My pup's Patella Luxtion

I'm sorry your dog needed this surgery but once he recovers, he'll be fine.  I've never had a dog go through this type of surgery and my advice is to talk to the Vet/surgeon and get instructions for his care once you are home.  Your dog will require rehab but the Vet will advise you when he's ready for that.  Ask the clinic for more information on pain control and movement restrictions, etc.  This should have been given to you or thoroughly discussed before the surgery and when you picked him up.  Good luck and don't worry too much.  

Thank you for your kindness. I just presume there will be so much more and afraid of him being home but know he will like it!

This aweful mishap is serious and cannot beleive it happened to us. I am grateful I noticed so young and it showed fast when I 1st noticed his weakness and draggy and inability to climb!

But geeeze---he seemed so un-nutured at the vets. I hope next time I post I will have news that makes all here at home more comfy.

Some dogs are handicapped for life from it but I hope he won't be in that catagory.

Luckily I have friends that remind me to be more assertive with my questions. And any input here will help. Thank you again.

I, too, am very sorry to hear about your pup's surgery.  I don't know a thing about that condition.  However, it sounds as if you will greatly benefit from a crate.  If you don't have one, I'd encourage you to get one.  Pup will need plenty of confinement...especially at first to rest and heal...I would think.

You'll get plenty of advice...keep asking.

Most incisions are left uncovered, because dogs will chew and lick more from a dressing. Sometimes they will use a leg bandage to help keep the leg more restricted. The clinic I worked for used Fentanyl for pain quite a bit. That is a controlled substance, so not sure how your vet will handle home pain meds. Be sure to ask. I hope your dog feels better soon!

If there is no people drug better than kindness, why do so many choose the other?

Thank you all so much. When I 1st "bing'ed" this syndrome,I was aghast how serious it is. They did say his was severe but we caught it young.  In basics, it is bad, revolving, wacked out knee caps but they don't have knee caps!

It's all connected. All of us, all of them, all of IT

pardon that I did not acknowledge all your beautiful, 4 legged family members! All so lovely or handsome

Just as a bit of explanation -- for dogs "pain" is different than for us.  For them a bit of pain is NOT a bad thing simply because it can be nature's way of making them settle down.  You have a young, wanna-be-ACTIVE pup and if there wasn't pain he would be doing things he shouldn't be doing -- like walking too fast or trying to jump, etc.  So right now nature is saying 'you can't DO that now!!!'

If the vet gives you an e-collar USE it -- and don't buy that "Oh Mom I'm DYING wearing this thing!!" look -- and yep, he'll try it!!  Teach him how to 'hold his head up' so it doesn't get caught on steps and the doorway and make sure he's supervised so he doesn't get tangled.  But you'll find in a couple of days he'll discover he can tilt his head and go "thru" a space really too small for the e-collar and it will FOLD! Wow. 

But mostly it will keep him from worrying that incision and they want it to drain and seal.  I'd put some big white sheets on the floors near where you sit so you can wash them daily and keep something underneath him incase it drains.  Double-face tape can be awesome stuff to help keep it down.

The vet may give you something for pain -- ASK about it.  Make sure he has LOTS to drink (sometimes an after-effect of anesthesia is thirst - that avries from dog to dog and the type of anesthesia used).  But that also means he'll have to potty more.

A towel under his belly used as a sling may help you give that leg some support. 

Good luck -- and feel free to vent and ask questions on here.  It helps.

Hi all great folk!

Thanks for the update.  I hope she gets the information from the Vet.  She really should insist!   Sending good thoughts for Brodie and healing vibes.

My go  However, the 2ed one had more complicated procedure done and she was in a splint for a week.  Also recovery time was a few weeks longer.  lden retriever, KayCee, had one knee done at age 16 months, the ohter done 14 months later at 30 m,onths.  The 2ed knee was worse than the first and reqwuired acl repair as well.

the first time she had just the "raw leg" so to speak, no bandage.but the second time was a more complicated surgery, and procedure and she was in a split for a week and her recovery time was longer.

One thing i learned was KayCee had very sensitive skin and had gotten razor burn the first time and the 2ed time, not only the razor burn, but bad tape burn when the splint wa removed.  bI smeared her up with aloe vera gel several times a day and it not only soothed her skin at the time, it sped up the healing of the rash.  ao, since she had to be kept totally inactive, i massaged her spine and legs severl times day.

i am posting a picture of her following her 2ed surgery.  The red and green thing under he is an old table cloth.  I used it as a "sling" to help her around.  With that splint she coulnd't get up.  I would drag her out front on that blanket, get her into a sitting position with both hind legs our straight, hoist her up and then use that table cloth to help her around.  after she had completed her business i got her back to the blanket, laid down and rug back into the house.  Almost wrecked by back, but was worth it.

 as i said, she w ad bit qte 1 1/2 when she had the first surgery, 2 1/2 when she had the 2ed one and when i lost her to cancer at age 8 yrs and 9 months, she had never had a nohter problem with her knees.  OH, I DID START HER ON THE GLUOSAMINE/CHONDROTIN AFTER HER FIRST SURGERY.  She took it daily for the rest of her life.

Good luck with your pup.  Here is wishing him a very speedy and complete recovery.  Oh by the way, he will think he is fine and try to over do it to soon.  Do not let him.  Follow the vet's instructions as to how long to keep him inactive.