Natalya, I will PM the person on the other person and see if they would be interested in talking with you, can you PM me with your email so I can link you up?

Ok, I have spoken with a tech at the Vet-Stem lab in Cali, and have a few calls out to vets in MY neck of the woods who are using stem cell treatment in their practices... not getting my hopes up about it helping my particular situation (the research just isn't there yet about the actual potential for all this, nor have they used it very extensively in dogs...), but I'm suddenly REALLY interested in the possibilities of this research. If Oscar has any type of surgery, he'll develop OA, as a result, and the stem cell bit IS being used now with great results in THAT particular area... so that's quite encouraging.

Will keep you all posted on what we decide, and how it goes - but thanks again to Leerburg's phenomenal members for giving me yet another avenue to research that I never even knew existed!!!

Cheers,
~Natalya

Thanks for the update, Natalya...and I agree the information you've gotten IS really encouraging.

One question: Is it always a given with a CCL repair that the dog develops OA? I never knew that...

Our ortho vet said that since the joint will be compromised, both because of the injury, and then the surgery (even though the surgery helps the stability of the joint, there will be a metal plate bolted to his tibia, and scar tissue where the bone heals...) OA is more than likely. Obviously, good health and proper rehab/lifestyle will keep those arthritic changes to a minimum, but I got the impression that it was unavoidable...

I can deal with the idea of surgery, and a long recovery will be tough on us all, but thinking about Oscar being negatively and permanantly impacted by this injury (by way of OA, incomplete recovery, or bilateral CCL damage, etc.) - from this point onward... it just makes me want to cry. He's only 3...

I know, I know - I really need to start looking on the bright side of this and stop being such a negative Nancy... I'm just so good at pessimism!!

~Natalya

FWIW, I don't think you're being negative, Natalya. The more you think about this and plan for all possibilities, the better you'll be able to help Oscar, if and when he needs it. That's being responsible, not negative, in my book. :wink:

If OA is a concern, you may want to ask your DVM about Adequan therapy. It has done wonders for my dog and it's something you may want to consider doing before the OA sets in.

http://www.adequancanine.us/about/en/works.shtml

Edited by Sarah Morris (03/17/2008 10:25 PM)
Edit reason: added link

Natalya

I was on a Boxer board with a LOVELY lady that talked me through EVERYTHING. She was very rich and flew her dog out east to a specialist, she did hydro therapy and had a physical therapist. She was told there was no way to avoid arthritis and limited activity because she waited too long and LOTS of meniscus damage.

I do not think she was a very active person but she had the opperation done when her dog was 6 and at 11 he still plays without arthritis. (his heart is now the issue).

My second TPLO they told me lots of damage so the outcome looked grim. My husband needed lots of care from a horse accident so I could't baby Ava like I did the first time.

Then 10 days into recovery I had a day camp with 25 kids. (Too much income to cancel). I sent Ava back and forth for the vet to watch her. Not ideal to be getting in and out of the car that much, then an infection set in, then she jumped her containment area at week three......

I tell you all this because it took time but she seriously has more energy than she EVER did. I think she must have been in more pain than I realize.

Long story longer....Try not to look too far ahead. Things will work out.Your dog is strong a fit like mine so I am sure everything will be great.

Michelle - THANK YOU for the warm encouragement

Your post-op situation sounded far less than ideal, and I can't imagine how difficult juggling both of those "patients" next to all that work must have been! Note to self - clear my schedule THOROUGHLY before bringing a sick dog home for a long recovery!!

~Natalya

Yes but even with less than ideal and all sorts of complications we got GREAT results.

The first time I had to take two weeks off work. Ava was with someone 24/7. It was hell because her seperation anxiety was through the roof. The next year she seemed to understand and accept. Either that or she knew my sanity couldn't handle any more.

I also used an exercise pen after the stiches were removed since they have to spend so much time confined.

Michelle, I work from home, so at least I'll be able to offer the beast full-time company! My biggest concern is getting him up and down the stairs (we live on a second floor)... my boyfriend can carry him up and down in the morning and evening, but I'm left on my own all day, and there's no WAY I can lift all of his 95lbs. The surgeon said they'd give us a sling to help, but with Oscar's long legs, and my relatively modest stature, even that is going to be a challenge.

I was considering an ex-pen as well, as Oscar's crate actually isn't big enough for him to stretch out in (it's a tad small, but he still thinks its a fine place to curl up in - he grew out of using it regularly a long time ago...). Would an ex-pen be too BIG for the early days post-op?? I'm having a hard time imagining how he'll want to lie down, how often he'll stand up to turn around, how much he'll want to move at all, really... I'll be scared if he tries to put any weight on the leg at all, even just standing, but I want the poor guy to be comfortable.

~Natalya

It is amazing how quickly they start to toe tap on the bad leg. Unnerved me.
Are you in an apartment? If not could you rig something downstairs at least until the stitches are removed at day 14.

I do not think the x pen will be too big at first. There isn't much motivation to move much at first but it does give the dog room to flop around and get comfy.

The great advice my internet buddy gave me was to buy memory foam at target and make two covers for it. I actually had the memory foam bed but the covers were great because the wound seeps. This way you can change and wash easily.

Also watch if you have tile or hardwood floors. We were EXTREMELY strict with the containment but my friend's dog sliped in her kitchen later in recovery and set the process back.

Look into hydro therapy. I used it on both recovery's but not until week 10.