Suzie's achilles

Lesley · Guru

RE: Suzie's achilles

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lesley

What with all the distractions this afternoon, I only had a brief moment to ask you how Suzie was. Bet you're glad you've now got her home after her op and things can only get better from now on!

Hope it won't be too long before she feels less pain and is able to use her leg properly. Let us know how she's getting on.

Christine

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Forgot to mention the bandage - what a beauty! It sounds lovely!

Christine

Suzanne · Guru

Hi Lesley! Hope Susie can hop about in no time!! It was lovely to meet you & Sim today - he was being awfy coy today! Obviously missing his girl! Hope to see you all as a family complete in the near future!

FAJ · Enlightened One

Hi, Lesley - we're all sending hugs and healing thoughts to Suzie for her poorly leggie. What a trauma it's been for you all. I symapthise entirely cos I have a dodgy achilles myself and have been treated by a podiatrist for about a year now! Here's hoping that the screw does what it needs to and she heals up in double quick time.

Fiona, Steve, Harry and Pearly xx

Lesley · Guru

I now feel such a rotten brute - you know that way when there wasn't any alternative, but you're still the one who 'did' it!

Suzie is obviously in a great deal of pain today and can barely put any weight on the leg at all. She is such a good and stoic dog though; she doesn't complain.

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Lesley, Thinking of you and Suzie. Hope her leg gets better soon.

Best wishes, from Lita, John, Tyler & Max

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lesley

It's such a pity that Suzie is in a lot of pain today. I take it that the vet didn't give you any painkillers to give her. I'm sure I've read somewhere that you can give a dog a child's dosage of aspirin for pain, but I would check with the vet to make sure before I would give her it. I suppose there's a danger too, that if she doesn't feel pain she may do her tendon more damage if she overuses it for the first few days.

I know exactly how you feel - you're feeling so guilty because the op is giving her pain just now. But in a couple of weeks hopefully, she'll be in no pain and she'll be using her leg properly. Without the chance you're giving her, she may well have been lame all her life. I'm sure in a few weeks she'll bounding about the garden with Sim. She's a very brave and uncomplaining girl and you're doing a grand job with her giving her all the TLC she needs just now. Please keep us posted on how she's doing.

Christine

Lesley · Guru

Hi Christine - she has Metacam which is a painkiller. She gets her dose once per day with her breakfast.

I know there was no alternative - but it is rotten to see her in such pain. She will have the screw in her leg for 6 weeks and is to have no exercise other than toilet outings on the lead for all of that time. Once the screw is removed it will take about another 6 weeks of building up her exercise gradually before she can move about normally. Having said that - I am sure that she will get more mobile as she gets used to the fact that her leg doesn't bend, and the pain diminishes.

I hoped that, having missed the Hot Dog Show (for which I had previously bought her a fab new collar) she would make it to the GALa - but unfortunately she will still have the screw in her leg.

I know there's nothing to be done, but it doesn't stop me wishing I could make it better for her. What makes it worse is that - even though I know it wouldn't have healed - she wasn't in this amount of pain before the op.

Anyway - don't worry - I know there's nothing for it but to soldier on and focus on the fact that in a few months she should a happy, bouncey girl again.

bluesmumanddad · Master

Hi lesley. Isn't it awful seeing them in pain? Have you tried Suzie on Arnica? We used it with Blue when he broke his toe as metacam made him rather explosive

Hope she is feeling better soon and blue sends big kisses

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lesley

I know six weeks sounds like a long time for Suzie to have her pin in place and her exercise restricted. Then the gentle build up of exercise from then on. Let's hope the time whizzes by! Each day will bring an improvement to Suzie. We'll all look forward to you reporting that Suzie is having her first romp around the garden. What fun that will be for her - and for you!

Christine

carolineasb · Old Hand

Lesley

Hope Suzie's feeling a bit better now. Haven't had time to be on the Forum since the weekend so was sorry to hear she was in so much pain.

Hope to see you all soon.

Take care

Caroline

Lesley · Guru

Thanks Caroline - as the week has progressed Suzie has got considerably brighter. Tomorrow she has to have her bandage off and the vet-school vet said she would not need any other bandage so I am looking forward to tomorrow with trepidation wondering how much of the screw will be visible etc.

