A year ago the author's year-old Cockapoo pup Simon was diagnosed with canine luxating patella (trick knee). Simply stated, the kneecap in his right rear leg was dislocating. The evidence of this condition - Simon walked stiff-legged until he popped the kneecap back into its groove.
The prognosis - without surgery, the condition may worsen. Arthritis develops in most dogs with this condition. If the dog exerts too much pressure on the knee joint, he can blow out a cruxiate ligament.
A month after the diagnosis, Simon's knee was repaired by a veterinary surgeon.
The Most Critical Part Of Simon's Story
The most important part of Simon's story was the recovery period. To ensure the surgical repairs healed properly, post-surgery instructions emphasized inactivity for six weeks. That meant walking up and down stairs and jumping up on anything and anyone were banned.
If the dog falls backward on the recent surgical repair, he can re-injure his knee. In this case, another surgery may be required. If you have other dogs or children, extra vigilance is necessary. During play, a blow to the injured animal's hip or mid-leg can cause tearing in the repaired tissue.
What Else Can You Expect?
A short hospital stay - Simon's returned home one day after the operation.
The dog may require pain and anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics for about a week post surgery.
During the first week of recovery, the dog will sleep a lot because of the medication. After that, he will probably feel better and want to resume normal activity. Obviously, that's not an option.
The dog cannot lick or disturb surgical sutures, so an e-collar may be required.
Other items you need to consider:
* Pen, crate, or gate to contain your dog.
* Toys for entertainment.
* A carrier for car travel (uncontained, a dog can fall during quick stops).
* A comfy e-collar
The surgeon and hospital costs may run into thousands of dollars.
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