Hannah needs SURGERY and I'm Scared!!!

fullofbull

We took Hannah to the vet a few weeks ago for her annual vaccines.  Took her down South to the vet I used to work for and asked him to take a look at her right hind leg.  She limps on it after a long hike or playing Way too hard with Tea'.  After a nap, she comes out of it.  I could never find anything specifically wrong with her leg, as in, no swelling, no pinpoints of pain, no manipulation issues.  But low and behold, my vet tweaked her knee and it popped out!!!  Yikes!!  To my horror she has a luxating patella!!!  He figures a grade 1 as it popped right back in and its never locked out or has she ever screamed or yelped in pain with it.  Back to a vet up here who agreed with my vet.  Next step, sedation and xrays.  Yup her knee cap is right out of the socket and off to the left........Grimm.  Decision time.  My vet down South said to leave it.  Vet up here says do the surgery.  Oh ya and agility is out of the question......which has been something we have been working towards!!  After discussing it with my trainer and vet up here, we have decided to take her to the best of the best...........OVC in Guelph.  They have the specialist there that will give us the best option for Hannah.  Which it appears to be the surgical route.  She goes June 9 for a consult and if its a go, will stay for the surgery.  She will be there 3 days!!!  I will stay down there with her.

On the good side, her hips are excellent.  And her tibia bone is straight.  From the xray, it just looks like they have to groove out the top of the bone that her knee cap sits in, then pin it into place.  Its a long recovery.  And a painful surgery.  And.........Hannah is allergic to suture material!!!  Her spay was a nightmare!!!  Our poor, beautiful, Hannah banana!!!   What will this do to her???  And leaving her, which we've never done??!!  And keeping her quiet all summer, no playing with Tea', no hiking, no cottage, no boating, no argoing............!!

But she's only 18 mos and we can't leave her leg like this the rest of her life.  Shes so full of life and happy and fun.  Keeping her quiet for 2-3 mos is small in the big picture.  Vet feels she'll have 100 % on that leg after fixing it.  And right now she is very muscular and fit, so she will heal fast and there's been no arthritic changes or muscle mass changes to that leg so far.  All good news for a successful surgical procedure.

Still..........I'm scared!!!  Thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated!!!

philsergeant

You know, this shit never happens to those that you don't care about! I have come to the conclusion that's it's better not loving anyone or anything, because crap only happens to those that you do love. What a huge bummer... The thing that bothers me most is the suture allergy ... We had the same with Isabella... Every suture she had rotted the flesh it was holding, and the structure fell apart. I am sure you know what that means for internal sutures that are meant to dissolve ... You might as well put everything together with Elmers glue, it'd probably hold better. The only thing that worked for her was ( old style ) stainless steel sutures. ( or vet still goes to therapy because it was such an intense struggle to get the stitches made) ... And today you can still feel the sutures in her abdomen if you "squeeze" it. So I am thinking of you and praying for Hannah.. Please keep us updated minute by minute!!!

fullofbull

Thanks Phil.  Good suggestion on the stainless steel sutures.  It will be a huge discussion with the vet on suture material, that's for sure.  Her skin rotted too just like Isabella's.  I sure hope they will have a solution.  Will definitely keep ya'll updated!!!

erikashea

Oh my goodness how devastating ( i will keep you and Hannah in my thoughts and prayers. Poor baby girl

BulliesofNC

There's very sad to hear. Poor Hannah! Did your Vet mention if the cause was due to self injury or congenital defect? Regardless, it's going to have a lasting affect on her and poor Hannah is very young. Hopefully after the surgery you can keep her calm and relaxed so she can heal properly. Did your Vet find any evidence of the left leg having any signs of the problem also or is it just her right leg?

On a happy note, I had a friend 2 years ago that had the same surgery done to his Bull Terrier. I think she tweaked her leg during rough play and caused self injury which got worse because she would allow time for it to heal. Obviously it eventually resulted in the need for surgery due to it being diagnosed as luxating patella. However, much time has now now gone by since the surgery and she is doing perfect now without any signs of future issues. I hope the same for Hannah.

Djammy

Also keeping my fingers crossed for you guys, wish you good luck and quick healing! 

philsergeant

Please let us know the hour that the surgery is going to happen so we can take time out for prayers for her. Thinking of you.....

fullofbull

Thanks everyone for your well wishes!!  She goes in 4 more weeks to the specialist.  As of now she is going to rehab and doing strengthening exercises at home.  The weird thing is, she's not sore on it on a daily basis.  Only limps for a bit after a long hike or playing in the snow (which we no longer have!!).  Shes not on any pain meds, just supplements.  Thats another thing that makes the decision so much harder.  

Steve, the vet here thinks it was self inflicted.  Her hips are great and her other leg is perfect as well.  Also her tibia bone that the knee cap sits on, is straight.  All good news.  And her knee has never "popped" out on me.  Keeping her quiet after the surgery is my biggest worry!!!  And her suture reaction!!!

But she is our "first born" and we will do whatever it takes to keep her healthy and happy!!

BulliesofNC

She's gorgeous and I'm sure she'll get through this and recover wonderfully.

fullofbull

Update on Hannah!!!  We DIDN'T do the surgery.  After tons of research, advice, opinions and discussions with the vet.........it was decided to leave things as they are for now.  Grade One does not require surgery unless the dog is in great pain, limping all the time or the knee pops out alot.  Which if it did, then it wouldn't be a grade one!!  So we are going to continue working with our rehab therapist, at home exercises, supplements and (try) to control her running and bounding around!!  LOL  If Hannah stays in great body condition, she should be fine.  And now that the weather is warmer, we can start swimming her, which is the best way to rehab her leg.  If, down the road, it worsens with age, then we will re-consider which route is the best for Hannah.  We are both so relived!!!!  The thought of Hannah going under the knife was so scary and I lost lots of sleep over it!!!  Thanks Steve, for the awesome video on FB.  Very helpful!!!  And thanks to everyones well wishes.

Our precious girls.............we love them sooooo much!!!

BulliesofNC

I think you made the right decision and I'm confident she will get better and better with each day forward. Please keep us updated on her progress.

Djammy

Happy for you that all of you were able to skip that procedure. Hoping for the best in the future for things to stay that way!