Anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) injury and repair
By: Dian Welle ~ Blue Knight Labradors
part 2
Click on images
for larger pictures
1/24/05 - Four days after surgery, the dressing is slipping down
her leg, and has exposed the surgical site. The Vet had to rewrap
it. The surgical wound looks wonderful.
Whisper is restless in the crate. I try
to give her things to play with, but she is likely sore from laying
down so much. She must remain on leash when she goes out to potty,
as she wants to move too quickly, and play in the kennel. She
knows if she doesn't void or have stool, I have to let her walk
about, so she delays as long as she can.
| 1/25/05 -- Once again, the
dressing was slipping down the leg. Because it is to be removed
tomorrow, I just reinforced it myself, by covering the wound
with vet wrap, and being careful not to make the dressing too
tight. |
 |
1-26-05 The dressing is removed
by the vet,
and Whisper is smiling!
Her staples look very good. The
surgical wound has one small area that appears to have been fiddled
with by here when the dressing was drooping. To protect the staples,
we have a collar at the ready should she start to lick at her
leg. For now, she is leaving it alone. A "Kong" ball
filled with goodies keeps her busy, and her attention off her
leg. She abulated well once the dressing was removed, and she
is now to start to walk more to loosen up the knee joint. Just
a little bit of walking this evening left her exhausted after
a week of bed rest.
Walking is always the best rehab
after surgery. Getting this joint moving again is important. So,
several times/day we walk, walk, walk... always on leash, so she
doesn't try to move too fast. It doesn't take too long for her
to become tired, and stage a sit-down protest. I let her tell
me when enough is enough.
2/8/05 Whisper's staples
are removed.
She's doing very well walking on the affected
leg |
More than anything, she wants to run, and
if I dare take her off leash, that's exactly what she does. So...
it's back on leash. NO RUNNING! |
The Surgical site looks great! |
She is tired of her crate, but loves being
in the house! |
being indoors, allows one to beg for cookies! |
When all else fails... Sleep! |
continued....
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