My lab came home yesterday from having a TPLO surgery to fix her knee ligament that she ruputured.
Oh brother, she wants to be active. We have her in the laundry room and she is wiggling and trying so hard to come out. When I take her out to go for a pee she doesn't want to go back in. We do have a 12 yr old lab too so I can't have her dancing around yet with her.
When she sleeps in their she is good and is quiet but when she is up and awake she is protesting.
I can't imagine what the next three months are going to be like.
Did the vet give you sedatives? Our dog, Champ, just had TPO surgery (not TPLO, but another major surgery), and was on forced inactivity for 8 weeks. The sedatives we got from the vet helped a lot during the first few weeks (when it was REALLY important for him to be completely inactive). Also, having a crate really helped, and busy-toys, like the puzzle-toys that dispense treats or stuffed kongs.
It does go fairly quickly, and they get used to their new boundaries.
No the vet didn't give me sedatives. I had even asked about that as we had to wait almost four weeks for the surgery and I was concerned that she would hurt the other knee.
She is being very good with everything ie taking her pain pills and antibiotics except when we have to put ice on her knee for any swelling.
We also have to do some physio which she liked before the operation but now since it is so much more sore hates us touching it. And just forget adding the ice pack to it!!
Poor girl I slept with her last night on a mattress on the laundry room floor just to keep her company. She slept all night without a whimper.
Today she was just lying on the floor and all of a sudden she let out a loud yelp for no reason at all. But she has only done that once so maybe it was just a stabbing pain that she got from being on the wrong angle or something.
My 7 yr old Jackson just had his TPLO on Saturday. We picked him up early Easter morning and all he wants to do is run and play. The butler cone is something else!!! Jackson runs into EVERYTHING! and he rarely leaves my side so i'm becoming bruised and battered too. I agree it will be a long 6-10 weeks. He looks so pathetic between the cone, his shaved leg, an iv site on his front leg and a biopsy site too! the vet found a firm mass on his flank that he biopsied the day before the surgery and it was a lipoma. We now lovingly call him "patches" the leash is a novel idea for them to suggest. Jackson nearly pulls me over when on the leash to the point that I worry about him doing more harm than good. One surgeon told us no running or jumping, should only be on carpeted areas to avoid slipping on the hardwood floors for 8-10 weeks. The actual surgeon who did the surgery said that there would be little chance of damaging the work, that the dogs know what to do or not do but encouraging more limited activity would be best. I slept on the floor with him last night. He's a people dog. Sleeps on our king sized waterbed upstairs so know he'll sleep better with me near by.
While the chances are small - it can happen. Follow the advice given. If he messes it up because you took a change, you will regret it. Just my opinion
Hello - well my one lab (Maggie) had the same surgery at about 18 months old and this was after the luxating patella surgery on the same leg- and I have her sister (Amber) littermates also - so puppies at the time - and always wanting to run and play - but I was shocked when Amber noticed that Maggie was not right and completely calmed down - Amber knew and would play bodyguard to Maggie - bring her toys and lay next to her - as other people have stated - follow your Vet's orders - no running, jumping, or stairs - believe me I know its hard but well worth it in the long run. Also check where the stitches are make sure its not too red or looks funny - Maggie tore her other ligament (other leg) a year after and once the stitches were removed she got an infection (I noticed by her not putting weight on it and she started to carry it again). Believe me i know its not easy and sounds like forever to heal but make sure she gets her meds and finishes the whole dose - also once you are able to take her off the leash it will still take a few months to fully get back - Maggie took 9 months total time but right now she is the strongest that I have ever seen her - and my yard looks the worst I have ever seen it since they are both running and tearing it up - HAHA.. Just dont short cut the healing time and patience and all of you will do GREAT!!!
I am new to this forum; stumbled upon the website looking for info on TPLO. Margaret was injured on Good Friday while doing her crazy Lab spinning and wiped out on the ice (Canada). Lucky for me I live in a city that has a large veterinary teaching hospital and I was referred there for surgery as my vet doen't perform TPLO. Believe me, up until last month I had never heard of this surgery. The waiting list is normally 6-8 weeks but we were fast-tracked and Marg had her TPLO surgery on April 10. So...this is week 3 and we are doing OK although she wants to be WAY MORE ACTIVE than the rehab schedule says. It is very tough to keep her on a leash at all times and discourage activity with other dogs. I look at her sometimes and feel she is depressed but then we roll her on her back and give her lots of tummy rubs! We go back for more xrays at 8-weeks which is the first week of June. I know the road to recovery is long but I am thankful that my dog (who is just 5) will have a few more years of running left in her! After reading about the surgery it is truly amazing what can be done.........
Yes. He is most likely still feeling the effects of the anesthesia. Is he on a Fentanyl (pain) patch? These pain patches are notorious for causing whining and restlessness in post op dogs.
I see this is from a few days ago...I hope your pup is feeling better!
Thank you! I am now a week post op and Cooper is healing very well! All the bruising and swelling is gone! He wants to play so bad, but nope.....short leash walks and rest only! He had been putting full weight on his leg from day one, but now is starting to limp a little. Is this normal?
Yes, limping is normal. Cooper will limp for quite a while.
Right now he's limping because of the surgery....he essentially has a broken leg. After the bone heals he will still limp, but it will be due to muscle atrophy.
Java limped right up until she was 5 months post op.
It takes a long time to rebuild those muscles!!!
Glad things seem to be going better and Cooper is feeling good!!
My yellow lab, Hank, goes in for TPLO this morning. Im almost rethinking the surgery. He is such a happy dog, and he's probably going to be miserable for the next 2 months. He was a rescue dog, we found him on the road as a puppy, missing an eye, and a deformed left rear foot. Hes almost 6 now and the problem is his ruptured tendon is in the right rear leg (he rarely used is left rear leg because of his deformity, probably a contributing factor in his ruptured tendon). I guess the surgery is best for him in the long run (since he is being forced to use his left rear leg now and the vets don't think it's a good idea for him to be using it to support himself), poor guy has had so many problems already and now this.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Just Labradors
1.9M posts
19.7K members
Since 2006
A forum community dedicated to Labrador Retriever owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!