My sweet farm pup, Roxy, is having surgery today:
A week ago last Sunday, Roxy hurt herself. She ran out the door on all four legs to chase a trespassin' dog off our property and, when she came back, she was using only three legs. This is how she has been ever since.
We went to the vet:
He diagnosed her with a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in her left rear leg.
She had to have blood drawn to make sure her liver was functioning well enough to tolerate pain meds:
We went to another vet for a second opinion:
Final diagnosis: A torn ACL (More accurately, it is known as the CCL in dogs: the Cranial cruciate ligament) as well as a luxating patella (a dislocating kneecap).
She will have something similar to fishing line wrapped in a figure-8 around her leg/knee to stabilize it and allow for healing. For her dislocating kneecap, she will have something called a sulcoplasty which involves deepening the trochlear sulcus, the groove on which the patella (kneecap) normally sits. Apparently, a bone saw is needed for this procedure and, wow, I really hate thinking about this.
Her surgery is scheduled for mid-morning today and, by late afternoon, I should be able to pick her up. But, jeez, my poor girl. Recovery time, from start to finish will be almost 6 months!
For a dog who just wants to either play ball or walk her goats, this is going to be a rough time:
To make matters worse, I noticed on Wednesday, she really needed a haircut. She hates haircuts:
Knowing that it wouldn't be wise to take her to be groomed post-surgery with sutures and all, and recognizing that she can't wait 6 months before getting her next trim, I took her in yesterday. Here she is "before":
And here she is "after". Notice how she's barely placing any weight on the toe of her left rear leg?:
We're going to get that leg all fixed up for you, my sweet girl:
But I'd still really appreciate any kind thoughts you're willing to send our way for her surgery today.
She would like to get back to her farm duties as quickly as possible:
Without the ribbons, of course:
Poor puppy! Sending loving and healing thoughts your way!
ReplyDeletePoor sweet girl! I'll be sending positive vibes from Maine!
ReplyDeleteOh Danni, we me and the Long-Dog gang will be thinking of Roxy. Big hugs and best of wishes. She will be fine, and with all the love and attention, she sill be back on all four paws right on schedule!
ReplyDeleteLiBBiE in Oz
Poor Roxy, I hate it when my animals need an operation.
ReplyDeleteBut I think human athletes have ACL problems and operations all the time, so I think this must be something where the medical profession will come through well.
Hardly seems fair, when Roxy was doing her farm-protecting job. A hug from me to her.
Sending lots of good thoughts for Roxy today and for the next few months!
ReplyDeleteOh, my, she is a sweet pup and will be on my mind. I think you will be surprised at how well she will adapt to post-surgery limitations while she heals.
ReplyDeleteWe once had a litter of pups and one jumped off a second story porch (who saw that coming?) and broke his leg. After he got fixed up, he romped in that cast along with the others and even used it as a weapon in their crazy puppy pile-ups. I can still hear the rhythmic thump of him running down our hall. Of course, we kept him when the others moved on. (So long ago, we only get our pups from shelters now).
Roxy, be well, little girl.
You know all of us here are sending Roxy all the good thoughts and prayers we can muster. She's a trooper and will do just fine.
ReplyDeleteI want to strangle the neighbors with the trespassin' dogs.
Awww, Sweet Roxy! Saying a little prayer for your farm pup...and a quicker than expected recovery :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a student at the University of Georgia veterinary school we performed this same surgery on Uga (an English bulldog), the school mascot. He ruptured his cruciate by falling off the bed, not nearly so illustrious as defending one's territory. He came through just fine. Roxy will too.
ReplyDeleteDear Danni and Roxy - I hope all goes well today at the vets - this surgery sounds like a long and careful recovery. I know you will be fine as you two are soulmates - you need each other and have each other. I will be thinking of you and hoping only the best! Hugs, Pattie
ReplyDeleteYou know this break my heart! I will be thinking of you guy all day. I hope it goes well, and that the recovery is as easy as it can be.
ReplyDeleteDo you have anyplace for her to swim? Swimming is great for physical therapy! No impact, high resistance. Strengthens muscles with little risk. Lilith won't go near water, but maybe Roxy is more brave? ;)
I will send Roxie a lot of healing energy and lots of good thoughts. She is such a sweet dog. Oh yeah, lots of hugs coming her way also.
ReplyDeleteOMGosh!!! I'm gonna be prayin and thinking about little Roxy all day today..and hoping that the healing time goes by quickly for her..Awhhh..poor Roxy:( Critter Farm won't be quite the same til she gets back on all 4's~~
ReplyDeleteAwww! Poor Roxie and poor you. I am sending positive thoughts your way and know that everything will go well and Roxie will be running with the goats and hanging with the rest of her "flock" soon.
