[chiclet]

My 15 month old, 12 1/2 pound pomchi (supposedly and likely) is getting surgery next week to repair a luxating patella. The vet was quite surprised because Casey has really good anatomy, so it might be an injury. The other leg is "rock solid".

Anyway, does any one have any advice or tips on how to get through the recovery period. Fortunately, I don't work so other than the occasional run to the grocery store or other necessary errands, he won't be left alone. He is glued to me, and follows me to other rooms. I imagine this won't be too good for him to try.

I looked at info about glucosamine and chondroitin but I wonder if in this case, if I use it for a while if I really have to keep him on it for life.

[lovemyH&A]

Hi! Sorry to hear about your pup's surgery!
What does your pup know how to do? I mean, does he already know "stay"?

Could you get an interactive toy, like the kind by Nina Ottoson? There are quite a few, but the type I'm thinking of are the "brain teasers". Your pup has to figure out how to get treats out of hiding places on the toy.
Of course, since he won't be getting much exercise, you'd want to be careful with how many and what kind of treats you use, but you could even use kibble in the toys. That wouldn't be too many calories.

Anyway, I was thinking of those type of toys because it would be mentally stimulating, which I would think would be very important, since he can't really get much physical stimulation.

You can also make your own types of "puzzles" by putting a favorite toy or treat in a small cardboard box, and put that it a larger box, and then the larger box goes in an even larger box, etc. Like nesting boxes. Then, you let your dog find the toy or treat. It's messy, so supervise, in case he tries to eat the cardboard...

[pupsicles]

Hi! Misha, my 9-year old Golden Retriever, also underwent surgery for her luxating patella. The vet did an excellent job but he always stressed out the importance of rehabilitation procedures after surgery so that our pets can have full use of the leg in a shorter period of time. There are MPL home rehabilitation guide booklets that you can download online about everything we need to do when our dogs just had surgery for luxating patella.

please do update us on your dog's progress

[chiclet]

Sorry, He had the surgery and it went very well. It took a few days to get over the anaesthesia but one morning he woke up, ate his usual stuff and as far as he was concerned, nothing happened and he wanted to do all his usual activities, run, jump,.. etc.

So the challenge is to keep him down and quiet. I am not sure what physio will do for him, since he seems to have no trouble moving his leg at all. But, I will of course follow the vet's instructions. I am working on getting him off the metacam, he doesn't seem to be having any pain, at all.

The surgery was done before any wear happened on bones or anything else and he is not doomed to arthiritis. The defect in his bone would not have shown up on any x-ray. So it turns out to be a good thing that I had him checked out when the occasional lameness started. The incision is nice and clean so I expect that any resulting scar will be not much more than a thin line.

My tip would be to have some puppy pads to use for the first day after surgery, keep them under the puppy or dog. I found mine would just empty his bladder while sleeping even on me. That lasted about a day and he was back to going outside. And have a good hold on your dog when you first put the ice pack on.

[chiclet]

I find it hard to believe that it has only been four weeks since the surgery. He is still doing really well, no physio required but I can now take him for three 5 to 10 minute walks a day. That should help use up some of his energy and he was getting pretty bored just being confined to the house and yard.

[cigwyllt]

How about hiding food in and around the yard? Make him use his energy to think rather than run.

[chiclet]

That is an interesting idea.

[Ailen]

Give Him rest.2 min walk in first week and 5 min one walk in second week and so on.Your dog will take 4 to 6 months for recover.So dnot let burden on him.Food has no relation with outside surgery.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Ailen

Give Him rest.2 min walk in first week and 5 min one walk in second week and so on.Your dog will take 4 to 6 months for recover.So dnot let burden on him.Food has no relation with outside surgery.

Wrong, as noted...it is used as a mental stimulant therefore is a healthy routine for post surgery. It keeps the mind simulated and allows for the dog to seek out with a controlled goal as opposed to just walking or running.

[chiclet]

It is hard to believe that it is only 4 1/2 months since the surgery. It seems so long ago, especially since his recovery was so good. He has been doing all his usual things for quite some time. Oh yeah, he is on benadryl for allergies!!

[lange]

Good to hear! I don't know whether you have a Sams Club near you, or an account, but they have super well priced antihistamine under their Memebers Mark label if you're interested.

[chiclet]

Thanks for the tip.