Thank you both!! That makes me feel better knowing Frankie’s struggle, and that Bryce falls within a normal or to be expected range of scenarios. It’s just a bit of a shocking change to see I suppose. 

We’ve gotten her the gabapentin dose so hopefully with some rest things will feel better in the morning. We have our scheduled 4 week check up next Wednesday, so perhaps X-rays will be part of that if needed. I do rest a bit easier knowing that she hasn’t been climbing stairs, running or jumping or doing anything super strenuous so I’m hopeful that means the hardware is still in good shape. 

I’ll share some updates after her next checkup too!

Thanks again, 

Taja

Pupdate!

We took her to the vet the day after that post about her sudden lameness and physical exam and radiograph all looked okay. Hardware intact and no infections or anything. Then yesterday we had our 4 week follow up appointment where they did additional radiograph...and discovered a break. It's a tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture to be exact and according to the surgeon it's not very common but it does sometimes happen. Because she's a tripod, she's obviously putting a bit more stress on that one leg than a 4 legged doggo would be. 

There's apparently two different things they look for during a physical exam to determine if surgery is necessary. According to our vet, Bryce presented neither of those things, which is good! She did suggest that it would make sense to have the actual surgeon (who will be in next week) do a physical exam on her too in case she's missed something that his experience would have picked up on. When I spoke to the surgeon (frustratingly over a terrible phone connection where I couldn't hear everything he was saying) he said that we could certainly have him evaluate her if it would give us peace of mind but his opinion is that it doesn't need surgery. I'm obviously inclined to have him check her out...but I'm also wondering if it would make sense to try to get a second opinion as I get the impression that he maybe isn't or hasn't been adjusting the game plane (for recovery too) to the fact that she's a tripod. 

So good news I guess about not putting her through a second procedure, BUT I'm very curious to know how this is going to heal considering she can't NOT use that leg. Of course the Help 'em Up harness is perfect and so very helpful in supporting her, I just can't grasp how this type of thing would heal on its own....My mom, who is a retired OR nurse, is saying telling me bones don't heal without being immobilized but I'm inclined to think that humans and dogs are quite different!

I've been hunting around online for information about the healing of this type of fracture but I'm not finding much and what I do find is more like scientific studies in vet journals and the like--which as a layperson is tough to decipher! 

Also, I've tried to put the image of her radiograph showing the fracture in here and I can't seem to figure out how to insert an image when it doesn't let me browse my computer for a file....so here's a link to the photo instead--hopefully it works! https://drive.g.....sp=sharing

Any suggestions as to resources or opinions here would be appreciated!

-Taja

Thanks for the info on images! I've got it now!!

The surgeon himself did not suggest rehab therapy at all. Though he is the same surgeon who performed her amputation 3 years ago, we've been a bit frustrated with how it seems he hasn't been seeming to take her tripod status into account for the actual surgery or for what it might mean on the recovery side of things. He said this type of things is uncommon but that it does happen because that area where the bone has broken is exactly the spot where they put a stabilizing pin in during the TPLO procedure itself. It's then removed once the other hardware is in place, BUT some studies online say that leaving that pin in post surgery can prevent this exact type of fracture. Considering she's a tripod who HAS to use that leg, and that they gave us the same rehab regimen (increasing walk times, etc) as a 4-legged dog, I'm a bit surprised that he didn't leave the pin in. I've also read that with this type of fracture surgery is the typical treatment because the quad attaches to that portion (or near that portion) of the tibia and so movement of the quad is essentially pulling that portion of bone away from the main chunk. His suggestion of "let it heal on it's own" feels flimsy to me because he did not offer up any recommendations about how exactly we should do that--I didn't leave the conversation feeling like I knew what the game plan needed to be for care and mobility/exercise, etc. To be fair though, our phone connection was incredibly poor and I was only able to hear about 20% of what he was saying to me (and then he got frustrated with me that I was asking him to repeat himself). Overall I'm just feeling a bit let down by him. 

That said, you are right about some bones healing without immobilization. I have also broken my clavicle, but didn't consider the comparison so you bring up a good point! I've made an appointment for a consultation with a different surgeon (who also specializes in TPLO procedures) to get a second opinion. I'm certainly not gunning to put her through another procedure but I do want to make sure that we've crossed all our T's and dotted all our I's at this critical stage. I want to be sure that the route we take is the one that gives her the highest chance of getting back to her normal, adventuring self! 

Despite what looks to be a painful fracture, she seems to be in good spirits! She's eating and drinking normally and actually seems relatively comfortable/free of pain when standing, though we use the help 'em up to assist in the actual getting up stage and when walking around. Lucky for us, she's a very chill dog who is very good at self-regulating so we aren't constantly having to keep her from doing things she shouldn't be doing. No running or jumping or playing is easy to manage with her! 

My hope is that this other surgeon comes to the same non-surgical conclusion but is more helpful in relaying to us what the actual steps for recovery and healing need to be. We'll be able to set up a rehab appointment with the CCRT at that same facility after we get his suggestion so that will be very helpful as well. I have been looking into knee braces as well, both for post TPLO recovery support and possibly to assist in healing of this new fracture but will have to wait to see what the CCRT says regarding that. A lot of the brace designs seem geared toward 4-legged dogs in terms of straps, etc. so it may not even be a viable option for her. 

Here she is, the napping champ: