OhPoor Boots! Cruciate ligament op

[ladyt25]

My mum's dog is feeling a bit sorry for herself as has just had a op today to repair her cruciate ligament.

We feel a bit bad as she went lame suddenly about 4 weeks ago after a trip to the beach. We suspected a cruciate from how she didn't want to weight bear. Mum took her to vets the next day and suggested maybe cruciate. Vet said "no, I don't think it's that". So she had painkillers, restricted walking, two sessions with physios (as we thought maybe her back - she's had problems before). She also had 4 x sessions of hydrotherapy. Still lame.

She had an appointment with our McTimoney guy booked in for yesterday but, in the meantime my dad noticed a hard lump on her leg (she is quite hairy so not easy to see). McTimoney guy looked at her and immediately said it's her leg not her back!!

So, back to vets yesterday and lo and behold it's her blooming cruciate!! They operated today but bless the poor dog she's been hobbling about all this time. Sometimes I do wish vets would maybe listen to owners a little more. hey ho!

So, anyone have tips to help recovery following this op?

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Cage rest or ensure she stays on her bed very strictly, support her belly with a towel when she goes to squat for wees, take it super slowly, no off lead for weeks. My springer had both done (I think it's about 80% chance that the second will go ) but was 100% aft a very careful recovery. He was super calm, depends how the girl is, but you need to be strict.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Mine had a TPLO 12 weeks ago and some of the meniscus removed too.
He's allowed off lead properly as from tomorrow, it's heart breaking having to leave him at home for the first 6 weeks whilst I took the others out for walks. Just make sure as cinnamontoast has said you are strict.
Here's a TPLO:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibial-plateau-leveling_osteotomy

Hope it all goes well for your dog, Oz

 

[ladyt25]

Thanks. Well, I will tell my parents to be strict (as they're not!) Mum seems to have an aversion to dogs on a lead (or this dog on a lead anyway) as yes, most of the time she can toddle along nicely but if she sees something she fancies chasing then she'll go. She is 8 now though so it's not too much of a chores to keep her calm, she's not a hyper dog thankfully so hopefully she will do ok. Think we all feel bad it wasn't picked up first though.