Big Paws Only Dog Forums
BPO General Forum => General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws => : Buster's family April 29, 2009, 05:10:04 AM
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Hi, there! I am new to BIG PAWS ONLY...What a great sight sight.Wish I had known about it when Buster, our Great Pyr was just a pup! He is now 2 1/2 and weighs in at 146 lbs. He busted out his ACL on Friday night of last week, we took him right in on Sat. but the vet couldn't really see him to take X-rays until Mon. And didn't get back to us with decisions until this Monday. So...while we are waiting to hear from our vet, I'm pretty sure he busted his other ACL(both back legs). He can hardly walk. Just wondering if any one has any advice or stories of ACL repair and recovery...Tha nks!
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WELCOME to BPO ;D This is a great site and everyone is full of knowledge, I've learned so much while I have been here. I'm so sorry to hear about your Pry :'( poor thing, I don't have any info on this. But I know someone on here does ;D good luck to him and I hope he gets back to felling okay.
~Kirsti
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Hi, I am so sorry about the torn ACL. I take my Sugar Bear to the vet for his 8 week check up after TPLO surgery for a torn ACL. I can tell you what just getting to the surgery day is the hard part. After the surgery each day gets a little better and better. My goal for Sugar Bear was just to walk without pain but now I can see that is he going to be better than that and will be playing with my other four pyrs in the next few months. You need to join this yahoo board: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodogs/
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Grace had both of hers done within a year and the rott i had with my ex husband had both of hers done within 6 months of each other. Luckily, both legs went at separate times. it's horrible for the first 30 days, and then it's pretty easy. a long recovery and a tense few months is all it is. so, after going through 4 ACL replacements over a period of 2 1/2 years, the last one with Grace was a breeze.
don't panic and just get through it. and when you have questions, call the vet or come here. there are several threads here full of ACL stories. most of them are in medical conditions.
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;)Hey, thanks for the reply...he went in today for operation on knee #1 and the vet just called to say it went well.He tore both ACL's (left and right rear). He is such a good dog, excited to see the vet...even after a 2 1/2 hr drive(and he hates the truck!) He is a very big boy...but not fat, just big! So, we are going to block off part of our porch for him. That way he doesn't get depressed and hot being inside all the time. He loves his job, so out there he can bark a bit. We get to stay home every day, so he won't be lacking in the love department!!! His girl---my 6 yr old---will probably be spending a lot of time sitting with him. ;D He is such a sweetie. It will be wierd taking walks without him! He'll be on "house arrest" all summer. :-\ These big dogs sure have a way of becoming a HUGE part of your life :) SO MUCH LOVE!!!! He's so sweet...
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Which type surgery did he have? The first week will be really hard but it will get better. It took Sugar Bear 7 days before he would poop and he lost 8 lbs during the first two weeks. I took his bed which is a futon and put it on the floor with x-pens around it so that I could sleep with him the fist few nights. He will only need just enough room to turn around not enough so that he can walk around. Sugar Bear was really good on potty walks so I was able to take the lead off and let him potty and them it was back in the house. Good luck and keep us updated.
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weight (even if he's not fat) can play a big part in the ACL issue. It'll be important to keep his weight down during recovery too. Grace gained weight during recovery because there was no activity for 30 days and very little during the other 3 months. just be careful not to let him bounce around while "doing his job". limited activity is very important.
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We picked Buster up today...he was SOOOO happy to see us, but DID NOT want to get back in the truck!!! He had the TPLO surgery. The closest vet that can do this is in Spokane, WA...3 hrs away. This was our first time there. They are surgery specialists, and we were very satisfied. They will be doing his post op check ups because they don't have to knock him out to do x-rays and they don't charge for the visit, just the x-rays. He also could tell that the ACL was torn just by touching his leg...so, we feel really good about this guy.
Buster is now layin' on the floor not wanting to get up. Good dog! He's drinking and eating...wich is pretty cool cuz he never drinks out of containers(we have a streamm by our house that he prefers) and doesn't like to eat indoors either...Our vet advised us to cut down his food a little since he won't be exercising at all, so we will watch this closely...I am worried about the poop and pee thing! He NEVER poops or pees near the house or on his leash. I'm hoping he will just decide it's fine! Well, if ya gotta go, you gotta go---right!!?? I think we will make him a space all blocked off with our kitchen chairs tonight so he doesn't move around too much...
Well, thanks!!! ~Holly & Buster
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So glad your boy is home. The smaller you can make the space the better. He just needs enough room to turn around and that is about it. It took my boy 7 days to go poop so you may want to feed him some pumpkin to help him go. I took my boy in for his 8 weeek x-rays yesterday and his vet will now let him have a few leashed walks a day, but still no running, jumping or playing until after his next x-ray in four weeks. Anway good luck with Buster and enjoy the quite time with him.
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Oh, man...he is "snarky" when we try to get him up to go outside. I think he thinks we will put him in the truck, plus with both legs out...I'm sure pain is an issue(ofcourse). He put my arm in his mouth last night, but didn't bite hard...I wasn't mad, but really felt bad for him. He is happy, though. He's getting lots of lovin'. I think we'll just let him be until he has to get up, or gets over the idea that he might have to get in the truck. We parked it up out of sight from the front door. Hmmmm...I hope he doesn't get too agressive.
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It could be the pain meds. What did they give him? Don't worry if it takes him a few days before he will poop, it took 6 days for Sugar Bear.
Lisa
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i figured they'd go with the TPLO. Seems that most vets are really pushing that these days. The ACL replacment is just as good though. But with both legs gone, the recovery with the TPLO will be faster, taking the strain off the other leg so he can have his other leg done sooner.
