. I am sure each case is very individualized. I can hot/cold pack him, but he stressed DO NOT do it if it upsets Ranger, which it very much does. He also didn't want the cold to bring down his temp too much, as he already had so much going on. I did some cold therapy this afternoon, but honestly, I don't think it was worth it as it really freaked Ranger out and he started shaking again.. He finally calmed back down.

Yeah, I would ask him about it :) Can't hurt! ;) Just let me know what the other doctor says and if he recommends it, then I will most certainly do a video for ya girl :)

Each case MUST be very individualized, because Tatum's surgeon couldn't stress to us enough how important her PT, along with hot/cold therapy is for her. If your surgeon doesn't recommend it, then I would go by exactly what he tells you. After all, he has seen Ranger and knows exactly what his case is...*I* don't ;) I just know that for Tatum, she does much better with it, her little knees/legs are just way too stiff if we miss a session, and then she doesn't want to walk without a limp, or without holding that left leg up. I actually credit alot of her progress and her doing so well TO physical therapy and hot/cold therapy. She will also be going on Monday to have an "official" PT session with a therapist that is in the same building as her surgeon. Oh...and I will also try and remember to get those x-rays so that I can post them for ya! ;)

We got presents!!
 

This day has gone from being *terrible* to a really great day!!!!!!!!!

Ranger is doing SO MUCH better without that stupid patch. He is alert and almost playful. He has chewed his bully and was really excited to open the box of PRESENTS we got from Mimi (TUMISMOM) Oh my gosh girl, you ROCK!!!!!! You COULD NOT have planned that package delivery better than it worked out!!! Here we were having just an awful morning, and then when Ranger perked up this afternoon, the mailman came!! He was SO EXCITED to see *his* goodies! Ryder thought for sure he should get some, too, but Ranger let him know that HE is all-deserving and they are HIS!! LOL!!

Mimi, you are so sweet. What a whirlwind of a week, starting with the Emma thing, then Ranger getting diagnosed, then Ryder hurting himself and finishing up with Ranger's surgery and recovery. You taking the time out of your day to put together that package was AMAZING and reminds me WHY I LOVE YORKIE TALK!!!!! After Ranger opened up all his goodies and played (his immobile version of playing) with the toys on the couch, we went outside to potty and HE WALKED like NORMAL!!! NO LIMPING!!! I think he was rejuvenated and felt all the love from your package!!!!!!!

Here are some pictures of the boys and all their fun stuff! Again, thank you so much, I can't tell you how much it meant to me.

Ry Ry too...
 

Please don't laugh at Ryder, I know he looks AWFUL, but please bear with us, he's been on cage rest for a week with no baths allowed :rolleyes: He pretty much looks HOMELY and unkempt but he is loved and cared for. :p

The picture of Ranger and Ryder is pretty funny. I snapped it just before Ranger's lip started quivering, and I knew he was about ready to snap. Poor guy, Ryder wanted dat toy bery bery much!

i have a question about the fentanyl patch they put on ranger. Do you know the mg of the patch they used? And how did they cut it? did they cut the whole patch or did they just cut the plastic film covering the sticky part?

Where i worked PT was a valuable part of EVERY orthopedic case. ALL knee surgeries required PT afterwards. our instructions said to gently flex and extend all the joints in the effected leg(s) 3-4 times a day, 10 reps each joint. So the easiest way to do it would be to have the dog laying down on his side with the surgical leg on top. Then gently extend the leg straight out and, at the hip joint, bring it towards the belly just to the point they are uncomfortable, hold it for 5-10 seconds and release it. Then bring the leg straight back behind them, just to the point they are uncomfortable, hold, and release it back to starting position. repeat 10 times. Next, with the leg in extension, place one hand over the knee and use the other hand to slowly bend the knee up into the belly, hold, and extend it back out. repeat 10 times. Lastly flex and extend the hock joint the same way as the other joints.

By doing this you are keeping all the joints moving so they don't get stiff from lack of use. With many dogs that have knee issues the legs become atrophied because they don't use them as much as the front legs. with some dogs you can see a difference in the muscle mass as well. So the passive range of motion exercises help build the muscle mass back up.

He does NOT look awful!!! He looks like a boy having a lazy day around the house. He could never be anything but adorable! :)

Anyway, I was just checking in one last time today. That was such a sweet thing for Mimi to do! Those are great gifts. Glad to see the boys are feeling well enough to enjoy them.

It was a 2.5mg patch. It was cut, and a clear plastic film was used as well. It was probably one mm in width, and most likely the whole length. DH said in vet school this is the procedure they followed as well. I am sure you have read the updates in this thread, but 30 mins after removing the patch, he was visibly calmer. Three hours after and he was alert and bright, and no shaking. I have taken him out once an hour since noon, and he has been walking normally!!!! No limping, equal weight bearing on both legs, and no shaking!! He is calm and comfortable, he focuses on what he's looking at, and has eaten, drank and pottied.

I understand about the use of PT and it's benefits, but I am not comfortable doing something the surgeon clearly told me not to. He did instruct me to take him out, every hour or so, and walk just a bit (I'm talking ten or so steps, if he's comfortable). He said this will keep his joints moving and will introduce Ranger to his new knees. It will gradually be worked up throughout the period of eight weeks.

I'm glad to hear that Ranger is doing so much better after taking the patch off. We typically do not put patches on dogs under 7 pounds. the smallest we would cut a 25 mcg patch is in half, but then we got 12 mcg patches and didn't need to do that anymore. cutting patches doesn't give you the right amount of medication (can give more or less) so that's why we didn't put them on little guys. i'm not knocking your vet, just letting you know why ranger might have felt crappy (he might have been getting too much medication). But he's feeling better now and that's all that matters.

As for the PT, i definitely agree that you should follow your vets instructions.

Truthfully, I don't think he wanted to put a patch on him at all. I brought it up during the consultation because I was concerned about Ranger having one (due to his small size and his propensity for not liking things on his little body) but in my nervousness, it must not have been clear. I think he thought I wanted one as I was concerned about pain management. When I called this AM they said they usually don't even use them on these surgeries or little guys, but thought I had wanted one :confused: I told my hubby to do the talking but then I butt in like always :cool:

He is doing so great now though. I moved him to his "recovery house" which is a larger, soft-sided crate. He's chewing on a bully :D Thanks for your concern!!

I am so glad the boys are doing better!! I love the pictures and they are sooo adorable. We love you guys!

The pain patches can and will do funny things...I'd be very leery of using them on such a small animal. But anyway, I am thrilled to hear he is doing so much better...and what a wonderful surprise present he got!!! Here's to a quick and uneventful recovery...

Ranger and Ryder look adorable! Through all of this I haven't asked how Ryder is doing. It looks like he is coming along fine. He looks so cute with his "just rolled out of bed" look going on. I bet you can't wait until you have both of them running around!