TPLO Post Surgery Day 4

Well the big news of yesterday was that Maddie finally pooped after 38 hours and two doses of canned pumpkin. So now I know for sure that her crying at night is because she does not like being left alone. I do find this interesting since before the surgery she was quite happy to be left alone. I guess she likes it better when it is HER idea!

She has started to get spunky and sassy, so now we need to be on guard to keep her from using the leg more than she should - no jumping, stairs, walks other for potty breaks and to change sleeping spots. When we are home she is gated in the family room with us and has two beds to sleep in (one is in the crate which she basically ignores). She is being quite good and not messing with the stitches much. We have caught her liking at them, but not vigorously and she mostly leaves them alone. I suspect this could change as they heel and maybe get itchy. She has about 24 staples down her knee and two inside her ankle. One of the two ankle stitches is coming out, but the skin around it is still sealed and looks clean and good. Vet said we could just watch it or bring her in for repair. So far we are just watching it since getting her in and out is tricky.

She is starting to put weight on the leg, especially when on soft surfaces like the carpet or lawn. Still some three legged dog, but not so much. Her personality is returning too, she has to have a stuffed toy (duck) to go out and the trotted (three legged) to get it. So I took all but two toys out and leave them close to the door to avoid too much trotting. She also is getting nosey about the baby gated areas and I think she is getting tired of the family room and would like to check out those areas she is banned from.

Can't think of more to say, so here is a photo of what she is doing best right now!

You can see her shaved leg and staples here a bit, also her new red collar. We got tired of taking her old green collar in and out of the e-collar loops and bought her a new one. Makes changes much easier!

TPLO Surgery Day 2

Yesterday I had my left knee repaired. Spent the night on a morphine derivative and was in a happy place most of the time. I have been taken out for potty breaks, but still don't feel I can put weight on my left leg and I am trying the three legged approach for a while. I hear a rumor that my family will be picking me up later today and I can't wait to get home!

Owners note: we can't wait to get Maddie home either! We bought a largest crate in the store and put her very soft bed inside. The Vet. Tech said a soft bed is good since she will probably be laying on her right side a lot for while. We wanted a large crate so she could move around a little with the cone on and then if that was her home while we were a way for the next few months we though she'd be happier and less cramped.

Here Maddie is waiting to get out the door. There was a lady with two dogs outside and we did not want any distractions so we waited. Plus she was parked next to us and when she left there was more room to open the car door and put Maddie in the back seat.

The pink thingy is a sling they made us to help support her. We do not use it to lift her, but have as a support in case she slips and we would keep her from landing on her repaired knee. She went potty outside the vets and again when we got home. She also pooped once home (having eaten some in the morning) all looked good so far. She stuck her nose in the water dish right away and later had some dinner (half rations while less active). The vet said she was a very good patient and so far she has been good here. We have her on Rimadyl, Tramadol and Cephalexin. She has shown no interest in her stitches and so no e-collar on yet, but when we leave her alone in the crate it will go on for sure! Not taking any chances. She wandered a bit here and there in the family room we have gated off and finally we got her to settle in the large crate with the soft bed. So far mostly three legged, but has started to toe tap. We closed the door to the crate while we ate dinner with her still in eye shot and she has not seemed to mind it. The big test will be when we go to bed and leave her there with the collar on!

Maddie's note:

I was so happy to see my owners when they took me out of the cage at the hospital, I wagged and wiggled and then I licked them all the way home. Well, I mostly licked mom since she was in the back seat with me and I laid my head on her lap for the ride home. So far I have seen that stupid e-collar, but no one has put it on me yet. I hear if I am good I won't need to wear it - oh boy! For now I have been doing a lot of sleeping (mom keeps checking to make sure I am breathing, so I think I will start snoring now so she can tell I am sound asleep)!

That is about all for day two!