Crazy pup escaped again..

[kimp5]

Im going to change her name to Houdini..
I was upstairs blowdrying my hair while my injured crate restricted dog stayed comfortably in her crate, i assumed napping as I had given her a tranquilizer as she was pretty hyer..
well imagine my surprise when I see something out of the corner of my eye and there she was, happy and bewildered. I almost fainted, I have no less than 12 stairs (heavily carpeted thank goodness) I was sure she had ruined her plate/pin surgery. I called the surgeon but they assured me if shes standing on it (she is) and stilleating (i keep giving her chicken to make sure she eats and she does like a wolf) she is most likely fine. I guess those plates are pretty strong...only 2 more weeks to go.
my crate is a regular one with top sides the whole thing. She once again manage to move the hinge. I thought the firs time maybe I had not closed it all the way but now i alsways triple check. I now have to tie it...the blood is finally returning to my head...good news is her adventure knocked her out for three hours...she didnt even notice my neighbors dog in the house...

[yorkietalkjilly]

I don't care what my vet said over the phone, I would take my dog in for x-rays to be sure the fixations devices are still in the proper place. Your dog could lose its leg if something has moved and then gets infected or compromises circulation.

[MandiesMom]

I'm so happy that she is still standing and eating. She sure is smart!!

I do agree with Jeanie though. Just to be safe, I'd want them xraying that thing asap.

[Yorkiemom1]

You have GOT to stop her from doing this....she is going to re-injure herself....if you have to take a cable tie and secure that door closed (just be sure you have something to cut it with in case you have to get the door open emergently), you have got to do that! Take her with you, all over the house in her crate, so she does not feel abandoned....but you have to keep her movment restricted as ordered.

[yorkietalkjilly]

The plates are strong but the pins or screws can fracture, back out, dislodge, etc. and the plates to fail, too. We've had patients come in with no pain but pins, screws, plates broken, dislodged, protruding, etc. No telling what a fixation device set will do under certain circumstances. If you have to, you will have to put her in a hardshell airline carrier and cart her around with you. They are lightweight and I can barely get the door open with all of my strength. But get an x-ray. They are cheap and can tell you if you have trouble brewing or not.

[ladyjane]

I had a foster pup who opened crates like that. She kept setting a pup free that had had surgery on his knee. After a couple of times, I finally figured out how he was getting out..I had to secure it with a bungee cord. She did not know how to get that off!

It does take a lot for them to dislodge the appliance that is used for the TPLO surgery which is what I am thinking was done. I really think she will be fine if she is using it as the surgeon has said. BUT...you do need to stop this before she really does hurt herself! Even though the plate could be in place, she could still mess up the internal sutures that are put in to repair the knee which usually is done when the TPLO is done.

[kimp5]

The plate she has is permanant unless she ever developed in infection. Its pretty bulletproof. If this would dislodge her plate then she would never have a normal life. I was more worried that she impeded her healing. She is at the 4 week mark so many would be off restriction by now. If she was a big dog and I lived in a place with stairs she would be climbing them many times a day to relieve herself. She is on longer restiction because vet number one screwed up and so she needing grafting.
Trust me when I tell you this dog has had less movement than 90% of dogs on restricition. She has walked maybe 10 steps a day. I have basically given up everything to make sure she heals. I have been trapped in my house for 9 weeks now. I have elementary aged kids as well. My vet last week was amazed at how good she looked. I am doing all I can. I have been tieing the crate. she bit through it. I didnt want to use wire because I was afraid she would ingest it if she tried to chew it off. I figured something else out.
Trust me im not being cavilier about this. My first vet wanted to amputate. I refused so 4,000.00 later I have no interest in this not working. Im doing the best I can.

[marlenemaria]

God bless, I pray she has a great recovery

[Calypso]

I feel for you. You are doing a great job, I can not imagine having to do that. You are truly amazing for what you are doing I can imagine how hard it is on not just your baby but yourself and your kids.

[kimp5]

thank you for your kind words. I was feeling a little beat up like I wasnt doing a good job.It is incredibly hard on both me and the dog. mistakes happen.. it means alot...

[Calypso]

Originally Posted by kimp5

thank you for your kind words. I was feeling a little beat up like I wasnt doing a good job.It is incredibly hard on both me and the dog. mistakes happen.. it means alot...

You are doing a great job Hun. And mistakes do happen to everyone and we learn from them. Keep up the good work it doesn't sound like there is long to go. I am finding it a lot of work just keeping my little guy from licking and jumping on everything after being neutered, now not so much after seeing what you are dealing with.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by kimp5

thank you for your kind words. I was feeling a little beat up like I wasnt doing a good job.It is incredibly hard on both me and the dog. mistakes happen.. it means alot...

If anything I said upset you, I am very sorry. I know just how you feel having been through similar situations...and I have been through a couple of ortho surgeries with pups that I would have sworn would turn out horrible because they were just that difficult to keep quiet.

Kudos to you for doing the surgery and not amputating...I hate seeing that happen when a leg can be repaired. I always try to explain to people that it is only a good option when nothing else can be done because if the pup suffers a catastrophic injury to another leg, then there are only two. That is awful if it could have been avoided.

I think since you have been through 9 weeks already, you are pretty much on the downhill now.

[kimp5]

Thank you for saying that. I try so hard..I gave her a tranzquilizer and it did nothing..she feels good so she wants to jump around. I swear shes like houdini. I cant figure out how she got out.I had to give her some pain meds (surgeon suggested when she gets crazy) and put her in her travel crate as suggested. I just know she will be mad and just pee in there..so I guess Ill just have to suck it up and clean up the pee. Even if I take her out every two hours she will pee in there..thus total backside in potty training. the vet told me I was giving her too much water (6oz or more and only will take mixed in food)) and to cut back so she isnt peeing so much. I also have decided to restrict her free space even more. She had room for a bed/food and water and a pee pad on other side( surgeon said was fine)..Im removing her food bowls, she doesnt use them anyway, and just room for bed and pad...
her total restriction has been 9 weeks but that was because of first vets mistake of using a cast. She is 4 weeks into the surgery. Two to go today..I hate giving her these meds but it is what it is..she hates them

[ladyjane]

Can you put her in a small room and leave pads for her? Will she use a piddle pad? I personally would not medicate her....especially if it is not working anyway. If it stresses her, why do it?
A dog stroller might be ideal if you can get one ... of course she is not going to be restricted that much longer.
Sorry it is so difficult. I do feel your pain...I remember with one of my fosters, I went to the specialist a couple of times and worried myself sick until they told me she was ok. She was a total wild child.

[kimp5]

She has a small room with a bed/food and water and a little separate room for potty. All in all its probably 3 feet by2 feet. The top is 20 inches high with a roof on it. She still likes to jump up and put her paws on the wires and jump around in circles in there, small as it is.! She also has a smaller crate and a travel crate. She just doesnt want to stay still..how can a terrier be expected to stay still for 6 weeks...the picture below is set longer than how I have it now. Its adjustable, and mine is set smaller than this..and it has a top but my husband set it up so the roof is even lower than how it comes! He used cardboard and wood through the slats..