Cruciate Ligament

[Teebs]

Ok people, tell me all you know

Kaos is at the vets now, vet has sedated her to check her leg out and believes she has torn/snapped it, he said it has to be operated on. He was happy to do it today, but said the vet that is best at them is in on Wednesday, so she is coming home to be crated and sedated until then.

I have seen bits on here on and off, but never really paid attention - Vet was busy so couldnt ask all my questions - How long will she be out of action, and what things do i need to know to care for her? she is a full on dog ALL the time, so keeping her still is going to be hard

[Clyde]

A crate will be your best friend. My little Gertie had both legs done at the same time. It was tough going but worth it in the end. The Op is only a success due to the after care.

Edited December 20, 2010 by Clyde

[OSoSwift]

Teebs very sorry to hear that.

I am not sure of exact time frames but from memory they need to be crated and toileted ( if really full on carried out) on lead only for 6 weeks. Then they can have very small walks on lead - around the back yard- and work up from there. It is really important they are kept quiet for the correct length of time or it may not heal and you may have to repeat surgery.

[Teebs]

Thanks, She is crate trained, so no problems with that, I was actually about to pack them up as i hardly ever use them!

So she cant walk at all for 6 weeks? or is it ok for her to hop around to go to the loo and come back in? or just walk around the house if there is no where to jump?

I am going to have a chat to boss at work and see if I can have her at work on the days I work, we have room to set a crate up, and then when I have my breaks, I will take her out. Mum and Dad are happy to come and do it, but I just rather me be the one...

I talked to the vet i saw this morning, he told me 6 weeks, but said i need to talk to the vet that is doing the operation, as he is the orthopedic (i think?) specialist.

I just picked her up and she is off her face I had to carry her from the vets, and then half carry her into her crate, while it is nice to have her calm, I hate that she has this going on :D (I asked the vet if i could try the sedatives out when she is happy and healthy, he laughed at me and goes 'i have to say no, but understand why you would want to :D )

[Clyde]

At first I would carry GErtie out for wees. They need FULL rest to start then you can put them on lead and gently let them walk around. They need to slowly ease back in to it. Towards the end I was told to take her for short walks up and down the street, You need to teach them to use that leg as some tend to favour it too much. It's a slowly but surely aftercare but definitely strict crate rest at first. Gertie then had a few trigger point therapy sessions to get the knots out. She then went straight on to Joint Guard, she now has arthritis. I have her legs xrays every 12 months or so as I am paranoid

[Teebs]

Thanks

At Is on Sashas blend, so there is no problem with getting her on to it either.

Finally got her settled, she kept crying in the crate, wasnt sure what she wanted, so took her out to the loo, got her a little drink and some food, and have her snuggled in the crate now, will leave her there till she wakes up again.

Bloody dogs

[Quickasyoucan]

Thanks, She is crate trained, so no problems with that, I was actually about to pack them up as i hardly ever use them!

So she cant walk at all for 6 weeks? or is it ok for her to hop around to go to the loo and come back in? or just walk around the house if there is no where to jump?

I am going to have a chat to boss at work and see if I can have her at work on the days I work, we have room to set a crate up, and then when I have my breaks, I will take her out. Mum and Dad are happy to come and do it, but I just rather me be the one...

I talked to the vet i saw this morning, he told me 6 weeks, but said i need to talk to the vet that is doing the operation, as he is the orthopedic (i think?) specialist.

I just picked her up and she is off her face I had to carry her from the vets, and then half carry her into her crate, while it is nice to have her calm, I hate that she has this going on (I asked the vet if i could try the sedatives out when she is happy and healthy, he laughed at me and goes 'i have to say no, but understand why you would want to )

Teebs, my boy Jake stafford x something had a TPLO operation at Sydney Uni Vet Hospital (one of the cruciate operation options) nearly 10 weeks ago. With the TPLO they like to get them up walking (with a towel under the belly for support) within a day of the operation.

My boy was in hospital for 2 days after the op, as they are on heavy pain meds for the first 24 hours. He came home with a fentanyl patch (pain relief) and I was told to hot pack the leg if there was swelling. He was walking on it gingerly by the time I picked him up with a towel under his belly in case he slipped.

My instructions were to confine him to a pen or small room for 8 weeks with toilet breaks on lead 5 mins 3 times per day. No steps, no jumping and no playing with other dogs.

The op is amazing as by the end of week one he was really using the leg well and that is when you need to make sure you keep them quiet. I went from taking him slowly across the road to toilet on the grass (my back yard does not have lawn) to short walks up and down the street and by the end of week 6 we used to do a 5-10 minute walk around the block on lead.

