Sunday 15 November 2015

Dusty's op!

This week Dusty will mostly be wearing an e-collar


Well things have moved along a bit after a worrying time since last I posted. Tom checked out Dusty’s leg and was concerned about the swelling round his stifle joint. Mainly he wanted to rule out that his jaw and knee problems could be related (must admit that had crossed my mind too) and might be indicative of an auto-immune disease.

So off we went back to Newmarket on Thursday where they did scans and x rays. The phone call when it came said he needed TPLO (tibial-plateau-levelling osteotomy) surgery for a cruciate ligament rupture on his right hind leg and that they had a slot for the next day (Friday) if we wanted it. You can read more about the procedure here. There is an x ray picture of the plate and screws which looks just like Dusty’s.

It was a relief that there was no auto-immune disease though – a bright side at least.

His op on Friday lasted for almost four hours. For the next few weeks we have to make sure he doesn’t run, jump or climb on anything.

At the moment he has to wear an e-collar until the wound has healed which should be in about 10 days.

We were shown his scans and x rays when we picked him up on Saturday. They also found the top of the tibia on his left leg is an odd shape and his kneecap is slightly in the wrong place. As well as that, there is a fragment of bone floating round in there. Not causing any problems at the moment. I asked if it was the result of some injury and he said no, just a mystery thing he was born with.


Finally falling asleep on the journey home


Anyway, he was over the moon to see us and happy to be coming home – it’s a 90 minute journey and yesterday it seemed endless. Tried him in the metal crate when we’d been home for a while and he said no thanks to that – he went so crazy I was afraid he’d hurt himself. We’d never used it so little wonder he doesn't like it. I’ve ordered him a soft one like Harley’s – only much bigger and hoping he finds that more comfortable.

Hopefully he will love his soft crate as much as Harley loves hers


In the end we made the smaller end of the living room into a pen and I slept down there on a chair bed with him so he could move about in a small space but had nothing to climb on.

Today he is in my office with me upstairs which is more comfortable for him. I carried him up and have a gate at the top of the stairs to stop him escaping down. It’s more comfortable for me too than sitting on the floor downstairs with him to stop him jumping up on the sofas.

This week we’ll take him to see our vet for a check-up, then hopefully once the wound has healed he’ll be able to start short lead walks.

Oh and I am having to do exercises with him, but the minute I start he sits down. He likes the leg massages though!






28 comments:

  1. Oh bless him! You must be delighted to have him home, Teresa x

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    1. I am, Wendy. I was so pleased when they said I could pick him up xx

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  2. Hope his recovery goes really well.

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    1. Thank you, Patsy. I am being very careful with his after care xx

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  3. I'm sure Dusty will appreciate it all once he recovers completely, and all your tender care of him.

    Hugs to you both.xxx

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    1. Oh I hope so, Carol, thank you. Hopefully once he is fully recovered, he'll be able to run around like before, but that could be six months away. I just hope he remembers his recall!! xx

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  4. Oh, poor Dusty. Best wishes for a speedy recovery (my daughter calls that head thing The Lampshade of Shame. Not sure why. Her dogs occasionally have to wear one).

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    1. Thanks, Frances. I've heard it called a lampshade and a cone of shame. Dusty would call it all sorts of swearwords if he could! xx

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  5. So glad it's over and he is home again. He couldn't be in better hands. Sending love and hugs to you both xxxx

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    1. Thank you, Sue - I wish I had my faith in me that you do. I am terrified of making a mistake xx

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  6. It's the 'having to be cruel to be kind' that's the hardest, isn't it? But Tim and Ted assure me that dogs do know their humans are helping make them better because the love always shows. xx

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    1. Thank you for your wise words (and Tim and Ted for theirs) Pat. I came back from the school run without his best friend Poppy today and he was distraught looking for her as he could smell her on me. He couldn't believe I'd come home without her xx

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  7. Poor little mite. I hope he will bounce back soon. He is clearly getting the best of care. We have a folding camp bed, and have had several spells of sleeping on it downstairs for dog related emergencies. Good luck with the patient, and Harvey sends healing thoughts too! x

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    1. Thank you Joanne and Harvey. We have the nice soft crate now and he's already been inside to have a look round. I'm hoping he'll like it enough to stay in it overnight once he's used to it so I can sleep on my real bed (or even the sofa would be nice!) xx

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  8. I'm sure the Universe sends you sick animals because it knows you are the right people to care for them. Now the Universe should send you a Lotto win to pay for all the caring. Vets are expensive.

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    1. Oh that would be lovely, Lynne. He's used up all his insurance and more now and we still have his next x rays to pay for and all the other etc etcs xx

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  9. Poor Dusty and poor you, but sounds like he is in the best of hands. Hope all goes well.

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  10. So happy for Dusty that you're his loving mum. Nobody would care and love him the way you do. xx I'm sure all the family around him will encourage him to get well soon as well. xx

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    1. Thanks, Suzy - he seems to be feeling much better today. He's started trying to jump up at things and because I'm not letting him, he's becoming fixated so I'm having to watch him constantly - it's going to be a very long few weeks! xx

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  11. How lucky Dusty is to have such a caring owner - pleased to hear the first hurdle is past and he can continue getting better.

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  12. Bless his heart, Teresa. What an ordeal for him, but made so much easier by the love and care you give him. He's been very unlucky to suffer these setbacks, but so very lucky to have you. I think his eyes show how grateful he is. And I love Harley's soft crate. Our three cats would love to curl up in one - or three - of those. Wishing Dusty the speediest of recoveries. He's a complete star. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Joanna. He has been unlucky hasn't he - not two years old yet!

      That soft crate is wonderful (Pet Planet) - when she has to go to the vet, I just take it along so she's in her familiar bed. She spends most of the day in it.

      Dusty went straight in his when it arrived whereas he had to be persuaded into the metal one. He slept in it for some of last night, but with the door rolled up so he could come and go. Eventually I hope to be able to close the door so he is safely confined if he has to be, but I'm taking it slowly xx

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  13. Aww bless him. I hope he makes a speedy recovery and is running around after apples in no time! xx

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    1. Thank you, Deb - running round after apples seems such a long way away at the moment, but he's making good progress, touch wood xx

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  14. Hi Teresa,

    Nice to see a bit of encouraging news after such a dreadful week on our beleaguered planet.

    Bless Dusty and bless you, my kind friend.

    Gary

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