Not a great second day

Things seemed good, she was even putting a bit of weight on the leg when going out to pee, but now it seems the incision is opening a little and it is freaking me out. There is a bit of blood, not much. She was shedding her E collar yesterday and I tried a couple of times today, but I couldn't keep it on her. With the bit of blood (not sure it was weeping or blood, but am leaning towards blood), I went out to buy some new E collars and I got one that is just the right size and put it on her and duct taped it so that there wasn't a flap for her to attack. She is still attacking it anyway and is very unhappy, but the leg is not looking great and I have a call into the surgical supervisor to see what she advises. I don't think it is life threatening at all, but I am still very worried. I think I will have to take her back to have it looked at in the morning. It is supposed to pour here tonight and I think that will upset her too. I would like to go cleanup the leg and put a cooling pad on it, but I am afraid to let her out of her crate. I wish I had some tranqs to make her lay down. She is sitting up in the crate complaining and it isn't helping my mood.

Not a bad first night

Well, Ben helped me take Adrien out to try to go to the bathroom last night. She had a little bit of water last night and no problems but didn't want to eat. We took her out with him holding the leash and encouraging her and me holding up her midsection to back with a towel sling under her. She didn't go, but she enjoyed sniffing outside. Her hind section was still not awake from the epidural. We put her in her crate (which she doesn't like, so it took some prodding and lifting of the rear) and I put on her cone. We moved the crate by the backdoor for proximity She really didn't like that, but I turned out the lights and took my laptop in the bedroom and worked in there. She whined and made a bit of noise, but went to sleep after a bit of complaining.

I got up this morning and went to let her out and she had shed the cone, but the stitches don't look any the worse for the wear. I put her immediately on the leash and she made it the few steps to the backdoor and sat down. It took me a minute to get the towel sling under her to help her over the door step. She doesn't seem to enjoy the towel sling, but there has to be absolutely no jumping, so she is going to have to get used to it for a while. Once we got over the threshold, I let her off the sling and we walked a few steps into the yard and then perhaps another 15 feet and she went a little. I turned her around and helped her back in and right into the XPen by where I will be working for the next few days. I sat with her and pet her and she seemed calm. I looked over at the incision and it looks pretty good even though she didn't have her cone. I don't really see any weeping (which is okay either way) and I don't see any major swelling or any edema which they told me would be normal. I went and got her dose of pills and tried to shove it down her mouth and that didn't work so well. It took me multiple passes to get the pills down and I had to check the blanket to ensure I got them all. For the last pieces, I got some spray cheese and she licked them right up. That is the strategy from hence forth. She is taking 75mg Ultram x 3 per day, 170mg Previcox x 1 per day, 500mg Cephaloxin x 2 per day. I offered her some water and food and she wasn't interested so I left them in the pen. I sat with her and put on an ice pack to her incision for a few minutes and she let me rub her stomach and laid on her side and seemed content. I closed her back in and moved the 8 feet over here and she is lying on her side and hanging out. As long as I don't see her licking, she can have the cone off while I am here.

Nice scar

Post Surgery

You know that old slam, "if my dog was as ugly as you are .....". I picked up Adrien after surgery and the vet tech who prepped her for surgery shaved the left leg and then realized she was having surgery on her right leg. Her whole backside is shaved, but she isn't going to be walking backwards or forwards for a bit. The post op instructions are strict crate confinement. I had her in the bedroom in the XL crate, but I didn't want to always be back there, so moved it out to the family room. I have her laying down on a comforter in the really closed in XPen and it isn't much more room than the XL crate and she seems to be happier there. Not sure what I am going to do tonight, but I assume crate and try not to listen to her whining. She hasn't had any water yet. I gave her a small amount in a bowl to see if she would drink it and keep it down (post anesthesia),but she hasn't wanted any. I forced her pills down her throat and she is just laying there with her cone on. Looks like she is sleeping. Perhaps I should rouse her so she sleeps later. I tried to take her out to pee, but she didn't want to so I didn't force it. She hasn't had any food/water since about 10 last night but the post op instructions say she may not want to eat or drink tonight. Her backside is very weak right now. They had given her an epidural and now that her right leg has been majorly surgerized, she isn't very mobile at all. I have to lift her midsection/back with a towel as a sling and she doesn't want to move the front legs. Tomorrow may be a different story.

Tomorrow is the big day

And I have to tell you, I am more than a bit nervous. I need to make a list of things to ask post op. Meds for pain, inflammation, antibiotics, hot/cold compresses, e-collar, and the list goes on. I take Adrien in the morning after I drop Ben off for school. I will be a bit later than they want, but she will be there. I am taking a half day tomorrow so that I can be ready to pick her up. I have a conference call in the morning during the dropoff and I hope that they understand that I am distracted.

Tried her tonight in the big exercise pen with her comforter on the floor while I went off to a meeting and I had Ben leave her in there for about 15 minutes to see how she would react and things look good there.

Surgery plan

Well, the blog was mentioned in the volunteer email newsletter today,so I need to put in the update on the surgery. We are opting for the TPLO. Adrien will go in on the morning of the 16th and home later that day. I think I will take the afternoon off. It works out nicely that a regularly scheduled Wed. afternoon appointment is going to every other week and that is the first off week, so I don't have any commitments if I take a half day. I don't know if Adrien will need an E-collar or not. I will check out the stash at the shelter this weekend. I need to remember to size a collar for her and bring it to the shelter to ensure the sizing of the e-collar. I also think I need an x-pen. I have a XL create that I will probably put her in while I am gone for the day, but I will try to do more working from home the first week after surgery. I guess I should get the x-pen this week so I can see how she does in it and if it will keep her contained or if I need to setup a room that she will have to stay in. I am anxious to hear what post-op info that ATA has for me and what the recovery plan is. Anyone recommend a local dog PT for rehab? I don't know if she likes to swim, but I guess I better check that out now before the surgery to see if that is a possible PT option after she is cleared for that.

Surgery on the 16th

Well, found out Wed. that Adrien has a slot for surgery on the 16th. The question is whether to go with extracapsular repair or TPLO. Dr. Lewis recommended TPLO in Adrien's case. He will do either surgery, but feels there is a good chance that the extracapsular repair will fail down the line. The TPLO is a lot more, but within the money we have raised. My concern either way is that I have read that about 50% (and I have read AT LEAST 50%) of dogs that have one CCL repair, end up having the other because of the extra stress on the opposite leg from compensating for the issue. Well, can't let potential future problems keep us from getting her better now. So, on the plus side, the extracapsular repair is significantly less invasive, but it also probably won't slow the onset of osteoarthritis she is likely to develop when she gets older. The TPLO is much more invasive but should slow the advancement of joint degeneration and osteoarthritis in her knee as she gets older.

Jennifer at ABR has had good experience with Dr. Lewis and has had dogs have both surgeries with him (different dogs) and says at this point she listens to his advice and opts for that surgery. I know there is a lot of online info about TPLO being a quick buck for surgeons, but I also know that isn't the case here as ATA is a very low cost service to rescue groups. This surgery would cost 3x more (or higher) at another vet. I guess what freaks me out a bit is the invasiveness of the surgery, but I can't let that hold me back from getting what is best for Adrien. Monica says we have the funds for the TPLO, so that is the decision I will also recommend.