Long story short, I have a 11 month old Husky I always thought he potentially had hip dysplasia due to some habits or characteristics he had. So a little over a month ago, my vet did x-rays when he got neutered last month and hips were perfect, but he was diagnosed with luxating patella's (his kneecap basically doesn't sit where it should, it pops in/out and moves around). I was referred to an orthopedic specialist in which he was confirmed with grade 3 luxating patella in both legs (1 being least severe, 4 being most) and surgery was highly recommended to avoid arthritis, worse injury in the future and overall comfort as he gets older. This surgery has a very high (90%+) success rate in improving the quality of life long term, especially as he gets older. He doesn't show much pain now, but over time the constant rubbing of his kneecaps will eventually lead to nerve on nerve rubbing which is extremely painful.
Yesterday he had his surgery done… Took 4 hours on the table, a lengthy one for a dog (right leg was more complicated and advanced than expected, in which surgeon was very happy we decided to do it now vs. wait, as surgery would have gotten even more difficult in time). All went very well and we brought him home last night, a few hours after the procedure was done. Bill was $5500, thankfully we have him insured through the AKC so I'm responsible for only about $1250 of that (80/20, after $500 deductible in which $300 or so is already applied from past x-rays).
Recovery is a challenge, as he doesn't have use of his back legs at the moment. We have to sling him around his belly and walk with him outside. He wanted no part of that last night… Have him setup downstairs in a penned area (he usually sleep in our room, huskies hate to be alone). He was up all throughout the night, whining/whimpering. I basically stayed up with him, sleeping as much as I could in/out, until about 3am when he finally got out of the anesthesia fog enough to try to get up to get outside. He allowed me to sling him and he was able to do his business, thank goodness.
Afterward, I carried him to our bedroom and he slept quiet the 3hrs or so until we woke up for work. This morning he mentally is more himself, but wondering what is up with his legs. Heartbreaking I admit, but I just tell him it will all be worth it!
Ice packed his legs as best as I could, gave him his antibiotics and got him outside to walk around a little. He already is trying to walk and use his back legs, but obviously far too weak right now. I hope within a few days he can at least support some load. His first follow-up will be in about two weeks, then x-rays in 4-6 weeks from today to confirm repair looks good.
Recovery is about 4-6 weeks of ‘critical' time. By the end of it, he should be able to walk under his own weight and everything with no sling or anything (hopefully within two weeks) but on reduced activity the entire duration… No steps, rough playing, long walks, etc… By the end of the (long, I'm sure) six weeks, he should be fairly normal again. Then for another 4-8 weeks after that, really build up his muscle mass and be able to return to full activity around that time, in which jumping and all that will be allowed.
So rough seeing my little buddy go through this… But hopefully recovery is quick and he is back being his psycho self soon enough…
Anybody else have this type of surgery for their dog? How did recovery go and the outcome once healed up?
Yesterday he had his surgery done… Took 4 hours on the table, a lengthy one for a dog (right leg was more complicated and advanced than expected, in which surgeon was very happy we decided to do it now vs. wait, as surgery would have gotten even more difficult in time). All went very well and we brought him home last night, a few hours after the procedure was done. Bill was $5500, thankfully we have him insured through the AKC so I'm responsible for only about $1250 of that (80/20, after $500 deductible in which $300 or so is already applied from past x-rays).
Recovery is a challenge, as he doesn't have use of his back legs at the moment. We have to sling him around his belly and walk with him outside. He wanted no part of that last night… Have him setup downstairs in a penned area (he usually sleep in our room, huskies hate to be alone). He was up all throughout the night, whining/whimpering. I basically stayed up with him, sleeping as much as I could in/out, until about 3am when he finally got out of the anesthesia fog enough to try to get up to get outside. He allowed me to sling him and he was able to do his business, thank goodness.
Afterward, I carried him to our bedroom and he slept quiet the 3hrs or so until we woke up for work. This morning he mentally is more himself, but wondering what is up with his legs. Heartbreaking I admit, but I just tell him it will all be worth it!
Ice packed his legs as best as I could, gave him his antibiotics and got him outside to walk around a little. He already is trying to walk and use his back legs, but obviously far too weak right now. I hope within a few days he can at least support some load. His first follow-up will be in about two weeks, then x-rays in 4-6 weeks from today to confirm repair looks good.
Recovery is about 4-6 weeks of ‘critical' time. By the end of it, he should be able to walk under his own weight and everything with no sling or anything (hopefully within two weeks) but on reduced activity the entire duration… No steps, rough playing, long walks, etc… By the end of the (long, I'm sure) six weeks, he should be fairly normal again. Then for another 4-8 weeks after that, really build up his muscle mass and be able to return to full activity around that time, in which jumping and all that will be allowed.
So rough seeing my little buddy go through this… But hopefully recovery is quick and he is back being his psycho self soon enough…
Anybody else have this type of surgery for their dog? How did recovery go and the outcome once healed up?
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