Nicki · Big Cheese

Hi Lesley,

please let us know how suzie gets on, best of luck will be thinking about you both.

nicki and janie.x

Lesley · Guru

Suzie got her bandage and stitches removed this morning. I was quite nervous while the vet was removing the bandage - not knowing what her leg would look like, and whether the screw would be visible!

She had only two stitches - one fig. of eight stitch at the front (of her 'ankle') and another at the back (on her 'heel'). Her leg looks small, thin, bald and pink, but otherwise - there is nothing to see! Amazing!

The joint is still fixed, of course, by the screw. And will be for another 5 weeks. But - that's one week down and five to go!

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lesley

I'm delighted that Suzie is improving - now that she has the bulky bandage off and with the help of the complete rest you're giving her, she'll get better every day. Please give her and Sim a big hug from all of us here.

Christine

Carol · Master

Good news, Lesley.

Hope all goes well!

Lesley · Guru

I can't tell you how invaluable the indoor kennel is.

When I come downstairs in the morning, or come in from outside - she is standing waiting to come out, which gives me time to get in, get sorted, put down bags etc., and be ready on the floor to let her welcome me at her level without jumping around. I kneel on the rug in the hall and give her a big sort of hug which stops her prancing around, and also stops Sim from accidentally jumping on her.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lesley

I was thinking about Suzy today and wondering how she's getting on? Hope she's coming along fine!

Christine

Lesley · Guru

Hi Christine - Suzie is doing ok, thank you for asking. In fact - for a girl with a screw through her leg she is doing very well indeed.

She will continue to be confined to the indoor kennel while we are out or in bed, and she gets no exercise at all other than toilet outings on the lead into the garden. We will be half way through the 6 weeks tomorrow - eeugh - seems like a long time to go.

There doesn't appear to be much visible reduction in the swelling of the tendon which is a bit worrying, but perhaps it will remain enlarged due to scar tissue (guessing).

She is a bit better at managing her unbending leg, but still has trouble getting from standing to lying down.

We were away for a few days over the weekend and Sim and Suzie were at Rachel and Eddie's. I was worried about Sim being on his own in the kennel while Suzie has to be in the 'cage' but when we got there on Friday afternoon Rachel and Eddie had decided to have them both inside in indoor kennels which was very good of them. They also have Hero there at the moment in an indoor kennel (with a tail injury) so you can imagine how little space that left them. I was really relieved that Sim wouldn't be on his own (he is a bit of an anxious boy in strange places) and am very grateful to Rachel and Eddie for putting themselves out to that extent.

Hero is a gorgeous boy. All the lovely reddish colour of Sim's head.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lesley

It's great news that Suzie is coming along really well - it does your heart good to see them get better every day! Hope you enjoyed your wee break away - at Rachel and Eddie's Sim and Suzie would get the very best of care. And Hero sounds absolutely stunning! Hope we get to meet him sometime.

Christine

Lesley · Guru

Suzie and I were back at the Vet School yesterday!

The vet said that it is unusual for a dog to get to this stage with no mishaps (i.e. unprotected leg with screw through it - very vulnerable). We have been VERY careful with her!

The tendon is healing well and the screw has been removed (under local anaesthetic). Suzie has a 'soft splint' which is to allow the leg to bend a little, but prevent it from bending much (since it hasn't bent at all for 6 weeks). At the moment it still doesn't bend at all, but I guess it might start to bend a bit once she is somewhat easier on it.

I knew her leg would be sore because the screw went through the bones and has been there for 6 weeks - removing it would be very painful. But poor thing - she is just as bad as she was when it was originally put in - sore, lame and miserable.

The splint will be on for two weeks and during that time she can have little ten minute walks in the garden. However - since this was only done yesterday we haven't gone for any little garden walks yet - only toilet outings as before. I will start the little walks when she is a bit less lame and painful, hopefully in a day or two's time.

