I am new to the forum and have only posted once. I really need advice and support. Rudy, my 18 month old Cavalier has luxating patellas and we have been watching them since Jan. and using supplements and exercise for muscle strengh. Anyway today's doctor visit presented me with needing surgery. He is almost a grade 1 in one leg and a heavy grade 2 leaning strongly to a three in the other. The vet said it is up to me as to when to do the surgery on the one leg. I am a high school teacher and am out for the summer and would be free to care for him now. If I wait until the end of August when school starts I am very tied down and not free to run to the vet that is 60 miles away. I hate dreading the surgery and would really like to get it done. The only thing that holds me back is during the school year my three dogs are crated and my husband lets them out for an hour when he comes home, then I am home by 3:30 and they are out until the the next morning. During the summer I stay at home and they aren't crated however they stay in one place and sleep all day as if I were at school. Anyway I wonder if Rudy would freak out being crated with the others free. The vet might agree to letting me put him in an small x-pen and I could put a low sitting chair in there to be with him while I am working on the internet or watching TV. My vet is very strict and says a big part of the healing has to do with me following instructions and keeping him still. Those of you that have faced similar situations with having surgery and other dogs around please advise. Rudy is a very senitive dog and whines when we he feels anxious. I worry what the isolation will do to him. Also he does sleep in the bed with us and the vet says that is a no no for a while. I think it is going to be harder on me than him. If anyone has thoughts on the best time for the surgery and anything else please respond. I have had two sons go through many issues, grow up, marry and I have children, but when it comes to my dogs I can easily lose it. My husband and I feel they are such a precious gifts and so dependent on us.
Thank you for letting me share,
Pam Smith
Thank you for letting me share,
Pam Smith