Sending loads of sympathy from me as well. So sorry this has happened! Hang in there, one day at a time. And keep posting when you need to vent, that's what we are here for!
Have taken Lola to the second vet appointment now, and that was so much better in terms of information shared & suggestions offered for care -- long & short term. The bad news is that his recommendation is also that] she see a surgeon as all signs point to ruptured cruciate. I didn't expect any miracles in term of diagnosis, but the information provided was much more comprehensive, which I very much appreciated. I also found it quite interesting that the original surgeon that we were referred to is not board-certified. I did not know that such a thing was an issue, but now I do! It's a bit alarming to me that there was no discussion about the differences in training for board-certifed vs. non-board-certified with the original vet. Of course we prefer to take Lola to a vet with the highest levels of training, education & certification. So, we've got her booked in with the most experienced & highly certified surgeon on the 5th of October. The big question for us remains the issue of how her age & potential growth will be relevant to her treatment. For the interim, we are mostly staying at home, calm as is possible, with (vet-approved) very short walks (5-10 minutes). As he pointed out, keeping her confined to her crate is the gold standard for rest, but not realistic at this point, and her frustration & pent-up energy mean that she paces the house as much as any 5-10 minute walk in terms of steps. That is the update for Lola. We're hanging in there & trying to remain optimistic & happy. I've been doing some games with her, and trying for a bit of training on staying (always a challenge with her, as she doesn't want to be more than 10 paces away from me). I've got several books with ideas for games now, and training as well, so we're managing (barely) to maintain our sanity. Thanks for the support, everyone. It is very much appreciated.
I'm so glad that you have found a vet that you trust and is giving you better advice. I know that it'll be really tough, and a long journey, but the light at the end of the tunnel is that the physical problem can be fixed, and fixed very effectively. It's not going to be easy to get there, but you will end up with a fit dog able to run around freely and have a full and happy life. It sounds like you are getting a routine sorted out. That's key, and will keep you sane. The very, very, best of luck with it. We're always here to listen!
It's so important to have a vet that you like and trust, and it sounds as if you had a very positive appointment with the second vet. One step at a time on what will be a long journey but you will have a positive result. Don't forget you've get us all here when you have a bad day, or just want to share a good day.
Sorry to hear what your puppy and you are going through. I want to wish you well on what looks like a long journey. The light at the end of the tunnel might be obscured at the moment but with the right treatment, you will begin to see it glow in time.
I'm just catching up on Forum news....so very sorry to read this news ,must have been a terrible shock for you.JulieT is your girl,and I can see she has been around while you've been getting your diagnosis confirmed.You haven't got an easy time ahead but you can and will pass through the this.I've seen Charlie,Julie's dog recently,he is a testament to great medical treatment and conscientious, careful rehab and he is absolutely wonderful.He was just on the start of being able to enjoy more excercise and freedom,you would never have known he's had 2 major operations. Many of us don't have practical experience but we are great at moral support and being sounding boards ,I hope we can help you over the coming months. Best wishes Angela x
