X-RAY FOR 9 MONTH GSD - Page 5

Thank you for update...glad he is recovering and so fast...!

DAY  4  ARCHIE IS HOME...   LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY NOW STARTS....

So glad things are going well. Keep the updates coming. Is he on pain meds? If so what kind? I will keep you and Archie in my prayers. Good Luck

Day 6  Archie,  doing very well,very content in cage out for less than 5min on short lead with support sling for toilet only and seems to be getting more steadier on back leg. All going well so far  "touch wood"

Day 8 Archie,, hip op   Doing really well staples due out by end of week,again seems to be doing good on back leg..

Great Stuff!  Sounds like he's doing really well so far.  By one week after surgery, my year old THR dog had already undergone two revision surgeries for dislocations, including a re-reaming of the socket and a new prosthetic femoral ball, and I wouldn't wish that anguish on my worst enemy.
Believe me, I was as owner-compliant as it was possible to be, and the dog was a very laid back and relaxed lad too, so it wasn't for lack of good post op care, and his surgeon was one of the most competent in the country.

Archie may very well restore my faith in THR for young dogs a bit - Archie is at the very edge of what is do-able regarding this procedure, so many young sheps just aren't skeletally mature enough at a year old, and congenital HD often brings in its train other problems with the 'mechanics' of the musculo-skeletal system - a THR isn't always able to put it all right.

So good luck Archie and owner for an uneventful rehab, please keep us updated with his progress - and I know I don't have to tell you not to let him get tubby!  Boredom does strike during the crate rest period, and afterwards, when they want to to more, but are really still very restricted.

If it's any use, here's a boredom buster I used for my lad.
If Archie is interested in Kongs, stew up some chicken meat, plug the little hole with some cream cheese or peanut butter, pour the broth/juice from the chicken into the Kong, plug the top with some more cream cheese and freeze the whole thing solid - Archie might well enjoy his 'lolly' and it'll last a good couple of hours.

Maggie

 

Thanks Pridhams,,and yes a can sense the boredom is setting in,and is not good to see,however your tip for boredom will be put into use 2mrw,Archie in the meantime is doing ok,staples are coming out on Friday.
Any further tips to break the boredom  welcome..

I saw hips like this in the 80's in Rott's. I would get more than one opinion about the surgery, or maybe you are calling it new hips, but it is a reconstruction of the femur so it is not so straight.

The dog is going to be in a lot of pain throughout his life.

Any further tips to break the boredom  welcome..

Forgot to say that I used the black Xtreme Kong for my lad post THR - (smaller ones aren't much use) - have a couple on the go, one in the freezer (wrap in clingfilm for freezing) and one in use, if you like.

Another boredom buster was the use of Nina Ottosson Interactive games - the Dog Brick game kept mine occupied when out of his crate in the evenings for a break.

He was on leash in the lounge to stop him from mooching around, and the Brick kept him entertained, I taught him to do the puzzles sitting down, using his muzzle and a front paw - the 'figuring it out'  knackered him out, and once he got the hang of it, it was a good way of getting him to 'earn' his meals. 

Nina Ottosson do a whole range of these interactive games, I bought my dog several of them and rotated their use. They  vary in degrees of difficulty - and they all can be done without much physical effort from the dog, useful for a recovering THR where you need to use mental stimulation to tire them rather than physical activity. 
Have a look on www.interactivedoggames.com - you might find something else to suit Archie.

The good thing is that Arche seems to be making good progress - every day that passes is a day nearer to the end of the dreaded confinement, and a step closer to him starting his rehab.  Will you be doing water treadmill or swimming him later on?

Alll the best
Maggie