The funny thing is - both the vet and a friend at work said: "hasn't that 6 weeks flown by . . " But to me the whole things seems to have been going on for ever - with another age to go: once the splint comes off in two weeks we then have six weeks or so of building up her exercise!

Still - hopefully that is the end of painful procedures.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lesley

Fingers crossed that Suzy in pain is something in the past very soon. But she (and you) are doing really well so far. When I met you on Sunday, Suzy was looking great! Hopefully the soreness she feels will fade over the next couple of days and gentle exercise will certainly help her then. I know what you mean about people saying the last 6 weeks have flown by - but it may not seem that way to you when you've been nursing Suzy along every day and hoping for small improvements!

Now that the pin has been removed from her leg, you and she are on the home stretch! Just a little while longer now and Suzy will be taking her first few steps in the garden. What a day that will be!

Christine

CAROLE ROBINSON · Old Hand

Hi - glad to hear that Suzie is making progress, even if it is slow and painful. I know that when I had the metalwork removed from my ankle a few months ago, it was incredibly painful and took quite a while before I could walk comfortably. Give her a big hub from the Robinson clan.

FAJ · Enlightened One

Hi, Lesley - you've been an absolute star with Suzie, and she's been an angel. Having had Hazza in a lampshade for only a week, you have mine and Steve's sympathies 100%. It's awful when you just want to wave a magic wand and make them better.

Lucky Suzie having such a devoted mummy looking after her so well.

Fiona

Nina · Old Hand

Hi Lesley,

Hows Suzie doing?? Its great everything went so well with the operation and is taking it all in her stride!! is she allowed out for proper walks yet??? Sunnys leg is great and not giving him any problems at all!!, the indoor cage in brilliant to have to stop them jumping about and getting all excited!! We're not long back from our hols and Sunny was staying with Rachel and Eddie and i had the pleasure of meeting Hero aswell!! He is gorgous, and was wagging his tail like mad!!

Ninax

Lesley · Guru

Hi Nina - we were back at the Vet School today.

Every time something changes poor Suzie is almost back to square one - she had the soft splint on for two weeks which still prevented it from bending, but now that is off and she is back to being very very stiff and sore. Her heel is very inflamed from the splint pressing on it and also having the incision there two weeks ago to have the screw removed.

She has antibiotics for the inflammation and painkillers for the joint. I have to massage and manipulate the joint several times per day to try and increase it's mobility.

The good thing is that now we are on the home straight - Suzie is allowed to do what she wants: for the first time in 8 weeks she can have walks (as much or as little as she can manage), she can do stairs, and we don't need the indoor kennel any more - there is a big space in the hall where it was.

We didn't start walks tonight as I felt she needed to recover a little and get some benefit from the painkiller, but tomorrow we will start with little, slow walks. Fortunately Jerry (husband) is at home at the moment cos otherwise it would be very difficult to walk two dogs at different speeds for different distances on my own. The only restriction on what she does is that it must be done at a speed which means she is using the leg - in other words if we are going along so quickly that she is hopping on three legs we need to slow down so that she walks on the leg and doesn't carry it.

We are due back at the Vet School in three weeks time. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Lesley - I'm so glad that all the hard work you've put in with Suzie's leg is working and she's getting more mobile! It's been a long time for you and for Suzie, and it's great that you've reached the gentle exercise stage to build her muscles up again. It's all been very worthwhile!

Christine

Lesley · Guru

Day three of Suzie's walks, and we are going a little further each day.

We all set off together - Jerry with Sim, and me with Suzie. On the first day Suzie didn't really seem to notice Jerry and Sim disappearing off up the road as she was very stressed from the pain in her leg, but walking is getting easier and now she tries to keep up with Sim. However - if she speeds up to the point where she is hopping on three legs I have to slow her down. She must actually use the leg.

I am doing the manipulation, but so far there seems to be little or no improvement in the mobility of the joint - it only moves through about 20 degrees, and it's not the tendon stopping it, it has just seized up.

Teresa · Enlightened One

well, day 3 is good - it was a while ago that the injury occurred so it's gonna be a while before it repairs - i'm sure your tlc will help enormously.......love and luck to Suzie from Dave and Daisy

and, of course, from their mum and dad