TTA Surgery Scheduled July 1

[SamsonsMom]

Hello All,

My Samson is 3 yrs old, will be 4 on 9/1. Samson weighs in at 106 lbs and the vet wants him on the skinnier side so we need to get him to 100 lbs.

A little background on Samson - he was diagnosed with mild dysplasia in October of last year. I took him in after he came up limp during a game of fetch in the back yard. He tripped in a hole and came up favoring the left hind leg. The drawer test did not show any sign of a tear but the xrays showed arthritis in his left knee. At this point, his hips are not bothering him. He has had a slight limp in his left leg since he fell during the game of fetch. I have rimadyl that I can give him if his limp becomes persistent. He is also on fish oil and some other joint supplements.

Well, last Friday we were on vacation on Hatteras Island and during a game of fetch in the ocean, he came up limp and couldn't put weight on his back left leg. Took him to the vet on Monday and he tore his acl. I have TTA surgery scheduled for 7/1. I was able to schedule the week after to work from home so I am able to stay with him for the first 10 days. My biggest concern is getting him home and then to follow up appointments and therapy. I drive an Explorer and the back, in my opinion, is way to high to attempt to lift him. I'm thinking of renting a car to get him back and forth. How have others handled? Also, another question - I moved my mattress to the downstairs "den" so I can sleep down here with him. The mattress is about 16" thick. I would like to close him off in that room with just the mattress when I go back to work. Is the mattress too high for him to climb on? I have a crate but I've read that limiting him to a crate may create stiffness so I'd like to opt for the bedroom. Normally I have a pet sitter that visits while I am at work. I have suspended those visits for now and until his leg is stable. He loves her and when she arrives, it's play time for him and I just can't risk his leg so she can't visit him until recovery. Any tips or insight to help us get through will be much appreciated. This boy is my world (I have a kitty too) and I will do whatever it takes to ensure his recovery is successful.

Thank you!

[Tanya]

good luck Penny had TPLO two weeks ago.

Can you get a ramp for the car? While I can lift and carry Penny we did end up building ramps for the stairs outside.

Yeah Penny gets exited with her dog walker and friends as well so no visitors for awhile. actually she now gets very exited seeing another dog she's been on house arrest so long (there was three weeks of no walk between injury and surgery and now two weeks since surgery)

[SamsonsMom]

I just read your thread about Penny! So glad she is coming along well! I purchased a ramp back in October and tried and tried to get him to use it. He jumps off the side each and every time. I even tried off my front steps and he just will not accept it. What is the brand of lead you are using to lift Penny? I have a ginger lead but I like the looks of yours better. I've been using it this week since the doctor said his right knee was swollen. I use it when he has to go out and it just doesn't feel very stable. Of course I now have this huge fear he is going to blow the other knee out. So we have no activity right now. I lost my beloved 16.5 yr old kitty Simon (passed on his own) 5/19 so my fear and anxiety is very high right now.

[Tanya]

sorry for your loss

I have a help 'em up harness. funny enough I had JUST bought one for my older lab who is having mobility issues (rocky is 12) and I have lots of stairs here. Shortly after Penny blew the knee and I was luckily able to borrow the one she is using (they are not cheap!) It is a great harness. Super useful for Penny. I use a regular leash and loop in in the back handle and clip it to the front clip so I can control her movement and support her back up. I can also use it to just navigate her from the x pen to the crate and such.
Help Em Upâ„¢ Dog Harness | Hip Dysplasia | Dog Carrier

We hit some snags in recovery, it hasn't been as clean and straightforward as others but not crazy bad as some stories either.

For the ramp, did you try using treat trails? Rocky (my lab) has been iffy about the ramps here too, he now seems to mostly use it to get out but steps up the top of it to get in. will need to work on him. Penny never had much of a choice as I am holding her harness and walking her up and down.

[smartrock]

I haven't had to use a ramp for injury, so far, but I cannot lift Chase into the back of my small SUV. I have a ramp that I had to get him accustomed to walking on before he would use it to go into the car. I'm not sure if it was the feel of the ramp underfoot, the slightly flexible sensation of walking on it on an incline, or the drop off on either side. I'm suspecting the feel of the ramp itself because he didn't like it when it was lying flat on the ground and he walks along curbs like he's on a balance beam, so he doesn't mind walking a narrow walkway.

Maybe while you're waiting for surgery you can practice with Samson walking on the ramp lying flat on the ground until that seems less scary. Once I could get Chase to walk on it lying flat, using it on an incline became easier. Then prop it on one step or from the street up on a curb, then prop it on 2 steps, gradually increasing the incline, to try to desensitize him to walking on it. Use treats and the harness. It can be trying. Chase wanted to walk along beside the ramp and eat the treats off it so I had to hold the treat in front of his nose so he was focused on the treat and not the ramp itself. It sounds like you'll have to cut back on his food some, so cutting back to accommodate his special ramp treats will probably be needed also.

Just trying to think what might be helpful. I'm sorry to hear another of our friends needs knee surgery.

[SamsonsMom]

I tried and tried by placing it on the ground with treats and he would not have anything to do with it. Tried to get the treats but that is about it. I think I'm just going to rent a car to go pick him up and each subsequent appointment.

[SamsonsMom]

sorry for your loss

I have a help 'em up harness. funny enough I had JUST bought one for my older lab who is having mobility issues (rocky is 12) and I have lots of stairs here. Shortly after Penny blew the knee and I was luckily able to borrow the one she is using (they are not cheap!) It is a great harness. Super useful for Penny. I use a regular leash and loop in in the back handle and clip it to the front clip so I can control her movement and support her back up. I can also use it to just navigate her from the x pen to the crate and such.
Help Em Upâ„¢ Dog Harness | Hip Dysplasia | Dog Carrier

We hit some snags in recovery, it hasn't been as clean and straightforward as others but not crazy bad as some stories either.

For the ramp, did you try using treat trails? Rocky (my lab) has been iffy about the ramps here too, he now seems to mostly use it to get out but steps up the top of it to get in. will need to work on him. Penny never had much of a choice as I am holding her harness and walking her up and down.

Thank you for the link on the harness. It is expensive. I think it will be a wise investment since we have a 10 week period of no activity and a total of 5 months of recovery. I'm going to order one. Is is comfortable enough to leave on all the time? I would likely take off at bed time since he will be sleeping in bed with me (I relocated my bedroom downstairs w/my mattress on the floor).

[Tanya]

the harness is really really is great. Yes she has it on all the time. Since she is able to get up with no issues I now take it off at night but for the first week and a half she had it on 24 hours. Now I only take it off at night.

[SamsonsMom]

the harness is really really is great. Yes she has it on all the time. Since she is able to get up with no issues I now take it off at night but for the first week and a half she had it on 24 hours. Now I only take it off at night.

Awesome! I ordered one last night. I ordered with the U ring since it was noted as the male version. Hope I didn't order wrong. I'm hoping Samson takes to it OK. He is a stubborn boy at times.

[Dakota18]

Sorry to hear about Samson too. Timber just had TTA surgery 2 days ago. Doesn't make it easier when they are 100 pounds. We need to drop some pounds here too. I'll let you know how recovery is. Hope it goes well for all of them!