I'm glad he's doing well. The pain meds do make them snarky. He'll be ok. And the poop will come when it comes. the rymidal seems to clog them up a bit and he's not exactly feeling up to taking a stroll. When he is, you'll wish he wasn't so eager to get up and hobble out for potty.
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He finally peed...won't expect poo for a long time...he isn't as snarky today. Last night he was crying big time and we had already taken him out several times so didn't want to push his leg any more. We weren't sure if it was cuz he was in pain, or so uncomfortable from having to pee. He was drinking TONS of water. So, we gave him codiene(that's what they gave us) and he kept whining...we decided to let him try to pee again. He did...A LOT!!!! He is so used to going far when he has to pee...we have a lot of property for him to run, so peeing by the house was a bit out of the ordinary for him...but he's gonna have to get used to it!!!
So, we made him a nice space outdoors today. He seems to really like it. And, there is a wild turkey outside that he keeps barking at. He doesn't get excited and get up, but just barks. I'm glad he can do his job a little! I'm sure he is going to be a bit different when this is all done...
One of the sadest things is he and our daughter don't get to tromp around. But, she drew him a picture and tied a pretty bow on his pen today. And we have these itty bitty biscuits that are joint vitamins for him that she can give him regularly. He looks a bit sad. But, hopefully with some lovin' and time he'll get used to this and not get depressed. We are upbeat when we talk to him, so he can feel that. and we do get to be around all day for him. I know Pyrs don't much like to be caged up or alone, so we will do our best. I know there are alternative medicines that dogs and humans can have to help with depression. If he starts getting bumbed out, I'll look into that!
We got rymidil at first, and still have some. But, the vet said it was an anti-inflammatory so it wouldn't haelp much with the post-op pain. So, codiene is what they gave us. And she said that we should only give it to him as needed so he doesn't feel so good he wants to get up and cruise around. So, we give him 2 of those and 2 Acepromazine to knock him out before bed. Night time is the hardest because that is his time to patrol and bark...But, we are gettin' through it!
We'll all be glad when he is able to go for walks with us!!! ~Holly
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I am really glad to hear that he is doing better. It is a little less hard for my boy since the thing he likes to guard is "his" futon, so he is more than happy to spend the day on it. The time will go by a lot faster than you think. It has been almost 9 weeks for Sugar Bear and we can now do short leashed walks. I can not wait until he can spend time with the others taking a nap under the oak tree. Anyway good luck and keep us posted.
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it's only temporary and he'll feel better soon. the recovery is the worst. I don't think they get depressed about this really...just confused and bored. Grace was like that. I had to stay vigilent about keeping her off her feet for that long 30 days. but once it was over, it was over. Now she's forgotten all about it. Granted, we lost all last year with 2 surgories, but it's done and over with. Hang in there and make him hang in there too.
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Hi, I'm a little late for this thread, but I just wanted to add my support.
Sophie goes in for her 2 month X-ray of 2nd back to back TPLOs this Thursday. We live in Spokane area so they were nice and close. They specialize in this type of surgery and Sophie did so well. She is an 18month Newfie.
The first leg was the hardest for both her and us. All the questions, how will she pee? Does she hurt too much? Everything you are mentioning. They will all work themselves out. And remember, Buster really doesn't have a good leg to stand on at this point. He will seem like he will never walk well again.
After first leg healed we hesitated on getting the second leg done right away. She finally gets to walk and play and we do it all over again. We decided to get it over with and give her two good legs for the rest of her life and we are so glad we did.
The second leg will go better. You will have worked out all the issues from first leg - and - Buster will now have one good leg to help with his recovery. Sophie did not use her 2nd leg for the longest time and I thought something was wrong. The vet checked her and said all was fine. With her new good leg, she didn't need the mess with the 2nd. One day she just started using it. She is a brand new dog.
The only thing I would mention is do follow the length of time they say to keep him inactive. It will make all the difference in overall recovery. It will also be the hardest thing to do toward the end because he will feel good and look good and you will be tempted to let him go have fun.
The good thing with TPLO is they can never tear their ACL's again.
Good luck to you and Buster. He sounds like he is in the best loving home. Remember to come back here will all your frustrations and elations throughout this process. And pictures are always welcome.
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Buster is doing well...he is not liking to be so confined. But, is getting lots of love and treats when he takes his meds...he hardly eats, so I'm feeling good about his weight. He has pushed through his "chair fence" several times. I wish we had a big, old play pen we could take the bottom out of and put aruond him! But, we'll just have to give him more sedatives, I guess...
We are getting the hang of this...the potty thing is CRAZY...as I mentioned, he HATES "going" by the house or on a leash. So, he will wine a lot, we'll take him out...he'll lay down. This will happen twice over an hour in the evening. Then he really starts to wine. And we are thinking, "MAn, has he been out too many times? Is he going to do his thing if we bring him out?" Then, just as we're dicussing it---GIANT poo in the house!!!! p.u.!!!! Did I mention GIANT??? :o :o :o This happened twice now...The second time was much bigger than the first. So, tonight we'll wait to take him out until he is REALLY whining and ready to push over the chairs to get out. I should mention, when he was a pup, he didn't poo in the house even once!!! And only peed a few times(lucky us!!!)
So, Lin, you must have used the same surgery specialists?! They are great aren't they? I feel very confident in the care they give. And, good to hear your story. It makes us feel better that some one else had two ACL's out at the same time and are doing great now! We are glad it's happening this time of year so we don't have to go out in the mucky weather! Well, Thanks again! ~Holly