LP surgery tomorrow, please keep us in your prayers!

[NinaPants]

Hi everyone:
My little Nina Pants, 4 years old next month!, is having surgery on her knee for luxating patellar correction. I am so nervous and scared for my baby! Most of all I am very concerned about the recovery process. How do I keep her calm and "inactive"? Nina loves to play and run.
I would really love to hear from all of you yorkie mommies who have been through this and about how you dealt with the recovery process. Should I bring her to the vet tomorrow in a crate? She is so squirmish and nervous when we go to the vet, so I thought maybe this might help her.
How do we keep her most comfortable, what methods did you use as far as where to keep your dog and blankets, maybe tee shirts to keep her warm, where should she sleep? She usually sleeps with us in bed.
And how do we get her to go potty, and where? We live in a condo on the 2nd floor and have trained Nina to go in a doggie litter box out on our porch, but for no2s Nina prefers only walks! How did you get your dog to go potty?

I'd also like to know if anyone has tried any other methods of comfort or tried feeding your dog any special foods or supplements to support recovery? We use glucosamine and chondroitin but I am wondering if there is anything wonderful out there for dogs post-surgery.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks so much for reading and please keep my baby in your prayers tonight!

[cath54]

I will say a prayer for her.Also tomorrow are friend is having the samething done tomorrow to,GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS

[YorkichonBella]

I will remember Nina in my prayers.
There are several here who have had this surgery recently. I know they can give you great advice.
stedmansmommy: her sweet little Tatum
Mom to Hot Rod: her sweet little Hot Rod

Hugs! Pls keep us posted. Thoughts of Nina & Mommie tomorrow!!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by NinaPants

Hi everyone:
My little Nina Pants, 4 years old next month!, is having surgery on her knee for luxating patellar correction. I am so nervous and scared for my baby! Most of all I am very concerned about the recovery process. How do I keep her calm and "inactive"? Nina loves to play and run.
I would really love to hear from all of you yorkie mommies who have been through this and about how you dealt with the recovery process. Should I bring her to the vet tomorrow in a crate? She is so squirmish and nervous when we go to the vet, so I thought maybe this might help her.
How do we keep her most comfortable, what methods did you use as far as where to keep your dog and blankets, maybe tee shirts to keep her warm, where should she sleep? She usually sleeps with us in bed.
And how do we get her to go potty, and where? We live in a condo on the 2nd floor and have trained Nina to go in a doggie litter box out on our porch, but for no2s Nina prefers only walks! How did you get your dog to go potty?

I'd also like to know if anyone has tried any other methods of comfort or tried feeding your dog any special foods or supplements to support recovery? We use glucosamine and chondroitin but I am wondering if there is anything wonderful out there for dogs post-surgery.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks so much for reading and please keep my baby in your prayers tonight!

Hi there, I will keep Nina in my thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery tomorrow. Yes, we went thru lp surgery about 5 months ago. Trust me, once the surgery is over, about 90% of your anxiety will be gone!

Well, on to the recovery. You must, must, must follow your surgeons instructions. Ours told us that Hot Rod should be in his crate or at the most, a 3 x 3 area. He had not been crated for a year and a 1/2 by that point in time. He does stay in his expen at night but even that area was bigger than what the vet wanted. Hot Rod was either in crate or in our arms most of the time. We are able to pull the back cushion of our sofa down to make a table top, that is where Hot Rod eventually wound up with his harness on and a lanyard hook to him and wrapped around my wrist.

It was very hard to keep him still as we have another yorkie is very active and playful. At first he didn't want anything to do with her but as the weeks went on, he wanted to play.

As far as potty, he's trained on the pad. I would set him on it and sort of keep my hands around him just in case he couldn't balance himself. It was at least a week, week 1/2 before hubby took him outside. And then we carried him and put him down to go and then scooped him back up and brought him in.

Don't be surprised if she acts differently at first. The poor baby will be in pain and out of it. Hot Rod ate at first but then didn't eat for about a day 1/2. The surgeon told us not to be surprised if at his 2 week checkup that he wasn't using his leg. It was every bit of that and then some. He even hobbled at the 2 month mark!

But it is all worth it as now he's as strong as can be. There is a reason and a light at the end of the tunne.

Good luck tomorrow and give little Nina Pants big hugs and kisses from us. feel free to pm me with any questions.

[YorkichonBella]

Thank u Girl "Mom to Hot Rod"!! I knew u would give Great advice & always willing to help! U r such a loving Mommie & I hope it comforts Nina's Mommie to have someone who has been through this. YT friends are the best!

