Hi,
You have offered me lots of advice in the past regarding the Patella op and wondered if you would mind if I picked your brains a little more.

It is only 6 weeks since her op ( the full bone scrape and metal clips etc ) She had her X-ray a couple of days ago and the specialist is very pleased with her and she is healing well. They have told me to walk her more to build up the lost muscles in the leg, and have also told me to let her off lead for a short time when she is alone ( not with the other dogs )
I am concerned that it is only 6 weeks, but he is the specialist - who am I to argue. She walks beautifully on 4 legs, but the minute she starts to go into a trot it is back to 3 legs again, which could be habit of course as she may be expecting pain as before.
In your experience how long was it before your dog actually ran with 4 legs, am I expecting too much too soon?
Also I am scared to let her off lead as she is a terrier and will run like a loony with the freedom, the specialist at Dick Whites, has assured me this will be alright but she is not ready for the rough and tumble of play, so she is still walked away from the other dogs.
I am still scared, your thoughts and advice would be appreciated.
ps, they have told me she need not be crated any longer, another worry.

A flexi or Long line might be compromise, so you can control the extent of freer exercise?

I use a flexi lead for her now to give more freedom, but with this she is pulling a lot trying to chase every leaf or bird which means she is forcing forward with her back legs, she either needs a short lead to make her just walk or maybe complete freedom. It just seems so soon at 6 weeks since the op and is making me nervous, but the specialists must know what the are saying.

Did she just have the grove made deeper or was the crest moved as well?

She had wedge sulcoplasty and tibial crest transposition repaired with pin and tension band. This was copied from the specialists letter to me.

Well, the specialist has told you to let her exercise but I would not be letting her off the lead if she were mine, the tibial crest is a tiny piece of bone that has been sawn off and then screwed back in a different position the better to align the tendon with the grove. So to my mind the tiny screws holding the tiny piece of bone is vulnerable until it is healed and re-attached in its new position.

Having said that you are paying the expert but you know what your dog may do and if there is any danger that she will over do it I would continue to restrain her with a lead, increase the exercise as you can to help strengthen the leg but I would not risk her rushing about and risking a fall or trip. Now I don't think I should be going against your specialist but I would be uneasy.

Thanks Nova - uneasy is what I feel

Amber had the crest moved as well.  My vet didn't disagree when I told him that my first bitch had been restricted for 12 weeks.  I feel sure he would have said if he thought I shouldn't have crated her.

When I told him that I couldn't even let her wee with the others because she would become a loony, he said very short walks alone, without the others.  I said how short.  He said 100 yards.  And this was after 6 weeks!

I kept in mind what one of the old receptionists had told me.  She got fed up of restricting her dog, so let him start running down the field.  She was too embarrassed to go back to the vet who performed the op, as he would have gone mad at her!  Stupid, stupid woman.  We both had the same vet.  So I maintain it was her fault that she hasn't had the same success as my terrier. 

I admit that I even had to keep her in the front room away from the others.  But my vet did tell me that it was one of the worst he had done.  And he did say that a lot of damage would be caused if she was allowed be a maniac.  I put her in the living room to stop me nailing her feet to the floor!!!!

But sillysue, it was worth it.  Honestly.  My maniac can do loop the loop to her hearts content.  Jump from one chair to another without hesitation too!  Her thigh muscles are back to normal, and her movement is so comfortable to watch.  No skips, nothing to show there was ever a patella problem. 

I did allow her to move around the front room in the evening when I sat down to watch TV for a while.  She wasn't allowed to jump on the settee, but I would lift her up so she could sit with me.  Once she got fidgety she was placed on the floor to mooch around.  Yes, it seemed a long time, but hey, you're half way there girl.  It WILL be worth it.  I personally wouldn't let your girl run yet.  And I wouldn't dispense with the crating either.  I think it isn't worth the risk.  Sorry to disagree, but both my bitches were restricted for 12 weeks, and the ops were successful.  Any people with problems have always (just in my own opinion) let their dog do too much, too soon.  I do feel that her running on 3 legs gives you your answer.

Everything you are saying is an echo of what I feel ( if that makes sense ) It is just that this amazing specialist has told me that she can do these things now. (This is when they sedated her and did check up X-rays a few days ago.) I told him I was shocked and I expected to keep her crated or quiet for up to 3 months, but he insisted it would be ok. He said he prefers for her to move around and use the leg rather that be crated and restricted in her movement.
I am so torn between what feels right to me and what I have been told.

I think I will keep her on lead slow walks for the time being, as when she walks it is on 4 legs with no limp and this has got to strengthen her muscles. I am uneasy at the thought of her running off lead, no matter what I have been told to do.
During the day I take her to work with me and she sleeps most of the day in front of the fire in the office, so it is not a lot different to being in a crate as far as movement is concerned. And of an evening she sits with me with no jumping.
I think I will follow my gut instinct on this. Thank you all for your advice you have confirmed my own feelings

I know nothing about this :-) but just wanted to say 'fab post' and 'champ dogs at its best ' :-)