Day 10

Not much change today other than Alfie becoming more and more frustrated.
We have had the foot flat on the ground today, a couple of times when he has been standing still.
Have had to start moaning at him to lay down

Day 11

Stitches were taken out today out
The vet was pleased to see that his foot is flat on the ground when he stands still
She couldn't reassure me about his joint movement, but was pleased to see that the swelling over the joint had gone down
We have another appointment for one months time, when she thinks she will be able to assess it more, and discuss his build up to fitness
At this point, I suggest anyone going through this, invest in a head collar. He was so excited to go out of the garden, it was virtually impossible to control him

Day 12

Alfie seems to be settling into his boring life most of the time.
He did try and chase his tail at one point but luckily I stopped it quickly.
There has been no reaction to the stitches being removed

Day 13

The perfect patient today, laying in the sun in the garden.
It seems like just a very bad limp now with the occasional hop

Day 14

The scab is starting to come off the scar now and the joint is looking a little more stable.
Limp seems to have improved slightly today as well.
Been a good patient again today

End of week 3

He is still lame on the leg but it has been improving slightly every day.
The joint worried me for a few days mid week looking very unstable but has improved over the last two days.
The leg looks somewhat odd when he is standing, seeming to go in a curve that starts at the hip, goes out slightly at the knee and back in at the foot. I am hoping that this is just the most comfortable way to stand at the moment and that it will improve with time.
He does sometimes still limp quite badly when he first gets up from rest, but the foot is now always on the ground and the hopping has stopped
He is very slightly constipated and he cannot just perform on command, therefore we are doing quite a few nighttime trips to the garden.
He has started to become quite depressed and occassionally has been trying to play. It feels so mean to have to stop him.

End of week 4

It's been a difficult week, OH and Muddy our other dog have been home all week causing Alfie to move far too much. I've also had to go out a fair bit, so that he is getting up quite often when I move thinking that I am going to leave him.
Tuesday 20th was the first day that the limp disappeared, he still seems stiff occassionally when he first gets up, and can even have the leg off the ground completely, but as he moves the movement improves, not a very nice gait at the mo and the joint not looking completely stable, but getting there
Had a fright with him on Friday, he was pooing blood and wouldn't settle, making me concerned that he was doing to much on his leg. A visit to the vet revealed nothing but a slightly raised temperature. It might be that he is slightly constipated because of lack of movement
On the whole, a very promising week and he seems to have accepted his life as it is.

End of week 5

Everything was progressing well until two days ago. Because of OH and Muddy being here a lot, he has been moving far too much.
He started limping again and although he rested really well yesterday, he is still not walking well and the joint seems more unstable than it did at the beginning of the week.

End of week 6

Saw vet on Tuesday for a checkup, she was really pleased with his recovery, though still didn't want to do a draw test.
We have been released to do small walks 3 times a day and to start hydrotherapy. Hydro was booked immediately for Thursday
Our first walks are no more than a few 100yds and we used a halti to keep him calm. I have been told to gradually increase to 1/2 mile three times a day over the coming month, when he will have his next vet check.
Before hydro we had to have a vet check at the hydro center to make sure that they were happy to swim him. Halti was in use again, as he gets excited at the pool.
Once in the water his movement was excellent without the weight of his body on the joint, and he managed 37 lengths before showing signs of discomfort.
He also slept properly for only the third night since his op.
The joint was a little swollen the following day, but that is normal with this injury, about 2 hours after his morning walk the swelling had gone.
Keeping him still is now going to be a major problem as he is having small bites of stimulation..
He is limping very slightly more but I would expect that for a few days, he is not stiff after rest however, which must be a good sign for the future

Week 7

This week has been huge ups and niggling worries.
Hydro sessions on Tuesday and Saturday went really well, Tuesday he managed 35 lengths, Saturday 50 lengths.
Recovery after Tuesdays was excellent and Wednesday he was sound so we increased his walks slightly.
On Thursday he seemed a little sore, so walk lengths were cut again.
We had a visitor on Thursday evening, making him over excited and doing far too much on his leg. In consequence Friday was a very worrying day as he was quite stiff and a little lame.
The joint is now looking a little more stable, but still the walking action doesn't seem right.
Muscle tone is now returning, and walks are generally 1/4 mile x 3 per day
Keeping him quiet is becoming increasingly difficult