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Bandage removal 1 week postoperatively.
Suture removal 2 weeks postoperatively.
Follow-up x-rays 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively.
For the first 4 weeks your pet must be kept confined in a small area (airline flight kennel,
6 ft square area), for 4 weeks time. Your pet may be walked a short
distance outside on a leash up to three times daily to relieve itself
only. No free activities allowed until after the 4-week x-rays that
confirm normal healing. If you have your pet in a room with you it
must be tied to a piece of furniture to prevent it from "running" to
the door when it hears a sound.
For weeks 4-8 following surgery. If the 4-week x-rays show normal healing, then your pet may be
confined to one room in the house when you are away. It may have
free walk of the house when you are home (no stairs except to go
upstairs to bed in the evening). If your pet is active and runs
to the doorbell (and slips on the tile/linoleum) it needs to be
confined to one room with good footing. Short leash walks
(around one block) and outside in the backyard on a leash to use
the bathroom are allowed.
For weeks 8-12 following surgery. If the 8-week x-rays show normal healing, then you may institute
progressively longer leash walks and swimming. Free run of the
house and a small backyard are allowed. No off-leash running,
jumping, ball playing, etc. is allowed. If at any time your pet
appears weak (limb shaking) or tired, you should revert to the last
distance/activity which it could tolerate without these symptoms
and hold there for 1 week before once again trying to increase the
activity level.
For weeks 12-16 following surgery. Between 12 and 16 weeks following
surgery, off-leash walking, jogging,
and running is fine. No balls, frisbees, dog parks, or heavy activity
is allowed for 6 months post-operatively. We recommend you avoid these
types of heavy activity altogether, as there is a high percentage of
dogs that will tear the cruciate ligament in the opposite leg
(30% - most breeds, up to 70% in bull mastiffs, chows, akitas, pit bulls etc.).
It is ok for your pet to play with other pets in a small yard at this time.
Glucosamines plus chondroitin sulfates (animal origin) are recommended
indefinitely. An average dose is 10-20 mg per pound given two times
daily. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) such as aspirin,
Rimadyl, Etogesic, Denamoxx, Zubrin, may be used as needed to treat muscle and joint
stiffness and soreness as your pet rehabilitates. Side effects of all
NSAID's include vomiting, diarrhea, and blood in the stool. Certain
NSAID's (Rimadyl) have been linked to liver toxicity and other problems, albeit
rarely. If your pet will be on prolonged NSAID therapy, please speak with us or your regular veterinarian regarding possible side-effects of those NSAID's and what to watch for and what blood tests to monitor. Never give your pet Nsaids meant for human
consumption! Most of these anti-inflammatories (e.g. Advil) will kill your
pet.
Questions on Bandage Care? See CARE OF BANDAGES AND
SPLINTS
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