About a month ago, she was diagnosed with a right medial luxating patella. That's a trick knee to you and me. For a kneecap, it's a little like when your kitchen drawer jumps the track. It can simply slip off an be replaced manually or it can splinter the wood, damage the drawer and the track, and never work again. It occurs most often in little tiny dogs. If you've ever seen a little dog running full blast on three legs, there's a good chance it's because of a luxated patella.
Sometimes I'm told, these things right themselves with time but Stella's sadly, did not. Our walks went from four miles a day to zero over a period of four weeks and it became clear that she would have to have surgery or face chronic pain and (eventual) lameness at such a tender age. A couple of people I discussed this with naturally assumed I'd have her put down. Before anyone gets enraged over this sort of thinking, I should say in their defense, that they were people who generally don't have too many options. I don't have a vast supply of them myself, but putting her down was never an option. To make a long story short, she had the surgery on Wednesday and was released from the hospital this morning. I asked the vet staff if their itemized surgical estimate included any Xanax for owners, but was told that it didn't. I spent two days carrying the phone around and thankfully, working.
Not surprisingly, she was happy to see me this morning and I her. I was stunned when her doctor offered to walk her to the car. So far, the prognosis is good. The next four weeks however, are critical to her future quality of life, the idea being the nine and a half month old puppy isn't allowed to play or have any fun at all. I hope for her sake, that it all becomes a distant memory wherein I get to tease her occasionally about that day she came home dressed as a satellite dish.
5 comments:
Whoa. Poor baby girl!
I will pray for Stella's complete recovery. I'm so glad you were able to squeeze the surgery option into your budget.
I'm surprised that Stella has to remain still, even with a splint or cast on her knee. I wonder why. Please give her a hug for me.
Awww, I hope she recovers fully, and can't wait to see future photos and read more.
Thanks all, I'll pass on the nice thoughts. Susan, she has to stay still because there isn't any cast, just staples and her thigh bone, a piece of which was um... sawed off and repositioned with pins -eeek- has to mend itself. Once that happens, she'll be good to go. Sorry for the graphic :)
I hope Stella will be Stella By Starlight on moonlight walks with you soon. I can just see the embarrassment on her face, having her picture taken in that satellite costume. Don't you dare show it to any of her teenage friends. . .
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