You do whatever you think is best for Bella - don't take any notice of non-dog people who don't get it. I know it's really stressful to think of an overnight stay but if the vet does want that then the good thing is that she can be observed for a good while after the op to make sure everything is going as it should be (I'm sure it will). Either way, it will be ok. It will be all done and over and then you can begin the process of helping her to recover so she can get on with the rest of her happy, active life.
CDM It's £27-63 for a 4kg bag and £49-80 for a 12kg bag from www.viovet.co.uk where I normally buy online as the shipping with them to France is also good - not a problem after next week. I also give her a joint supplement from the same site https://www.viovet.co.uk/Joint_Force_for_Dogs/c23775/ Juno has 2 pills a day with dinner so a tub of 300,lasts 15 days. I also buy a selection of treats and chews which allegedly help joints but I work on every little helps. As JulieT points out removing a fragment from an elbow is not the same type of operation that Bella is facing but in Juno's case it isn't simply a matter of removing a fragment of bone, her elbow is deformed and no surgery will help that, so she is a candidate for arthritis and is only 17months old now. So my fight is to maintain a healthy elbow to give her a normal life for as long as possible.
Yer I've watched the videos, it is certainly not a straightforward procedure. What a bloody nightmare. She should be enjoying her puppy hood not going through major surgery at her age. So pissed off. Happy ruddy Xmas!!!!!!!!
The main point, I think, is to know what you are giving, why, and how much you want to give. So, for example, Hill's JD contains (per 100g EPA: 101mg Glucosamine: 30mg Chondroitin sulfate: 23mg If that's what you want to give, then that's fine.
I know. It's not fair. But it is what it is - and your dog has a chance of a long, active, happy life once you get her through this. Not all dogs are that lucky. So while (like you) I wish my dog had perfect health, he doesn't. But he is a really happy dog. Really happy. And once it's all behind you, you'll be able to get on and enjoy life. As will your dog.
Really feel for you and this whole nightmare. It sounds like you have an experienced surgeon and are getting things in place, so try to stay positive the best you can. Totally not what you wanted but not much you can do about it but try to get things sorted out and educate yourself as to what comes next . It will be a lot of work but you will manage it one day at a time, so try not to be overwhelmed.
So very sorry this is happening to Bella but listen to Julie, be positive and you will get through it because you have to there's no other choice. You will in time look back when Bella is running around playing and forget the difficulties. I wish you and Bella lots of good wishes and we are all here for you. xxx
Thanks. Back to specialist tomorrow. Massive crate up and running in the lounge and she keeps getting in and out and let me shut her in briefly with no fuss for a treat, least she's got a bit of time to get used to it, might start shutting her in at night, not ready for day closures yet though
Don't forget to discuss the Hills J/D with your vet/specialist as to whether it really is suitable for Bella as it is a Veterinary Diet, and whether the standard or the reduced calorie. It was my vet that recommended the switch to me for Juno and was supported by the specialist when I checked with him as we had discussed the addition of supplements to her diet.
will do, thanks. I've ordered some salmon oil already and will discuss supplements later with the vet. I've also just ordered a comfy cone on Julie T's recommendation, getting prepared ..........
Sounds like preperation and planning are key to making it through with your sanity intact and you're doinga great job!
Sounds like you are holding it together brilliantly for Bella. That's what she need you to do. It'll all come right for Bella, you'll see. And I can guarantee, once it's all over, it's the best feeling ever.
... And we are here to listen to you, give you support and advice where we can, laugh with you at times, and just be a shoulder to cry on at others. But most of all - we are all on your side, and on Bella's side.
Thanks everyone, the specialist was really nice tonight and answered all of my q's. I'm glad I went for the female surgeon in the end. she even let me quiz her on her experience apparently they only do about 2 a month, of the TTA operations but she has worked there a long time.... so had done a lot. Bella is booked in for knee 1 next Wednesday (overnight stay), then 2 or so weeks later all being well, knee 2. She was actually in agreement about the Hills food- I asked her first and mentioned re levels of what it contains. She said she has seen some real improvements as a result of dogs eating it (but also told me not to buy it from there but to get it online as the vets charge is too expensive). She talked about the good research behind omega 3 and how some of the others are not conclusive for the other supplements. She said as Bella is so young it would be something to think about re Hills , so I think I might consider changing her to Hills, plus salmon oil (plus her bio flow collar that her grandparents have already bought her..!) She also talked post surgery and hydrotherapy / physio as part of her recovery. she did say that after a few months there is no reason why Bella cannot go and play with her friends again, as long as the bone is healing well. So there is a plan forming , the only issue is when my parents come for 3-4 days over xmas as they will bring their dog, no other way around it, they will have to be separated at all times , Bella will have to be crated when Rosie is around , not ideal at all , but not sure what else we can do. I don't want to spend xmas on my own!! Thanks for all of your comments, such a great forum
That seems really good progress. And it's quite good the surgeon thinks the ops can be 2 weeks apart - you may as well do all the rehab at the same time if that's ok for Bella. Don't worry about crating Bella over Christmas. It won't be for long, and she has to stay safe. Charlie was such an excitable hooligan when he did his first leg, he spent the first six weeks in a crate apart from coming out for his planned activities - that was all that was safe for him to do. He was bored silly, but came to no real harm.
"That seems really good progress. And it's quite good the surgeon thinks the ops can be 2 weeks apart - you may as well do all the rehab at the same time if that's ok for Bella" Ideally they would wait the full 8 weeks but they have had to do a few not long after for a number of reasons and all have been ok. It's mainly as my insurance lapses 8th January and as they will only pay a percentage towards after that I was advised to get them both done before. If it can be done it will also be easier re 6 weeks less recovery time . All depends on how op goes though. Yer she is likely to be quire bored but hopefully next few months will fly by!!!!!
Charlie was fully weight bearing on his operated leg the same day. And improved steadily, day by day, after that. Within a week, he was standing on his operated on leg to pee. So, of course, you and your surgeon will have to see how she does, but fingers crossed. Gosh, you'll have to be super, super careful with her though. You won't be able to risk her doing anything in terms of jumping, or slipping, with two cruciate repairs that close together. So it does increase the risk in some ways.
Yer she'll mainly be in her crate and yes I'll be really careful with her. The vet said she'll be weight bearing straight away... She seemed to want to do it either 2 weeks after or 8, not fully sure why no In between, will check that out again next week, she wouldn't book second op in though until she's fully happy with how first op goes. She said to have her on her harness full time after.
Both very sensible things. Charlie wasn't as good immediately after his second op, but he was still pretty good, and recovered quicker over all (because the damage to his leg was a lot less). This is the day after the first op - he was walking pretty well, considering. [vid]: MVI_0030 by Julie T, on Flickr