We had a few uh oh moments as he jumped out of his pen at the end of week 2, so I resorted to having him with me on the lead when he was inside as well (he is not properly crate trained and will not stay there for long periods of time). The specialist did say to me they prefer a pen to a crate as they do need to get up and move around. But if you have access to a big crate I am sure that would be okay.

We had follow up x-rays at 8 weeks and all had healed (despite those oops moments when he would do quick zoomies or occasionally jump on the lounge ) extremely well. We are now building up on lead walks and he is unrestricted at home but is not allowed to play ball or go to off leash parks for another month and a half, not because of danger to the bone but the risk of soft tissue injury as the muscles etc do weaken due to lack of exercise. I might add he is a mad ball player so I can see why they said that as it is probably how he hurt it in the first place.

Really I found the first 2 weeks (before the stitches came out and whilst the wound was fresh) the most difficult, after that (and my boy is a bit of a loon) it was relatively easy.

Hope this helps.

[Teebs]

Thanks

I only have crates, i do have access to a puppy pen - but rather not use it because there is no roof on it, she may be silly enough to try to get out of it

Mum and Dad do have a run i can use, it is not huge, but much bigger than a crate - but it is in the coldest part of the yard, so unless the sun comes out, there is no way we can use it!

I am happy to drag the bed out of the spare room and set that up for her - the carpet is coming out soon anyways, so if she has an accident, it wont matter.

ETA: I was thinking about asking the vets to keep her and have some one pick her up friday night, that way i have 2 days home to help her and can try to get into some sort of routine with her! Will chat to the vet on wednesday and see what they say

Edited December 20, 2010 by Teebs

[Quickasyoucan]

I actually put my mattress on the floor and put Jake in there whilst I was out. I kept the blinds closed and the window slightly open. He was fine in there and it was peaceful. Also meant he could be in with me at night (you are okay as Kaos is crate trained), but Jake tends to get on and off the bed normally.

It was actually worse when I was home as he wanted to do things with me and follow me around.

I agree with not using the puppy pen. I had my sister's really sturdy baby pen (about 80 cm high) he was looking at jumping out of that after the first couple of weeks, hence keeping him on the lead.

Jake had his op Wednesday and I did exactly what you suggest, picked him up Friday night so we had 2 days to get a routine going at the weekend. Also Jake seems to get nauseous and upset stomach generally from the anaesthetic so it was nice to know he was being looked after in that first 24 hours.

Good luck. the first 2 weeks seemed to go slow but after that it really is okay.

[OSoSwift]

I would not have them walking around the house. I would crate or pen. I have seen a dog that did have the house to wander in and he needed repeat surgery.

If she is crate trained I would be crating her and carying to the toilet in the first little while, then straight out toilet and straight in. The recovery phase is ever so important in the success of the surgery.

Rommi has been crate/dog run rested for 5 weeks (she is very quiet in the run) or tied on her bed with a short lead for a strained knee. It is nearly 6 weeks and she is just starting small trots around without the other dog. They will not be back together playing for another 3 or 4 weeks.

As much as they do get bored with it all on the scheme of things it is only 6 to 8 weeks out of a potentially 16 year life. Best to do it once and do it properly the first time

[Teebs]

Thanks everyone

[Mr R & NR]

Sorry you are having to go throught this. My Rotty had TPLO, we are now in week 11. I totally agree with what has been said here, the first 2 weeks are the worst. She is on lead at all times (she is a nutso). Toilet breaks only for the first 4 weeks then we could go for 10 min walks. I use a sling under her belly for all stairs (steps out the back and front of the house). Crated up until 8 weeks and then I added pen but she is only allowed in that when I am home. We are now doing 20 min walks and she is allowed to wander around the house in the eveing when all is quiet, not allowed any jumping until 16 weeks.

Good luck with Kaos!

[Teebs]

hmm.. i think, that seeing you all have been through this and know what to do... that i should just send her to one of you?

Any takers?

[westiemum]

Sorry you're going through this - I've been through it three times - with the same westie! My boys second op (DL (?) procedure - I think cos of his leg which in the next op (tibial wedge - unusual in a small dog)- the surgeon markedly changed the angle of his leg - ouch! (The first was really successful)

So yes the 6 week advice is correct. I took a couple of days off work after his ops to dog-sit - and then I comandeered his 'grandmother' to come and dog-sit for a week, during the day while I was at work. Then I put him in the kitchen where he couldn't jump anywhere with his bed. He wasn't crated (he's a puppy farm rescue dog and has spent years in cages so I didn't want to crate him). He spent the time on the lounge, next to one of us on a lead being regularly toiletted - carried outside for the first 5 or 6 days , then he was allowed to walk himself. I also had physio exercises for him from the surgeon and think these helped immensely.

It was all very trying - but absolutely worth it in the end - my gorgeous boy appears to be pain free and walking the best he ever has - so good luck and follow your surgeon's advice to the letter.