[NinaPants]

Thank you all so very much! It means so much to us that you are holding good thoughts for us at this time, and I am definitely sending some love to you and your babies too

I just dropped her off and couldn't keep it together. Thankfully my boyfriend was there and able to keep it together for me! I know Nina will be fine and today my task is to get her "room" ready.

We have a larger crate that used to be Nina's "room" where she would sleep. Now she sleeps with us in bed, but I guess that won't be possible for the recovery. I think I am going to get a new comfy bed for her (hers is a little lumpy now) to put in the crate. Also we have a small bathroom sink area that I guess will serve as her "area" when we are at work? It is small enough with nothing to jump on. Do you think that is a good idea? Or should we leave her in the crate when we are gone? Its just that we've NEVER left our home and left Nina in a crate. I think we did it once for like 20 min and when we came back she had pooped in there. When she was little we used to leave her in an expen, but poor baby would be so nervous she would actually climb out! So that was the end of the expen. I hope to never have to leave her alone for more than 5 hours at a time, and we will be home with her for the first two days. But I guess that we will just prepare for her the best we can and make adjustments as needed.

Anyway her surgery is today sometime in the afternoon and I hope that all goes well! Thanks again to everyone for your support and love and I will keep you posted!

[Patti]

I am saying a prayer Nina has a safe and successful surgery.

[yorkshiremom]

Saying a prayer for you all tomorrow! My little Sadie just had both knees done 7 weeks ago. Please feel free to PM me with any questions. Sadie had never been in a crate for 5 1/2 years and she spent the entire 6 weeks in one of three that I purchased just for recovery. Be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter...Sadie wasn't allowed any exercise at all for 6 weeks and her legs seem almost back to 100% already!

We will be thinking about you tomorrow!

[RachelGenson]

Have you heard anything about the surgery yet? Hope everything is well with Nina and her mommie

[yorkiehugs]

Prayers said for the both of you!

[NinaPants]

thank you all so much! and thank you hot rod's mom and yorkshiremom, that is wonderful news! i'm so happy to hear that your babies recoveries are going so well, it gives me relief and hope to know that you mommies and your babies have survived this.
we just spoke with the surgeon and she is still in surgery right now but that everything is going smoothly...
i went and bought Nina some peepads (she never did get the hang of them, but, who knows, maybe they will be easier for her right now and she will take to them) and a very soft baby blanket that i am cuddling with right now so that it has my scent on it. we have a crate that we call her "room" that i plan to keep her in for the recovery. it is about 2 by 1.5 feet and she likes it so hopefully she won't mind being in there. i guess we'll just move it from room to room wherever we will be. but we have a one bedroom condo so no matter where we are we're always nearby!
the surgeon says she will call me as soon as Nina is moved into recovery and let me know how things are going. then we can pick her up tomorrow! i can't wait for her to come home.
i know i will be pm-ing soon for advice, as i just know i will have lots of questions once she gets home. thank you thank you so much for all your love and prayers everyone!

[gunnar08]

hi, saying prayers for little Nina and you. we are neighbors, when I'm at work in Palo Alto that is. Hope are you are able to keep her comfortable. Lots of good advice on this forum. keep us posted! Donna

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Awww, glad to hear that surgery was going well. LIke I said, 90% of the stress will be alleviated once your surgeon calls and tells you that all is well. I was told by another YT member who was a tech, to be careful with putting too many blankies and pillows in the crate as she could possibly getting tangled up in them. I would suggest that you put it in a pillow case and sew it up to make a cushion. That is a very good idea to put your scent on it-she will be with mommy. I know that it will be hard to crate her, but it is for her protection and well being. Be strong, that's the hardest part. There is light at the end of the 6 week tunnel!

[YorkichonBella]

So glad to hear yr updates on sweet Nina! It's so reassuring to hear all the great support & advice from wonderful members here who have been through this. Can't wait to hear Nina is safe & sound with Mommie in her soft soft blankie! You'll be home soon Nina! Just get plenty of rest & let Mommie spoil you sweetie! HUGS!

[NinaPants]

So surgery went smoothly and now little Nina is all sewn up and hopefully fast asleep! I had to go to work but my boyfriend spoke with the surgeon and she said everything went fine and Nina is now in her "condo" with her favorite toy "Frog" that we left with her. They will monitor her all night and I will call in the morning to see when we can pick her up! I think you are right Hot Rod's Mommy, I will feel much better once my little pumpkin is home with me. I will read every direction and maybe I should put the blankie in a pillowcase. Lots of love and hugs to you all and thank you so much! Wow yorkie talk friends really are the best!! xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxo