Dog Community

13.5 weeks post TPLO and limps at night (kpwlee)

Posted : 2/8/2010 5:59:28 PM

Bugsy's recovery has been excellent however no matter how I vary or limit what he does when he gets up after sleeping in the evening to go out for his last of the night, he is clearly sore.

His bones are healed so I'm not worried about that, his joint was arthritis-free at the 8 week x-ray so don't think it is that. He lets me massage his leg and fully weight bears so it isn't terrible but I am wondering what or if I should change what we are doing or rest him completely for a few days.

He is walking 1.5-2.5 miles a day. His gait is fine, no limping and he really, really wants to trot. He has shown no lack of desire to walk. He gets a longer walk in the morning and .5 mile in the evening

He as limited access to the stairs in our home but is doing them several times at a minimum.

He gets some off leash time several times a day but only for short periods. As per him, he explores the yard (acre) then launches into zoomies until I can stop him.

He gets loads of supplements - fish oil, msm, nutrijoint, gluco, chond

I give him Traumeel if he seems uncomfortable - he cannot tolerate NSAIDs

so is this normal? should I do some complete rest (if so say a prayer for us)? cut back on the walks?

The surgeon was unconcerned

miranadobe

Posted : 2/8/2010 6:08:42 PM

I'm interested in responses here, too. Patrick is a few weeks ahead of Bugsy (w/TTA) and still sometimes limps if he runs too hard down the hallway, etc. His surgeons were also unconcerned, and rather, were impressed by how quickly he's been healing. But it feels wrong to see them limping, so I totally understand your concern.

kpwlee

Posted : 2/8/2010 6:15:34 PM

miranadobe
But it feels wrong to see them limping, so I totally understand your concern

that's the thing - Bugsy too is 'way ahead of schedule' - great now lets see him out of pain. I did speak to a friend of mine whose lab had a traditional surgery and they said they thought he limped occasionally for a year or so.

From recent reading TTA is supposed to heal faster than TPLO - I might have pushed harder for that if I knew that, oh well.

The yahoo orthodogs responses were it is arthritis - it isn't or tendinitis (common in TPLO's) but the surgeon said he'd limp all the time if he had that. B isn't really limping he just seems in pain at night

calliecritturs

Posted : 2/9/2010 1:28:40 AM

Don't just do Traumeel when he's sore -- do it ALL THE TIME -- you want to get ahead of it and have the body reacting NOW not *after* it is sore. There's no downside to giving it to him 2-3 times a day.

kpwlee

Posted : 2/9/2010 8:43:45 AM

thanks Callie I'll give it 3x a day and see if he is less sore at night

luvmyswissy

Posted : 2/9/2010 9:00:20 AM

I have no idea but here's a guess. Maybe after a day of exercising and then he rests his muscles are tighening and he is limping becasue of that. I know when I had my knee surgery and was healed my legament and muscles took extra time to get back in shape and I would feel similiar to Bugs after the muscles would rest for some time. I needed to stretch them out. The muscles take a beaten after your limited for sometime, they get weakened and take some time to build back up. Just a thought....

kpwlee

Posted : 2/9/2010 12:05:33 PM

Dawn I think that is what it is - just trying to make sure it isn't anything more serious

kpwlee

Posted : 2/10/2010 9:36:27 PM

well I reduced his walk yesterday to 1 mile and he had some time outside but not too much, gave Traumeel morning and night. All was good.

No issues EVER in the morning

Wound up walking about 1.75 miles this morning, gave traumeel and I was out from 9-5. He was absolutely fine when I came home.

He went out for his business and of course wound up running like a fool for a few minutes.

No problems, ate, played a bit - nothing crazy, chewed a bit, konked out and after 2 hours of sleeping got up stiff

I remain confused

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 2/10/2010 10:42:02 PM

Brinxx would go lame in the evenings after both of her surgeries. Our surgeon wasn't concerned. He said that it was because everything in the injured leg had atrophied, & that it would take time for her to get used to the stretching that was going on. Brinxx limped off & on for around 4 months, & then she stopped.

kpwlee

Posted : 2/11/2010 8:20:10 AM

thanks for the info Amanda - we are at 14 weeks today so hopefully we see an end to this in a couple of weeks - although i have my doubts