My Patt had a Lateral Imbrication op 14 days ago but when I lead walk her in the garden for a wee etc she is still walking on 3 legs. She was checked by my vet last Monday but her stitches were not ready to come so she will have this done next Monday. Please can anyone with a dog that has had this op advise how long it takes to see an improvement in her walking. I am concerned that it may not have worked.
I have kept her in a crate ( except for necessary garden trips ) apart from evenings when I have her on the settee at my side for cuddles, I lift her up and down. I have been so careful not to overdo anything so hope it has been worth the op.

Till the sutures come out she may be reluctant to weight bare on the affected leg because the sutures are pulling and become tighter the longer they are in, just mention your concerns to the vet when she goes back on monday, they should be able to check the range of movement and if her progress is normal, you may need to do some passive exercise where you move the leg through a range of movents a few times a day so the leg doesn't remain bent causing the muscles to contract and become permanent.

I presume she isn't showing signs of pain that could be stopping her walking normally.

No pain, just the need to chase every bird in sight and the desperate need to run and play with the other dogs - so in other words just complete boredom

I had a knee op years ago on a toy breed.  She took weeks before she would even try to lower the leg.


Indeed, it was 6 weeks later that the second knee had surgery, and it was only this that forced her to put her foot on the floor.

Thanks for that, it's nice to know that I am just expecting too much too soon, now I won't worry so much.
I know I have done my best and it is a real pain keeping her contained, but worth it in the end I hope. When she has the stitches out on Monday no doubt he will test the leg and hopefully put my mind completely at rest, but it's always good to know that others have been through this and can pass on their experiences which helps stop the concerns

>it is a real pain keeping her contained, but worth it in the end I hope.

100% worth it.  The only people I know who have said the surgery wasn't as good as they expected, had not done as asked, and contain for 12 weeks.

Believe me.  Worth it.  :-)  :-)

She had the stitches out today and my vet is pleased with her progress. For the first time she walked into the garden on 4 legs (yeah yeah) so it was probably the stitches pulling as they had been in for 17 days. Mind you I am not walking her far so I cannot judge if it was just a one off and maybe tomorrow she will be back on 3 legs, but at least I know that so far so good.

>Mind you I am not walking her far

I can only say Keep it up for 12 weeks.  :-)

Good Luck.