ness Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 (edited) Yep nice kind ortho specialist patiently answered my zillion questions :laugh: - he is a find and a half as a specialist . He has explained the rehab re patella surgery based on worst case scenario and best case scenario. I am a little happier but not wanting to rush into it. At this stage we are going to keep going as we have. Today she got to run her very first lot of jump grids in AGES. Patella was no issue, the shoulder hmmm the jury is still out. He did explain to me normally if you were just going to have a pet dog he wouldn't totally recommend surgery on the patella but in a more athletic dog it was something he would strongly recommend. Edited March 28, 2012 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 Ok just to update this - Kenz ended up having surgery on the 10th of May. The specialist didn't need to end up cutting bone or deepening her grove and he just tightened the ligaments and placed reinforcement on the other side. She had her follow up check up yesterday to have stitches out and the incision looks great and the patella is solid and not shiftable. He was also happy with how she is using the leg at present. Now the killer - he wants her back in 6 weeks and she is to remain on complete strict rest until that point. When I clarified in an email last night (I was originally told 4 weeks total strict rest) he did say given she was relatively young I could bring her back in 4 weeks and he would assess how things were going before starting to gradually increase her activity. So what was suppose to be 4 weeks is now looking more like 6-8 weeks complete rest. I am not sure I understand his logic. Does this sound normal? I know all my reading on luxating patella surgery the longer rest period is only when they have cut bone and normally they should be allowed to start at least having small walks a few weeks after surgery. I am just not sure either of us will survive another 4 weeks of rest. The first 10 days were fairly easy as the meds were keeping her somewhat quieter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RosieFT Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Hiya that sounds a really long time to keep your dog quiet! I hope the surgery is worth it for you. Do you have to have the other leg done at some point as well? or did she only have the problem with one leg? Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 It seems excessively long which is why i am questioning it :laugh:. I know there are a few people here who have had the surgery and so I was finding out before I go back and hassle the nice specialist to find out his reasoning. No thankfully the other leg is all fine so its just the one. We just won't talk about the shoulder which may need surgery later . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RosieFT Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Well i got a quote for just over 1000 for xrays of front legs. My dog might just have to live with the slight limp that appears off and on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RosieFT Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 oh and vet felt she had patella problem too. Deb never found that. hmmmmm Hope the surgery fixes one problem at least Ness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) Thats an expensive quote just for xrays. We are hoping that fixing the patella actually helps the shoulder because its the diagonally opposite leg so it might just be due to compensation. With her shoulder we have agreed to manage with pain meds as necessary. Edited May 23, 2012 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RosieFT Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I thought it was very high. She said because we had to do both front legs relaxed and flexed... but $209 just for anaesthetic? for a dog that weighs 7.9kg? HOpe it all works out for you, it is such an unknown isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) I paid ~$700 for xrays and ultrasound scan on the front end. Kenz is 13.4 kg for what its worth although she was around 14 at the time LOL. ETA. Kenz had her paws xrayed to because she was being princess paws and they wondered if she had damaged a bone in her foot so wanted to rule that out. Edited May 23, 2012 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RosieFT Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 wow ok, so why so much for tiny terrier?? thanks Ness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 wow ok, so why so much for tiny terrier?? thanks Ness. They ripping you off, even when Gibbs had 2 teeth removed at my local vet plus numerous X-rays from paw to shoulder all diff positions it cost me under $600 and Rivergum were $397 for X-rays and anaesthetic and he weighs around 29 kgs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Lab Love Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 (edited) Ness - my Tango ( Lab - 20 months at the time) had patella surgery last August and the operation involved cutting the bone to extend the groove. He was on complete strict rest for 4 weeks (v hard with two labs under 2) and then tiny on lead walks to toilet for another 2 weeks.... basically kept extremely quiet for 8 weeks.. After that we were allowed small onlead walks which we gradually increased eventualy incorporating swimming and hill work. At the time the vet was very happy with his progress, the operation and the healing and we thought we were in the clear. OH was between jobs for three months so Tango was strictly monitored and we followed the vet's instructions to a tee. BUT 4 months later just as we thought we were over the worst - Tango's other patella went Now after vet / chiro / specialist visits the general concensus was that at the diagnosis it was quite mild and would not need operating. However in the last month that has again changed and it looks like it is getting worse and slipping out more.... He has also developed a slight limp when he trots which our chiro seems to think is bc he is carrying his weight on his front legs to compensate for the patella. Sigh..... So I guess what I am trying to say is that even after the max crate rest and doing everyhing as instructed this still happened so I guess Ness, as hard is it going to be (and trust me I know), do the max rest bc honestly we did all the right things and this still happended. OH and I are of the opinion that the other patella went due to a combination of bad genetics and an overcompensation on the other leg during the recovery. We have been so careful with his weight, avoiding