I wonder if anyone else has had a dog go through knee surgery and if so what I can expect during recovery and how long that should last. My older dog Heidi had hers done back in October and I'm still walking her on leash as she is prone to dash about even at eleven and I was told she should be kept on leash except where I could count on her trotting alongside me. She is definitely using the hind leg she had the surgery on now but only if I walk at a slow enough pace. Faster, and she kind of hops and skips to avoid using it as much. I fear I'll never be able to walk them together again off leash.
So I have two herding dogs, both heeler mixes. The four year-old, Smokey, I know is a deliberate heeler aussie mix as I got him from a breeder in Colorado to try to get some more of what our eleven year-old has in her which we suspect may also have some German Shepherd genes owing to her size and the shape of her head. Left to their own devices they tend to push each other physically as you can see in this video. This is how they start every walk at Fort Funston in San Francisco. Once they burn off a little energy they are content to walk along with a couple of old people.
But just in case the video doesn't work (still haven't figured out how to edit a post just in case), here is a still taken at the same place that gives a pretty good idea of what I'm up against.
[img][live.staticflickr.com][/img]
And this is my favorite portrait of my two at their favorite place, after they've had their joust and are ready to head off. [img][live.staticflickr.com][/img]
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I have had 3 dogs have 4 knee replacements. It would be helpful if you stated which type they had. The older type graft of new cartilage onto the knee makes the dog retire to basically a couch potato forever.
The TLPO returned all of my dogs to highest-level competition in Hunt Test & Field Trials, plus A Lot of hunting & training....it costs of course 3-4 times what a graft costs.
If you had the graft, this what you will deal with forever, it is pretty fragile.
If you had the TLPO, your rehab is at this point not IMO rigorous enough. Will the dog retrieve? With just a few short bursts, start on sand, progress to sandy uphills, building up gradually, it should not take more than a few weeks at this point. Sand/ loose dirt will make a Huge difference! And supplement with human Glucosamine/Chondriton (our surgeon's recommendation)
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AnneWimsey
Level 9
May 18, 2020
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Thanks. I don’t recall now what the surgery was called but we went for pricier one and got the vet everyone tells me is best with knees.
Just today I was weeding outside with the dogs laying around when Heidi exploded across the yard and up a deck in one bound after a squirrel. I think I’ve been taking her being sedate now for granted. I’ve even left them out together times. But no more!
@MarkWD after viewing your video, there is a lot of twisting & turning...you know the other knee can fail as well. Maybe get them swimming (best) or controlled retrieving...one at a time? So there is more 'straight-line exertion?
@AnneWimsey I'm thinking Heidi's retrieving days may be over. As she just goes so hard when a ball is in play. This was from seven years ago. [flic.kr]
But I do use a ball to exercise the young one every morning before dawn (since my city has instituted no off leash policy because of COVID). I enjoy giving him a chance to snag the ball in the air but a knowledgable friend who is a dog walker and boards them for me when travel says it is safer to keep it on the ground. Apparently the jumping is a concern. Do you agree with that. This is his my routine with the young one, usually finishing up in 15-20 minutes.
@MarkWD twisting motions, such as leaps, are bad for both dog & human knees, IM O....level throws on the ground, or far enough (with one of that slinger) so that it is on the ground when the dog gets there would be better.... put some moxie on that slinger!
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