Dog may have re-injuried 3 week TPLO surgery

[Anonymous]

Our dog who’s 3 weeks past TPLO surgery may have re-injuried her leg yesterday and don’t know what to do. We’ve got an appointment for tomorrow and I’m going to ask for x-rays. I can’t afford another $4k to fix it, she’s 12 years old.

Here’s the background. My DH was away this weekend and I was gone all day yesterday with my daughter for a tournament, we got home at 9pm. I took our dog out at 6am when we left. At 3pm I asked my 17 y/o DS who was home to take the dog out. We’re over a month into this carrying dog outside to avoid steps, etc. quick outside to do business and back in and he knows this. I didn’t specifically say, remember she can’t walk far, run, etc but I feel like I didn’t need to. DS left dog outside for an hour unattended. Now dog is limping like before surgery whereas she was putting weight on it and getting around very well. I’m afraid she saw something while outside and ran after it and bent the brace.

I’m just upset because I don’t want to make her go through that again, I can’t afford it again (in less than a month) and I’m upset at my teen who couldn’t be bothered to look out for her for 5 mins so I’m venting.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry. I can totally understand being upset at your son.

My dog seemingly reinjured his leg 4 months after his CCL surgery (he didn't have TPLO, but something less invasive and more basic). It turned out he had torn his meniscus (which apparently is a very common co-occurring injury with a CCL tear or it happens after) and broke the implant in two places as well. We skipped x-rays and MRIs and went straight to exploratory surgery. The good news was that the surgery "only" cost $700 and they fixed the tear (and actually took out the implant as he had enough stabilizing scar tissue at that point, but I understand that is a much different fix that what is possible for your dog).

There's a Facebook group for TPLO surgery and complications, if you think that would be helpful.

Good luck, OP. I hope you can figure it out.

[Anonymous]

I feel for you and your pup. My dog had one leg done 3 years ago and is now likely having the other knee done. Bye bye all vacation $$$

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry. Wow, your son is really irresponsible. I hope your pup will be finewitbout more medical intervention.

[Anonymous]

Take it out of DS’s college fund...if he can’t be trusted to do that...

[Pelada]

Anonymous wrote:Our dog who’s 3 weeks past TPLO surgery may have re-injuried her leg yesterday and don’t know what to do. We’ve got an appointment for tomorrow and I’m going to ask for x-rays. I can’t afford another $4k to fix it, she’s 12 years old.

Here’s the background. My DH was away this weekend and I was gone all day yesterday with my daughter for a tournament, we got home at 9pm. I took our dog out at 6am when we left. At 3pm I asked my 17 y/o DS who was home to take the dog out. We’re over a month into this carrying dog outside to avoid steps, etc. quick outside to do business and back in and he knows this. I didn’t specifically say, remember she can’t walk far, run, etc but I feel like I didn’t need to. DS left dog outside for an hour unattended. Now dog is limping like before surgery whereas she was putting weight on it and getting around very well. I’m afraid she saw something while outside and ran after it and bent the brace.

I’m just upset because I don’t want to make her go through that again, I can’t afford it again (in less than a month) and I’m upset at my teen who couldn’t be bothered to look out for her for 5 mins so I’m venting.

How did the follow up appointment go? Everything okay? Maybe it was just some lameness/tenderness, but no long term damage?