ReplyDeleteHere's thinking of you, Roxy. Try and be a good girl for your Mom and you'll be walking your goats in no time.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well.
Danni and Roxy... Will be thinking of you both today... Hoping all goes well. I had a very similar surg. in ;09 after flying over my bicycle handlebars. Fractured my femur, displaced patella and tore ligament. Surgery, therapy and imobility during healing process made me "good as new" and able to "chase roosters" once more!!! ;>)).
ReplyDeleteOhhhh Roxy!!
ReplyDeleteThoughts and Prayers for quick healing.
Poor sweet Roxie. I'll definitely send up a few prayers for her today. Post on Facebook when you've got her home tonight. She'll be fine, I just know it!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let me say that Roxy is adorable with the bows!
ReplyDeleteAnd, OMG, the poor baby is having surgery! I'm wishing that she heals up and gets all better in no time!!!!
Hugs to all from Razzberry Corner!! <3 I'll be thinking of Roxy today!
Oh My! Kezia sends get well kisses to Roxy as she knows about leg surgery first hand! I wish Roxy all the best with her surgery and her physical therapy. She was brave to chase the interloper from her territory!
ReplyDeleteDanni, I know exactly what you are going through. I was a nervous wreck about Captain's knee surgery, but he is doing so well 8 weeks post ACL surgery. He is no longer in pain and acts like a puppy again! We'll be sending special thoughts and prayers your way. Love Roxy's new hairdo!
ReplyDeleteI will send good thoughts your way all day today and this weekend. Take it easy for a while and get well soon Roxy!
ReplyDeleteMy Dad's dog, Ringo, jumped out of his pickup truck once to chase another dog and broke one of his rear legs. After a week or so he was able to run around the horse farm as usual, with his rear leg always in the air, a three-legged run. Months later, when the cast was removed, he still ran three-legged for a long time, he was just used to running that way. Now back to normal. I hope Roxy adapts and is able to resume her routine quickly.
Thinking good thoughts for Roxy! There's not much sadder than an injured pup. Get well soon!
ReplyDeleteOh - so sorry about Roxy, Danni - and all this happened in the line of duty - protecting your property. Best wishes for a full recovery to your dear little dog.
ReplyDeleteRoxy is in good, caring hands and will be fit as a fiddle in no time, at all. She has so many loving friends at home who will stay by her bedside while she mends and keep her company. I have a feeling your porch is going to be like Grand Central Station will all the visitors Roxy is going to get and I see Clyde & Honey chief among them.
ReplyDeleteShe's going to look miserable when she gets home, but the surgery is a necessary evil to get her back on the road to recovery quickly and with fewer complications than if it were to 'heal' on its own.
Blessings and gentle hugs,
Carolynn
Gentle hugs and kisses to Roxie as she heals. She will be up and walking goats in record time, I bet.
ReplyDeleteShe looks so different after being trimmed!
ReplyDeleteI do hope all goes well today. *Hugs* ♥
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Danni,
ReplyDeleteYou likely already have thought of this, but since I've had experience with doggie-leg surgery, I thought i'd suggest it. Ask your vet if you can have a couple of "EMPTY"(ie, used) bags that lactated ringers come in. These are super thick bags. Then, cut one end of the bag off to make a pouch. cut a couple of slits around the open end of the bag and thread through something to tie like a shoelace or some gauze. Because you live in Oregon, when you need to take Roxy out for a potty break, put this baggie contraption over her cast (if that is possible) so the cast doesn't get soaked. I'm not sure if it will work for this surgery, but if it does it'll save you a lot of replacements of a soggy cast! Good luck. My thoughts are with you and Roxy!
My kitty Felix did the same thing to his knee two years ago; he had the surgery and he's as crazy as ever! He careens around like it never happened. The vet said that there might be some stiffness and arthritis with age but there are lots of good supplements for pets. I give Felix Cosequin and he is fine.
ReplyDeleteI'll get my crew purring for Roxy!
Trish
Yes I will keep Roxy in my kind thoughts today!
ReplyDeleteI had a dog that did the same thing (only chasing squirrels out of her yard) and the first vet told me she had hip displasia! I finally got her diagnosed correctly and she had her surgery, and I will never forget how she screamed when I put her in the back of my car after her surgery. You're lucky that Roxy is so much smaller than Tank, because you will not have that problem, but be super careful not to let anything touch that leg!
Come to think of it Danni, Tank tore it on her left rear leg as well! Well, don't worry- she'll be exploding out the door again sooner than you know it. Get better soon, Roxy!
