4th day after golden retrievers fho surgery

Today, Dakota is looking pretty good, he likes to sit up alot. We have had to lift him up on the couch with us a few times. He seems to be very needy for attention right now. And who can blame him?
I am getting into a routine of giving him his meds at 9am,12pm,3pm,6pm,9pm, & 3am.

Now I am writing this to help people going through the same thing. I am not an expert at all! I am getting my information from:

Calvin Kobluk,BSc,BSA,DVM,DVs,DVSc,Diplomat ACVS Central Minnesota Veterinary Surgical Referral (320)229-8746
Kasey Kephart,CVT,CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner) Alexandria Veterinary Clinic PetCare Center (320)762-8112

I have added my own thoughts in with the information and I have added information that I have been told by A dog therapist as well.Please check with your veterinarian or a therapist in your hometown before attempting to do this on your own.I do not want the worries that anyone is just taking my word for this and not doing it the correct way. This is to be used just as a guideline to know about what you will be going through after their surgery.Do your Research!

1) I also do his gentle massaging 3-4x a day. This takes about an hour a time from start to finish,because I have to do both sides.





No heat is to be used at this time!

Put a towel over his surgical scar and then put some ice or frozen vegetables on the towel.You can do this for 20 minutes a time 4-6 times a day if his sites are feeling warm or hot. If they do not feel warm or hot then you can lower the number of times a day to 2-3x. This can be done for at least 5-7 days after his initial resting directly after surgery.

You also want to be doing flushing while you are icing for 10 minutes each time. Use a flat hand and light strokes from knee to above the hip.

You also want to do easy rear extension stretches. slowly holding one hand on his knee and the other on his foot, straighten his leg straight down for 20 seconds a time. then, if you can pull it back very gently a little bit and hold. Then again very gently pull it back a little more and hold. This depends on the dog and his tolerance, this is only to stretch not to exercise and heat up so if he is not tolerating it well, then don't worry about stretching it back at this point. Just do the first one where you are straightening it and holding for 20.

They are able to walk around the house at this point without a sling or towel for short walks. No jumping on the sofa,bed etc.. just flat walking.





The same goes for pottying, he can go by himself if steady enough, without the towel or sling. If it is on flat ground, and if he is tolerating it on his own that way. I have a towel around my neck just in case.

The stairs, same thing. He can go up and down the stairs if you are assisting him with a towel to keep him from falling.

The main thing I want to stress is that you do not want his sites to be warm or hot. Keep icing them please. We only get one chance to do this right, so we don't harm his progress or slow it down.

Before you begin with the next exercises after about a week:

Hot packs may be used after initial period of recovery (5-7 days post-op). Apply heat in the hip for 10-15 minutes prior to exercises to prepare muscles. heat a wet towel folded in a ziplock freezer bag, or rice bag, in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Then, place a thin towel between skin and pack before applying to the hip. Be sure to check the skin periodically to avoid getting too hot.

Next:

2) After the massage for a few minutes with 2 or 3 fingers in small circular motions, and avoiding the area directly around the incision,I move onto:

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3) Passive Range of motion: Keeping your pet in the same position as the massage(on his side,surgery leg up) Place one hand on the front of the thigh above the knee and use the other hand to support the lower leg with an open palm. Slowly guide the leg toward the head so the ankle, knee and hip bend in full available range. Hold for 20 seconds. Then using the hand above the knee slowly guiding the leg toward the tail straightening the hip,knee and ankle to full available range. Hold for 20 seconds.

Repeat this pattern until your dog becomes restless or indicates discomfort.
Signs of discomfort:Quickly turning to look at you or at the leg: vocalization or restlessness:muscle tensing or increasing trembling.
Next it says as the hip heals it is important to maintain normal function of the leg by performing additional exercises to move the hip in all directions:
Now I have slowly started doing this one already, He is handling it very well, he does not seem to be in any distress.Today I will be doing it at least 3x. Here how these ones go:

a. Keeping the same lying position as the previous exercise support the leg in a relaxed position with the knee partially bent. Place one hand under the thigh and one hand under the lower leg, with open palms. Slowly lift the leg toward the ceiling a few inches, hold for 5 seconds then lower the leg toward the floor. Repeat this pattern for 15-20 times.

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b. Keeping the same lying position, moving one hand to grasp the front of the knee and the other at the ankle. Slowly raise the knee a few inches as you lower the ankle so the thigh rotates at the hip. Hold for 5 seconds, and then lower the knee as you raise the ankle, and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat this 15-20 times.

4) Begin slow leash walks (using a short leash) on level ground for up to 5 minutes. 3 times daily(be sure to time this).(when I have someone else here I still use the towel under him just to help slow him down.)It is important to go slow to encourage weight bearing on the leg and full amount of stance time on each stride. Do not do what I have in parenthesis >>(increased momentum allows them to shift their weight to the other legs, thus decreases the weight to the affected leg) During the second week increase the walk time up to 10 minutes. 3 times daily.If any increased lameness or pain is indicated reduce the exercise to half of the previous walk then slowly increase by 2 minutes as tolerated.

This next part is not as easy as it sounds, Dakota wants to keep sitting down. I have to use a towel to hold him up to do these ones also: I know he's doing o.k. because he is still as stubborn as ever...



Do not do these exercises for at least a week afterwards.

5) weight shifting exercises
a. While standing on a level surface with secure footing, gently push your dog toward the involved leg to increase weight bearing. Hold for 3-5 seconds then release slowly. Repeat up to 5 times. 3-4 times daily.

b. when in standing position slowly un-weight opposite front leg of the affected leg. hold for 3-5 seconds then slowly release to a normal stance. repeat this 3-5 times,3-4 times daily.

c. in standing, apply gentle downward pressure in tiny,rhythmic oscillations through the hips. This is a very gentle exercise, be sure not to push directly over spine.

After each therapy session ice packs should be used to reduce any post exercise inflammation. Apply a commercial pack of frozen bag of peas, crushed ice in zip lock to the hip for 20-30 minutes. This can be done after each session or at least 3-4 times daily. Put a thin towel between pack and the skin to avoid from getting too cold.

Now as for Dakota himself, he is not eating as well as he usually does. I Have called the vet to see if it's from the pills or not. He did get a bread and cheese sand-which which by the way he just gulfed down. hmmm. just spoiled? no, he shouldn't be because I do not give him table food. The occasional popsicle yeah but other than that he is on a strict "annamaet dog food diet" . Which by the way I recommend for anyone to use. Good stuff it is.

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But, is he drinking well, and I have notice some drooling which he usually doesn't do either. It is on my list for the vet.

He did walk on his own to come in here from the living room, because he does not like to be alone. He is lying on his side all stretched out and comfy as we speak.