Update - Beasley's CCL Surgery
Submitted by Beas03 on July 2, 2011 - 4:56pmI was able to schedule Beasley's surgery sooner and he was able to have it done yesterday. We dropped him off at 7:30 and was first up for surgery. The surgeon called around 9:30am that everything had gone extremely well and he confirmed that his CCL was completely torn as well as his meniscus. I checked back a little later and he was awake and resting well. We were not able to see him yesterday as he was under 24 hr care, just call and check up on him. We were finally able to pick him up today at 9am. I have to admit I didn't think the incision was going looking to look that big, it hurt just looking at it! But, he was able to walk on his own with the help of a "walk about" since his right leg is in bad shape too. Now, we're just to adjust to a routine of how to get him around without having him do much. I have all his pillows and be in his x-pen which seems to be working great. He hasn't really had an appetite, but I'm hoping dinner will be better. We bought him the inflatable e-collar that is 10x better than the plastic one he came home with, the poor guy kept running into things. I think we're more stressed out on what to do now and how to do it? I'm afraid of letting him walk w/out the "walk about" but it seems to be uncomfortable on him. I think I'm being a little too careful thinking the slightest move will cause a tear! Ugh, the stress! But, he's been such a good boy taking his meds and resting for the most part w/out complaint. Although, it seems like the wants to get comfy and can't and just a minute ago let out a little whimper trying to adjust himself. That made me cringe!! That's going to happen, right?? We're just watching him like a hawk, looking the anything out of the ordinary. We'll be camping out in the living room overnight for the next few weeks to watch him. Our home looks like a pet hospital at the moment! I'm hoping things will get easier the next few days once we get a routine done. Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and letting me vent (it gives my husband a break!) - they definitely helped!!
good luck!
i would be totally freaking out too! i would totally take time off of work and sleep in the pen with him! you are a good mommy! i am sure he will be fine. my husband had the same surgery, i just remember when the pain meds wore off he was really sore for the next day (like i almost called 911 because i thought something was really wrong), so we had to get him more of the good drugs until he could handle it. i heard knee surgery is one of the most painful kinds of surgery you can have in the human world, so i wonder if its the same for bullys... take care!
sincerely, christine
Thank you! Freaking out is
Thank you! Freaking out is the best way to describe this process. I've already taken off and so has my husband, so at least we'll have one full week with him 24 hrs. I can't imagine him having this done again on his right leg! But, we're taking this one day at a time and trying to remind everyday will be better.
CCL Surgery recovery....
We're 3-1/2 weeks out from extracapsular surgery and everyday is better. We did not use the collar. We gave the pain meds (she had Rimydal and Tramad for 2 weeks). I continue to give arnica once or twice a day. She rested in crate when we couldn't watch, but luckily we don't have stairs. Pottying (squatting) seemed difficult for her the first few days, but she adjusted quickly. She never lost appetite. When on the antibiotic, make sure to give probiotics (or yogurt) in between meals. While she's now unrestricted in the house, we're still only doing leash walks for pottying--she still tries to take off running, so I feel sorry for how frustrated she must be being held back. Good luck with your Bully's recovery, and don't hesitate to call your surgeon if you have any concerns.
I'm so glad you understand, I
I'm so glad you understand, I feel like paranoia is taking over. I'm so afraid of him even moving an inch! That is what is so stressful. Since he is allergic to NSAID's, he's on Tramadyl which seems to be helping for the pain. The surgeon said if it seems like he is still in pain, we can do the pain patch but that would be option two only because he's so sensitive to medication. His appetite is still the same as well, he can hear me getting it ready in the kitchen and is already perking up ready for his food, so that's good. I feel terrible that he's been trapped in his x-pen, but he still seems to be resting and ok with it. We had to put the dreadful plastic e-collar on overnight from his inflatable one b/c he was still able to get to his stiches and I was afraid he was surely going to try licking during the night, thus why we do not take our eyes off of him.
But, he was not a happy camper w/ that decision! My husband slept in the living room w/ him and Beas was up from about 4a on just sitting up looking around. I never thought I'd say this, but I think he is getting tired of just lying around. Going outside for potty breaks has been interesting, the walkabout device is a pill to put on and more of an ordeal than helpful. It takes us both to get him ready, plus I have to first go and scout outside to make sure there aren't any bunnies in the yard - he normally chases them at the mere sight of them! I'm hoping we can go off of the walk about by next week? I just don't know if he's allowed to stand up on his own at all? We don't have stairs either, thank goodness. Thanks for the tip on yogurt, I hadn't thought about that. I can't wait until we are 3 1/2 weeks out from today. Good luck to you as well, it sounds like your bully is doing great! That is great news.