Danni, I'll be saying prayers for Roxy! My Ellie Mae (80+ lb. American Bulldog) had "TPLO" procedures on each of her rear legs, due to similar injuries that Roxy has. I used a bath towel to support her hind quarters when she went out for potty, including supporting her down the front steps. During her recovery, I taught her very gentle retrieval games to keep her mind stimulated. Ellie completely recovered each time - she's now 8 1/2 yrs. old and is still going strong. Good luck to your adorable darling. She'll do just fine!
ReplyDeleteGet well soon Roxie! A friend's dog had that surgery and it was very successful. The most difficult part was trying to keep the dog at low activity level for the post op period.
ReplyDeleteAwwwe, poor, little thing! I'm sending my surgery goes swiftly and successfully, quick, speedy recovery thoughts to little Roxy today! And my don't worry too much mama thoughts, as well!
ReplyDeletexx oo Chris
Hi Danni
ReplyDeleteLoving prayers for Roxie and you heading your way. Please let us know how you both are doing. Blessings Mary
Danni,
ReplyDeleteyou might consider getting a pet stroller for her. Then, she can walk with you and be outside but not be tempted to use her bad leg. You can probably pick one up on craig's list [that's where I sold mine-my cat hated it].
Wishes for a speedy recovery, Roxy!
Carrie
I'm a regular lurker here because I love reading about your life with all of your animals...I wanted to pop out of the shadows and say many healing thoughts are being sent your way for a short and clean surgery and quick recovery for Roxy!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweetie! Heal up well and quickly Roxie!
ReplyDeleteOh, my! We will be thinking of Roxy! The Mighty Quinn has twice had to be sedated to see if he had a torn ligament. Fortunately, so far he has just had to have meds and nothing was torn. I see glucosamine in Roxy's future. And Cabra says to tell her she hates the bows too. Farm dogs don't need no stinkin' bows!
ReplyDeletePoor Roxy! I'll be thinking of her Danni! Warm thoughts from Canada for a speedy recovery for your sweet girl!
ReplyDeleteOf course we will send good thoughts for your furbaby and also healing ones.
ReplyDeleteWe had a dog named Rosie that disliked her trips to the groomer also. My hubby always said that she like the name shaggy dog.
I hope all goes well and that you and your furbaby get through this okay. The Olde Bagg
Lots of good thoughts and prayers are happening for our sweet little farm pup Roxy . . . and I'll even throw in a prayer or two for you too Danni because you're gonna need to remain calm through this whole ordeal so you can be the loving caregiver that we all know that you are).Roxy will need lots of it!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you are both having to face this! Good thinking on the early haircut, although I LOVE how she looked in the "before" pictures....
ReplyDeleteHealing vibes for little/big Roxie. She is adorable. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy poor, sweet Roxy girl! All my good thoughts are with her and her mom. Please tell her that farmgirl's mom will help her with stories about her own fast recoveries. Hours of them!
ReplyDeleteJust kidding. But I'll be there in a flash if she needs me.
Good luck little pup, hope it goes well. Well done for defending everyone so well!
ReplyDeleteAwww, poor little thing. Hope she heals up fast. And gets those silly ribbons out of her hair. Real farm dogs don't wear no stinkin' ribbons, huh Roxy? ;-)
ReplyDeleteDear sweet Roxy, Winslow Homer and I shall keep you in our thoughts and prayers. We hope you are back on "all fours" soon!
ReplyDeleteSending good vibes and get-better prayers for both you and her.
ReplyDeleteoh Danni! I'll be praying for her! She looks really pretty with her new haircut, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd will she get rehab? I know a vet her that went into rehab med: so basically she is a doggy PT!
Here's well wishes to a successful surgery and quick recovery!!
Poor little sweet puppy dog! Wishing her speedy recovery!
ReplyDeletePraying for your girl. Keeping her quiet and still during recovery will be tough. Get a baby corral to keep her from trying to run. We went thru something like this a few years ago. Lots of love and it will pass.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog!
How is she doing tonight? How are YOU doing tonight? Thinking of you.♥
ReplyDeleteSending lots of healing thoughts your way. She is a beautiful girl and I know you will both feel better when this is all over.
ReplyDeleteBless you for being so responsible with your animals. I know that won't be cheap, but she is so worth it! My sister has torn both of her ACL's, and the recovery was pretty rough. I hope you can keep her calm enough to heal afterwards, it seems animals think they can do anything, no matter how much pain they're in.
ReplyDeleteBless Roxie's heart and yours! I will be sending lots of healing thoughts your way. I know the surgery will be successful and she'll be back on guard duty in no time. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteMy heart aches for Miss Roxy. And you, too. I know how you must worry about her. Poor baby. I'm thinking about both of you and sending good wishes your way. All the best for both of you. C'mon Roxy! Love ya.
ReplyDeletePoor puppy, hope you get well soon
ReplyDelete