My old lady Granny Pepsi has this morning injured her knee badly. Not sure what she has done (They are always out of sight when something happens arn't they) but she is a plodder and we often have to wait for her to catch up nothing new there but this morning I walked in to the woods and waited for her round the corner and she came hopping along on 3 legs. It's her hind left. It took me 3/4 hour to get her to the car a distance of about 200 yards (she weight 54 kg so not able to carry her) and round to the vet. Looks like she has dislocated her kneecap and possibly ruptured her cruciate. Vet thinks she must have put her foot down a hole and twisted or falled into the knee. She is doped up now and confined to a small area in the house. GA on Fri with surgery depending on what is found under examination and x-rays. My vet is not in tomorrow and they are fully booked in the theatre. I preferr to wait till Fri to have my vet do it though and with pain relief and comtainment it will be fine to wait till Fri. She is nearly 10 and for a Bernese it's a good age. I hate the thought of a GA for her but what has to be I suppose.
Nowt wrong with her appetite though...she has just pollished off a late breakfast with gusto !!
Aileen

Sorry to hear about your old girl.  While it's a good age for the breed, she does sound fit and healthy so I wouldn't worry too much about the anaesthetic.  They are so good nowadays.  I have a favourite vet too, so know what you mean.  It is the trust we build up with them and it's all part of having a good relationship with your vet.

I do hope that they find it is limited damage.  Will be thinking of you on Friday.

Pepsi is back from the vet's she has partially done her cruciate. We have 3 options, ortho ref and full reconstructive surgery, limited stabilizing surgery from my very expierienced vet or rest pain relief and wait and see. We have opted for the latter as she is 9 3/4 years old and has limited mobility now anyway. We will moniter her for 10 days and if no improvement will go for the second option to give her some stability. She is putting some weight through the knee so the signs are not too bad. She is an old lady and she only plods about now anyway so we are not realistically looking for a complete cure at her age. If she were a young dog with a lot of rushing around still to do it would be different.
She is sleeping off her GA under my feet at the moment and is suitably fed up with not having had her breakfast this morning !
It is hard to make the right dessision with a dog of her age , size and mobility so I just hope I have got it right for her.
Aileen

I think you are doing the right thing and if she is starting to bear a little weight on it then that is a positive sign.

Hope after some more rest and meds she will continue to improve :-)

Sorry to read about Pepsi. I'm sure you have made the right decision, she is your dog and you know her best. I hope she continues to improve for you - it is such a worry - if you change you mind after a week or so as you said you can get a second opinion. Best wishes.

>It is hard to make the right dessision with a dog of her age , size and mobility so I just hope I have got it right for her

Aileen I am sure you have done what you considered to be right, I wouldn't have rushed in myself.  You may well see some improvement with her pain relief.  Make haste slowly.  I am pleased to see you have her home anyway.   Good Luck.

Aileen I'd have done exactly the same - provided she can get a good quality of life what would be the point of putting her through an op with possibly a long recovery? I certainly wouldn't with my Bernese (7 1/2 years). My gordon has had an issue with her cruciate for about a year. Often when she comes back from walks she is on three legs - she runs around like a nutcase and is fine until she stops :-( and stiffens up (she is 6) but 24 hours later she is back to normal so there is nothing for vet to see. Hopefully your Pepsi will improve soon.

M x

Pepsi is a little better today. Not very mobile but eating and drinking OK and she has managed to potter out for a toilet break. I am fortunate in having my garden open out onto a green space and it is well maintained and the grass short and flat so she can have 5 mins out to feel like she has had a walk like the other girls. I think it is better to give her an outing to keep her spirits up than shut her in as she does get a bit depressed. She does not seem to be in a huge amount of pain and will potter around for 5 mins happily. She is on a good dose of pain relief and I am looking into getting a brace to help support the leg. I have been supporting her back end with a towel slung under her but today she was quite happy without the need. Fingers crossed we will be able to give her some quality of life without the need for surgery, I am lucky to have got her to 9 3/4 as Berns are notorious for leaving us at 7 - 8 years old. I will view every day as a bonus and play it one day at a time with her.
Thanks for your support.
Aileen

I'm glad you got her out - I know what you mean about one day at a time - we are the same having lost our first Bernese at just 4 every day with Bramble is a bonus and I have absolutely no expectations of her ( although she has never had a day ill in her 7 years touching wood and fingers crossed). She is a bit of a wuss when it comes to the slightest pain though so if your Pepsi is the same then the fact she is up and about is really good news. Hope she continues to improve

M x

Glad it's going aswell as can be expected, good to keep her sprits up xx

Oh bless her, give her a huge hug from me.. Kai gives her a few slobbery boy kisses too ;-)