Re: Milly is limping again. You are definitely doing the right thing She can do Rally-O too. That's a lot of fun
Re: Milly is limping again. Ah Annette,you are so good at bouncing back bless you x I'm glad you are feeling better and of course you will love her just the same and she will have a long and happy life with you and love YOU back just the same. I'm really hoping it's the best case scenario when the surgeon has a look ,I'll keep everything crossed x
Re: Milly is limping again. Gosh Annette, really sorry to hear this news. You seem to have a good plan in place which is really positive. its not what you want to hear for your dog, but it is treatable and compatible with a long and happy life. Its just all so stressful. Uncertainty makes it so much worse though. I hope you are able to enjoy your holiday and don't worry too much.
Re: Milly is limping again. Hi Annette, So sorry to read about poor Milly and her troubles. My dog, Lady has been through the same mill with ED and she pretty much had what sounds like the procedures you are describing. She was treated at Fitzpatrick Referrals and their website has a good article on it that describes what causes ED and the various procedures available. Here's the link if you need more info. http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/our-services/surgery/conditions/fore-limb/canine-elbow-dysplasia Lady had the arthroscopy to check out if the elbows were operable then she had the subtotal coronoid ostectomy which is the removal of a small piece of faulty bone from each elbow by keyhole surgery and the biceps ulnar release which is detaching one of the tendons in each leg to stop the joint rotating. Following the op she was on 10 minute lead walks gradually building by 5 minutes per week for the first 6 weeks than a check up by the surgeon. She was declared fit at 6 weeks but the restricted lead walks could have gone on for 12 weeks. No jumping, slipping or sliding during the recovery period. She was pretty sore immediately after the op and for the first 3 or 4 weeks. She was on Metacam to for some of the recovery time and the poor lamb had some pain because she screamed every now and then when something hurt even if she was just lying down. The surgeon said to give her half a paracetamol tablet and that helped. Also I massaged her elbows and she liked that as I think it helped. (In fact when she was completely recovered she would still hold up a leg and look pathetic just to get some more massage ;D). I also gave her some mild physio flexing the elbows. Hope that helps with what to expect after the operation. I think it's a bit in the lap of the gods what to expect after the op. Lady appears to have been relatively lucky and still leads an active life doing all the usual Lab things including working for her living in the winter. Honestly? - she still has an occasional slight limp if she's been really hooning around, and I should really avoid letting her jump out of the back of the car and so on. Also I think she will still develop arthritis, but hopefully the op has put that back to a more usual age for a Lab than if we had done nothing. I do hope all goes well with your Milly on 11th September. Do ping me an email if you would like any information about what happened to Lady.
Re: Milly is limping again. Thanks David that helps a lot. I will have to look at my floors a bit a think. Maybe go with rugs everywhere. They are tiled and very slippery. I have already covered one area but I think I better do some more. Thanks again everyone. You are all so wonderful at cheering people up
Re: Milly is limping again. I am so sorry to read this Annette and I wish you and your family my best wishes and hope that Milly will be OK. Please enjoy your holiday recharge your batteries for the weeks ahead. Milly certainly has a lot of 'nurses' to take care and spoil her. I will be thinking about you all. xx
Re: Milly is limping again. Just to cheer you up Annette, my friend's dog had the same operation as David's Lady and went on to become a Field Trial Champion, she has so many cups and shields for his wins, so take heart.
Re: Milly is limping again. Dear Annette so sry to hear abt Milly's diagnosis don wry our wishes nd prayers go wid her nd u hope she recovers soon nd be a loving pet for the rest of her lyf.Best wishes..
