Update on Shadow's Surgery

[Roy]

I'm home again, back from my ACL surgery. Just going to take it easy for a while and I'm wearing a collar and leash so Dad can make sure I do. I'll be wearing this bandage till April 15th. Dad is making me stay in my kennel. He don't trust me to know what I'm doing. He thinks I'll do something stupid and mess it up again. He ain't too sharp is he? Hope to be back on my all four paws soon!

[bburton]

Lookin' very stylish there. Follow all orders. Get well.

[suzyjazz]

Hi Shadow, good to see you at home. Try to bear with your dad. He's just a crazy, protective dog parent -- like me! Milk it up for all it's worth, and get more than your fair share of treats out of this!

[Roy]

She's still in a bit of a fog on day 2 at home but every once in a while I can at least see that look in her eyes. She's taking it real easy on the leg without my help.

[byarger]

There is a front page article in today's Wall Street Journal regarding dog ACL surgeries. About 1.2 million dogs annually have this surgery now, five times the number of people that have it. Those dog ACL surgeries cost $1.3 billion annually. Amazing!

[Roy]

Originally Posted by byarger

There is a front page article in today's Wall Street Journal regarding dog ACL surgeries. About 1.2 million dogs annually have this surgery now, five times the number of people that have it. Those dog ACL surgeries cost $1.3 billion annually. Amazing!

I can believe that now. I wouldn't have before but in my research I was amazed at how often this happens. Problem is, I don't know what's causing it or what can be done to prevent it. Maybe it's been going on a long time and since there's a way to fix it we hear more about it now. I feel bad for the dogs that never got fixed. Anyway, I guess we're a statistic now.

Shadow is still recovering. She rests a lot and still doesn't put pressure on the leg. I talked to the vet and he said that's expected. It's only been a week since the surgery. He said normally we should expect her to put the foot down some after two weeks (probably toes only). At four weeks she should start walking on it. The goal is at 6 weeks to resume normal activity. If not then we will start some intensive physical therapy.