AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[AL]

Oh he walks great now when he gets away from me (in the house) Jerk. Barely even a limp unless his LEFT leg is bothering him . Do you know how long I have to assist him with the sling? Please say only the first week

You mean the truth about him being excitable? Everybody who has ever laid eyes on Rio knows he explodes into a frenzy of joy at the drop of a hat. They knew it, but I guess expected him to be calm after surgery. Didn't happen. And it would have been ok for her to talk to me about him being crazy, but to say within my earshot that "I'd rather you help me with this crazy dog" and "this dog doesn't mind anything" and to say it in anger? nah.. not cool. Not right to talk to a dog out of anger while in front of the owner because that lends itself to thoughts of "If they don't mind showing this anger in front of me, how do they show anger when I am not watching?"

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

and i think there is a huge difference between "he's been difficult today" and "he's crazy." but for sure that gal showed a completely lack of professionalism.

we took a slew of barncats in to be fixed on time - and the scariest one was "very difficult" and instead of complaining they just calmly explained to do this and that and just "BE VERY CAREFUL when you open the cage." not "dang that cat is totally nuts! run for your life!"

i think the truth can be told - in a factual and kind way. and it if it was my business i wouldnt want the clients to think the staff couldnt control the animals. zoikes!

 

[AL]

exactly

So Rio is home, next to me, "resting"..... please notice his tail is a blur because it is wagging furiously. *sigh* lol

 

[savingdogs]

Your specialist should be able to give you a timetable. They told us to walk her in a sling for X amount of weeks, and then short leash walks only for X amount of weeks, and then X amount of weeks with increasing length of walks. I don't remember the exact timetable, but I remember she was bearing weight before they expected it, both times, and we used the sling more to pull some of the weight off the leg, not to hold the dog up. They should be able to tell you what they expect and will want you to do. They may have changed things (obviously they have improved the metal used to not cause osteosarcoma, Yeah!). We always felt the TPLO was strong and made her legs super-strength. When our dog's first leg healed, it became her primary leg, and by the time we did her second leg two years later, the second leg had atrophied and wasn't as large as the first. It took a really long time before the second leg was as strong as the first TPLO-ed leg. She had two different kinds of plates, because in the two year interval they improved the kind of plate they used, so I guess that technology is moving pretty fast, I should have realized they would have improved that technology again, we had our dog done about eight years ago.

 

[AL]

I'll ask my vet if they have an idea. Technically all I'm doing is keeping him from putting his full weight on that leg - he is ready to go running, barely limps at all unless he has laid on that side for a long time. I go back Aug 1 to have his sutures (wire) taken out and see the surgeon for a recheck. Then as long as all goes well we won't go back for about a month and then they'll do follow up x-rays to make sure everything is still good.
I went this morning to pick up the insurance paper he filled out for me. The same receptionist was there. She asked had he calmed down and I kind of cooly told her he is fine at home, he just loves people and gets excited. She said "Oh I know, Kristin (the tech) was trying so hard, she was saying "You can't do that you're going to hurt yourself!"..... I didn't correct her. I think either my vet has been in touch with them or the receptionist knew the other girl was out of line.
ETA - I asked her about the sling but she wasn't sure either

39 more days

 

[AL]

I read through Rio's discharge instructions and PT book a couple more times and made an executive decision to stop using the sling. He has been doing great! He even tries really hard to behave when I leave him at my folks while I go to work. Yesterday though, he took to sitting at my dad's window with his chin on the sill watching for me .... sweetness.
At night he has to wear the cone of shame to make sure he doesn't lick his sutures (come out Monday). We have 5 more weeks of strict rest. Woo. Hoo.

How pitiful is this? I thought about painting flower petals on it HAHAHAHA

I have done my paperwork for work and the surgery. Next week starts a flurry of appointments... primary doc, pre-op education, registration, lab tests, consult with anesthesia, consult with the surgeon, etc.

Mostly I am bored right now. I work. I go to the gym for about an hour. I sleep. I do chores. I work. repeat. The garden is begging to be mowed and tilled, but it is back to be hot and I just can't get the motivation. I may just let it ride until October or so when it is cooler and I should be back to being able to do heavy work.

 

[savingdogs]

Oh, NO! not the cone of SHAME!

Just kidding. Thank God for those cones.

 

[Denim Deb]

Patches could never wear one of those. She'd go nuts trying to get it off. But at least any time she needed stitches, she left them alone.

 

[savingdogs]

Sometimes if they won't keep the collar on, you can take off their regular collar and loop it through the rings. then snap it tight, they usually just can't get it off like that (but they could still wreck the collar itself).

 

[TanksHill]

Poor dog dog. Those plastic collars are so uncomfortable.