Re: Milly is limping again. Hi all, I just wanted to thank everyone for contributing to this post - my Ollie is almost 10 months old and is in his second week of recovery from athroscopic surgery for ED. It's been an awful couple of months since he started limping, including an experience with a not very nice vet, but reading about others who have been in a similar situation was very reassuring. And particularly David's experience with Lady. Like Annette when we learned that the problem was ED, although relieved that this wasn't something that would be life-limiting, we were slightly disappointed that Ollie might not be able to enjoy things that he has done in the past. But I think every dog is individual and we'll have to see how it goes. The first vet we visited took x-rays and assured us that it was nothing to do with the bone and recommended 6 weeks strict rest and Metacam. Some slight improvements over this period, but there was clearly still a problem and we were faced with a very bored and fed up puppy (5-10 minute walks a few times a day are not up to his standards!). At the follow up appointment he gave us no indication of what the problem could be and prescribed another 6 weeks of rest. At this point we decided to seek a second opinion, spurred by the fact that the vet had no patience or tolerance with Ollie or myself and actually told me off for reassuring and soothing Ollie while he was having his examination and having his sore elbow pulled about. The second vet we saw looked at the same x-rays and immediately said it was a fractured coronoid process and they would do an arthroscopy to diagnose and hopefully treat. In the previous 6 weeks it was the not knowing that was the stressful thing, and not knowing what it would mean for us all in the future. Appointment Thursday, surgery the following Tuesday. Such a relief for us to deal with someone like this, and he was brilliant with Ollie. They talked about the likelihood that it was in both elbows and so were possibly going to do a bi-lateral op, but the examination and x-rays didn't warrant putting him through it so they removed the damaged part and debrided the cartilage which had been damaged slightly by the fractured bone in his left elbow. The new vet was a bit vague about the prognosis, I suppose they have to be careful what they say so as not to get hopes up, but his analogy was that they'd "removed the stone from the shoe" and so it should be much more comfortable for him. Arthritis in the future is pretty much a given, but we can deal with that. So keeping our fingers crossed now that Ollie will be able to do most of the things he enjoyed before. Katie
Re: Milly is limping again. PS Just wanted to say that I hope everything goes well with Milly's op Annette, it's not going to be an easy experience for you, the worry is inevitable, but they're sturdy little things and she'll be well looked after. Just be prepared for her to sulk when you go and pick her up for the vets! Ollie wouldn't look at me or my other half for about 5 minutes, then he gave in and cuddled up to me in the car on the way home! Best wishes for you both, Katie
Re: Milly is limping again. Thanks Katie. Your journey sounds very similar to ours with extended rest and no diagnosis. The specialist was the one to see it on the x ray(same x ray that the vet took) Milly is totally over the whole rest thing lol. But she is a trooper. We are enjoying our holiday now and she is being spoilt at home. Then we will have the surgery. She also only has it in one elbow and was wondering what the likelihood of getting it the other elbow would be. I have a few questions for the surgeon did you fully crate Ollie after his surgery? I have had Milly in a play pen for a couple of months now and was wondering if I should go back to the crate. She can put her feet up on the side of the pen so maybe best to go to the crate. Oh well we will see what hapens and take things as they come. I got her a Silvester teddy today so she can destroy that when we get home we are all missing her ATM.
Re: Milly is limping again. For those that have been through this I would love to know what you did after surgery as far as crates, pens, freedom excersises etc? I'm not really sure what to expect.
Re: Milly is limping again. Different type of surgery for Charlie - my biggest tip is set out a routine, stick to it, and buy everything you need in advance. When a young dog starts fussing because they are bored silly, but you have things to do, it is wonderful to have the freezer full of kongs, a kibble pass the parcel game, or something else, ready to go on the shelf.
Re: Milly is limping again. Just to wish you all the very best of luck , what a tough time you`re having , so sorry x
Re: Milly is limping again. Wishing you all the luck with Millys surgery, sounds like such a shock to receive the diagnosis, however at least you are able now to plan for the op and post op care.
Re: Milly is limping again. Hi Katie, My experience with Lady and the vet was very similar to yours in that the first two visits prescribed Metacam and reduced exercise. It was on the third presentation that our vet said let's look a bit closer at what's going on because it could be ED. Apparently it used to be called something like unexplained repetitive lameness in medium sized and large dogs. X-Ray showed micro-fractures in the coronoid process in her left elbow. The rest is history as they say.
Re: Milly is limping again. Im so sry to hear abt Ollie Katie don wry hope Ollie recovers soon... keeping fingers crossed
Re: Milly is limping again. Katie, I'm glad that Ollie is now on the road to recovery I'm sure he will be feeling a million bucks once he's healed up, compared to before... Annette, I'm sure Millie is being spoiled rotten but she'll be thrilled to see you all
Re: Milly is limping again. I'm sure Millie is missing you all too Annette I know she will gets lots of hugs when she comes home Glad Ollie is on the mend
