KING OLLIE HOUSE of BULLDOG
Well-known member
I've decided that I'm going to try to document Ollie's experience with TPLO (tibial-plateau leveling osteotomy) surgery. I'm pretty much having to learn everything on my own. Maybe some time down the road someone might find this useful. If it needs to be moved, feel free Moderator/s.
In the Beginning
Ollie's injured by another bully just over a month ago. To use the orthopedic surgeon's vernacular, Ollie was "pancake'd (splayed flat) during rough play. I immediately knew that he was injured. It was difficult to get the other dog off him. At first Ollie could not/would not stand. Eventually with help, he got up and limped into the house. He was taken to the vet the next morning and had an x-ray. It was not a great X-ray, but the vet suspected a pull to the cranial cruciate ligament, the canine version of the ACL in humans. We came home with Rimadyl, 50mg X 2 daily and crate confinement for a week. At his veterinary recheck at the end of the seven days, he was walking fine. The vet said not to let the recovery go to our heads, that the tendon was weak and would probably tear and we would need to see a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. Fast forward thirty days. Out of nowhere, Ollie was walking on 3 legs. He was holding his left hind leg straight, off the ground with his toe pointed like a toe dancer ballerina. Back to the vet. More Rimadyl. Referral to orthopedic surgeon. We had a consultation with the surgeon two days ago. He took some specialized X-rays.The ligament/tendon is fully torn. He checked Ollie's breathing capacity (for anesthesia) and said it was great for a bully. He was also very pleased at Ollie's weight and athletic build. All pluses from a surgeon's point of view.He originally scheduled the surgery for tomorrow (Thursday), but called back to reschedule it for Monday because upon further studies of the X-rays, he decided he needed more surgery time than he had in his schedule. So Monday it is. We are continuing the Rimadyl.
Random Thoughts In Bullet Points
In the Beginning
Ollie's injured by another bully just over a month ago. To use the orthopedic surgeon's vernacular, Ollie was "pancake'd (splayed flat) during rough play. I immediately knew that he was injured. It was difficult to get the other dog off him. At first Ollie could not/would not stand. Eventually with help, he got up and limped into the house. He was taken to the vet the next morning and had an x-ray. It was not a great X-ray, but the vet suspected a pull to the cranial cruciate ligament, the canine version of the ACL in humans. We came home with Rimadyl, 50mg X 2 daily and crate confinement for a week. At his veterinary recheck at the end of the seven days, he was walking fine. The vet said not to let the recovery go to our heads, that the tendon was weak and would probably tear and we would need to see a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. Fast forward thirty days. Out of nowhere, Ollie was walking on 3 legs. He was holding his left hind leg straight, off the ground with his toe pointed like a toe dancer ballerina. Back to the vet. More Rimadyl. Referral to orthopedic surgeon. We had a consultation with the surgeon two days ago. He took some specialized X-rays.The ligament/tendon is fully torn. He checked Ollie's breathing capacity (for anesthesia) and said it was great for a bully. He was also very pleased at Ollie's weight and athletic build. All pluses from a surgeon's point of view.He originally scheduled the surgery for tomorrow (Thursday), but called back to reschedule it for Monday because upon further studies of the X-rays, he decided he needed more surgery time than he had in his schedule. So Monday it is. We are continuing the Rimadyl.
Random Thoughts In Bullet Points
- I'm glad we have pet health insurance
