As soon as the ice and snow melts I’ll be letting Duggan off lead again for the first time since he had TPLO surgery in October. Do I have to live in fear of him severing the other leg or can I just let him be a dog?
I think there is a fair chance of a second cruciate going after the first. But.....he is a dog. Don't be stupid with his activity, build it up really slowly, and let him be himself would be my advice.
Oh that must be so hard. I can completely understand your worry. Unfortunately there does seem to be a genetic component in some cases. But I agree with Jac, you can’t keep him in bubble wrap his whole life. Be careful but allow him to enjoy doggy things too.
I can really identify with you! Brogan's TPLOs were many years ago, but I still remember wanting to wrap him in bubble wrap and not let him out of the house! As @drjs@5 says, there's a good likelihood the second knee will go no matter what you do. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. WHEN it goes is another story. Brogan's second knee went one week before the six month restricted activity protocol would have been over from the first surgery. I followed the protocol down to the letter, we were on a simple low-key walk (part of his 30 minutes 2x days walks), and I still saw the second that stupid second knee went out from underneath him. My heart just sunk and I wanted to sit down on the sidewalk with him and just cry. On the other hand, my dog Jodhi, had her first TPLO at 8 years old and didn't tear her second knee until she was 15 despite being a crazy whirlwind of activity until she was 13. After Brogan got through his six months of restricted protocol after his second TPLO (so a year total restricted activity) , I talked to his ortho surgeon about how I was really not wanting to let him run or play with other dogs ever again. He said, "He's a dog - let him be a dog. That's why we do the surgery - what's the point otherwise?". That advice really stuck with me. So let Duggan be a dog and try not too worry too much, though I realise that's easier said than done.
Is there an Ortho Rehab facility for dogs you could go to? I'm getting over a simple broken ankle myself and I'm amazed at how the rest of me went to pieces while I was out of action. It's not just his other cruciate, I'm betting, but other joints (on both legs) that are also out of use and stiffened up now.