off lead parks bc of the rough and tumble and trying to limit and supervise their zoomies but are now looking down the barrel of more surgery sooner rather than later. I nearly cried when I got home and saw him limping.... I really don't want to put him through such invasive surgery within 12 months but really can't see any option. It's hard too when you work full time and have no other support so we are busy now trying to stockpile leave so we can take alternative weeks off to get the surgery done... Not too mention buying a Lotto ticket every week I can so empathise with all you are going through Ness and I so hope that you have a positive outcome for Kenz... OH and I also learnt during the whole process that crate training is a godsend - we would not have coped otherwise... Edited May 24, 2012 by Double Lab Love Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 24, 2012 Author Share Posted May 24, 2012 (edited) Thanks for your comments DLL. I guess I was prepared for 4 months total rehab and 4 weeks rest just not 6 weeks strict rest LOL. I was told if he cut bone then it would be 6-8 weeks rest but he didn't. Kenz has a complicating factor in that she has biceps tendonitis in her right shoulder and the problem I am seeing is the longer she is resting so strictly the more lame she is getting in her front end as well and after having been working through that since Christmas I am somewhat frustrated. We won't even talk about the proceeding 12 months when we were making no progress with the shoulder. Kenz is good in her crate - well as good as you can be when your spending so much time in it. I agree with the being difficult if your working full time. I am not at this stage and rarely gone so that was in part why I opted to do surgery and not wait on it any longer. Aside from the fact things had got worse in the last 2 months. Edited May 24, 2012 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Lab Love Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Oh Ness - it's a nightmare isn't it One paw forward two paws back... Tango's patella issues started a year ago and I honestly thought we would be in the clear by now.. I am so worried about his front leg and the the limping and I am worried the longer we leave the surgery the worse it is going to get and the more damage is caused... It's a leave issue for us as we both work long days and travel 90 mins each way to the CBD for work so have to be home full time for the recovery and we need at least 3 weeks off each which we don't have. Like you as soon as OH left his job last year we knew we would have at least 6 weeks so scheduled the surgery asap - it's just not possible at the moment this time around... You are so right it's so hard to keep them entertained in the crate once the meds wear off.... As tango got stronger we would tether them both on leads on the grass in the backyward so he could get some sun and fresh air but not run or move around. We also went through alot of kangaroo jerky.... Hardest thing was sneaking Tippi out for her daily excercise as he would get so upset...and sook - my god does that boy sook At the end if the day though - like you Ness - we will hang in there bc his health and well being is of the utmost priority.... .. Ness - we also have had two rounds of cartropen as well - specialist recommended to help avoid arthritis later on Plus he is on VAN supplements and Omega 3/6/9... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 24, 2012 Author Share Posted May 24, 2012 LOL I have just been neglecting my other dog but then she is nearly 12 to. She has been out a few times but considering that use to get out twice a day no where near that amount. I have been taking Kenz on trips in the car and driving to parks and letting my older girl out for a bit of a sniff around and either carrying Kenz to the grass and having her lay down or sitting in the boot with her and giving her attention while the other one is off wandering. Kenz had a course of cartrophen in the middle of last year when the shoulder problem surfaced. She hasn't had a follow up course but probably should. She is on fish oil and joint guard and has been anyway since she was young. Kenz's patella issue only became an issue when she lost the muscle support while resting for the shoulder rehab - grrrrrr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonwoman Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Thanks for your comments DLL. I guess I was prepared for 4 months total rehab and 4 weeks rest just not 6 weeks strict rest LOL. I was told if he cut bone then it would be 6-8 weeks rest but he didn't. Kenz has a complicating factor in that she has biceps tendonitis in her right shoulder and the problem I am seeing is the longer she is resting so strictly the more lame she is getting in her front end as well and after having been working through that since Christmas I am somewhat frustrated. We won't even talk about the proceeding 12 months when we were making no progress with the shoulder. Kenz is good in her crate - well as good as you can be when your spending so much time in it. I agree with the being difficult if your working full time. I am not at this stage and rarely gone so that was in part why I opted to do surgery and not wait on it any longer. Aside from the fact things had got worse in the last 2 months. I have been through bone surgeries and cared for others' dogs over the years with BCs, you just have to harden your heart and follow drs orders, I think after a while they become sort of "institutionalised" and adapt to confinement very well. Have been surprised when hitherto very active dogs head straight back to their crates after toiletting. Trick is to be consistent. It is a very hard time for all Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Lab Love Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Ness - sounds like we are pretty much doing the same thing re care.. Just opposite injuries - as yours is shoulder to patella and mine is patella to shoulder Not much fun either way I have to say and very very frustrating.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 24, 2012 Author Share Posted May 24, 2012 I feel horrible came home from my only long day to a very sick dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Lab Love Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Oh no Ness... Is it Kenz ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 24, 2012 Author Share Posted May 24, 2012 Yep she was sick in her crate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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