Kelly_Louise

Hello! I find that regular Cartrophen injections from the vet and "Sasha's Blend" added to the food everyday are really effective. It could work wonders for poor old Freckles! :D Good luck and hugs to Freckles!

Oh thank you... I will pass on the cuddles!!! Believe me I fuss over her so much that I think she is getting sick of me!!! I barely leave her side when I am home!!! Thank you for caring and I will definitely let all know how I go... I'm worried but staying positive that there will be good news to come!!!

Thanks for your understanding malleerr!!! It can be stressful can't it - your pup just makes me melt? I guess because I feel so helpless and I know she is sad, but I don't know what to do!!! Yes Chloe is on medication and shots for the arthritis (and also for the Cruciate ligament) which she will continue even with the operation. We also give her Sasha's Blend which apparently helps too. The Tibial Plateau Levelling surgery or the cranial wedge opteotomy was recommended by our original vet. He said it may be more helpful to her than the original surgery was scheduled. I'm actually glad because I have heard these types are much better for bigger and heavier dogs and the healing time is much faster. The hard part now is not knowing until Monday. She is doing okay at the moment... getting around slowly, but it breaks my heart to see her mind working overtime but her poor old legs don't want to co-operate. She sits around alot now. It's so distressing. Sometimes if her legs aren't positioned right she struggles to get up and sometimes it's too much for her and she gives up. It makes me cry. I guess because I don't truly know how much pain she is in. I thought about putting her down, but couldn't bear the thought. I figure as long as there is hope (no matter what cost) I will give it a go. If she then still does not have quality of life, then I will make the tough decision. But it's worth a try to save my little friend. I promised her I would buy her new legs... so I have to keep it!!! Until that can happen I tell her every morning and night that she has to be brave for a bit longer!!! Thanks also Anne for the clarification!!! I was hoping that 7 is still young enough for this type of surgery to be helpful!!!

Oh I hope not... Chloe is 7 years young!!! The fact that she already has some arthritis does concern me alot and I am afraid that will prevent them from doing the surgery... However, with the shots (which will be continued), the arthritis does not seem to pose too many problems - it is mainly the ligament that is causing the most pain. I am so worried... I don't think I will last until Monday when they check her out. From the moment they told me she needed surgery I have been very upset and spend my working hours looking for any sort of information I can so that I know exactly what is happening and how I can best help her. I wish it was Monday already...

Hi Corine, thanks for the reply! I actually have read most of your thread, and I have to admit the many discussions on there have given me so much hope that my baby may one day be pain free - and by the way you have such a beautiful dog! Although she has already developed some arthritis, she also has shots for that, but the ligament damage has really got her down and it distresses me so much to see her like that. Your thread gave me alot of information and I was so happy to see the pics of your puppy so active and back running around!!! It was really encouraging!!! I just want Chloe to be able to get around and go for long walks again and to be able to get up and down with ease without pain.... and I'm hoping surgery will do that! I have just spoken to the specialist and we have an appointment for Monday for him to evaluate her. I am really looking forward to it (that sounds terrible but I just want my girl to have her new legs asap). I will just have to try and be patient until then. I have done quite a bit of research and read many papers on this type of surgery (and ended up here in my quest for further knowledge!!), and I will certainly check out the Orthodogs site - thanks for the recommendation. I found this website helpful so I thought I'd join and be able to share with others who understand!!! Thank you! Fingers crossed that the Specialist will think that surgery will help my little Chloe!

Hello! My little girl is ready for an appointment for the Specialist to see what can be done for her Cruciate Ligament ruptures. I was just wondering if anyone knows of any conditions under which they would decline to operate on her? She was booked in for surgery previously but it was the one where they let scar tissue build up etc (not sure what it's called). The vet said that it would not help my little dog, and I am hoping against hope that the Specialist does not also decline to operate using the TPLO or Cranial Wedge methods. Are there any reasons that anyone knows of that would exempt her from surgery? She is 7 years old and both legs are affected. She was previously a little overweight but has been on a strict diet and lost about 5 kilos. Thank you for your time and help!