Molly had her check up on Tues after her cruciate repair & the vet is very happy with her progress, she is now allowed off the lead on walks (only 5 weeks since op) so we're really pleased! :)  However she has to have the same op she had on her front left leg on her right leg in 2 weeks time :( (the one where the ulna is broken & reset so it grows straight).  The last time she had this done she recovered really quickly so we're hoping for a similar result this time (esp seen as we've booked a cottage in Peak District for Bonfire night!!)

My question to you lot is what are the long term implications likely to be?  She isn't on Rimadyl anymore because her progress was so good & the vet has recommended hydrotherapy after this last op to rebuild her strength.  Are we likely to be limited always on the exercise front or will this become a factor when Molly gets older (she's only 19 months now)?

Just thinking about hols next year really, no point booking a walking hol in Scotland if poocho can't come along! :(

Anyone?

I wouldn't like to give an opinion on recovery just incase :-)  But she sounds like she's bouncing back :-)  I've been looking at doggie holidays in Scotland myself for next year on the Caledonian canal.  My wish is a nice log cabin so I can sit outside in the evening and relax with the dogs laid at my feet, bbq on etc :-)  My youngest will only be just over a year old then and being a large breed I still won't be able to overdo her exercise wise- I think you should still book your holiday anyway :-)

Stacey x

Sounds idyllic Stacey...an evening in Scotland next to water....ah....one word fits.... midges!!!! :D

Theres always one that has to go and spoil it isn't there :-D :-p :-D :-p

Stacey x

The Isle of Mull is perfect for a doggie holiday & Tobermoray is a lovely little village!  There are plenty of cottages you can hire that allow dogs as well (we went in May thid year), plenty of midges tho!

She should be ok to go.  Monitor her exercise; don't let her over-do things.

Our dog had his cruciate done and went for hydro.  He got over it very well, then bang! the other one went, due to over load from the 1st injury.  Apparently, it's quite common for the other leg to go.

On a more upbeat note though he knew what was expected the 2nd time around and recovered far sooner without hydro.

He has the most buckled, clicky pair of back legs going, now both arthritic, so he has moderate exercise, a daily dose of Synflex (liquid glucosamine) & is kept away from damp weather. 

He's a happy, contented little eleven year-old man, so long as he does everything in moderation.  We can always tell if he's overdone things, as he becomes restless & unsettled because he's achy & uncomfortable.  That's when I might be tempted to give him a Rimadyl.

How old is your dog?  Can't believe both cruciate's went, that must have cost you!  I'm so glad we took out insurance now otherwise I don't know what we would have done!

I give Molly a daily dose of glucosamine now to help in the future & have some rimadyl on hand if she has a bad day.  It's so hard sometimes to stop them for running off & going crazy esp when she's so young!

So would you recommend hydro?

Yeah it worked for him !

He'd never been near a pool didn't know if he could swim.  He went straight in on a loop harness actually had a job to stop him .

He loved going; it gave him the confidence to use the leg, once knew what was what!
Costly but well worth it.

We have to be mindful of him all the time he only needs to get in play with a heavy dog
and all the good could be undone.

He's eleven, by the way.

There is a good site in Australia if you put robert mcdowell in search engine you will get a free on line consultation.  Several friends have used him for various health issues all with good results.  Worth a try.

Its very common that if one cruciate go, then another goes. We took on a rottie who was lame a couple years ago. Turned out her cruciate had ruptured. We went for the normal op done at our vets the first time around but a year later she was back at square one again =( Thats when I read up on TPLO and decided to go for that option instead. It was costly and we had to go to a specialist but the night I took her home she was already bearing weight on it!

I'm suprised your dog is allowed off lead so early. For both ops the vets told us not to Mishka off lead until 12 weeks after the op. She started hydrotherapy at 5 weeks and had check up xrays done at 6 weeks. At 8 weeks we were allowed to start walking her on lead again, starting at 15 mins 3 x a daty and increasing 5 mins a week, before this it was strict cage rest. At 12 weeks she was finally allowed off lead.