[LadyDi]

Hoss has been sleeping since we arrived at the house mid morning.
He did take a nice long drink before he layed down.
Since then no interest in water or food.
Although he did stand up on three occasions to reposition himself.
He stands up very slowly and carefully.
I got real close to him (him inside his cone to give him kiss and he just moaned).
He hurts and we expected that by the size of his incision.
My plan is to let him alone. If he wants to sleep fine.
I would suspect he was well hydrated during the TPLO surgery as there was a bandage on one of his front legs from IV. Hoss must have a lot of stuff in his system between anesthesia and pills Hoss is exhausted.
If it were me I would want to let things heal during sleep, so sleep it is for Hoss.
For dinner the humans are having “Simple Potato Soup”. Hoss loves potato soup.
So for Hoss the Boss......
Sleep, eat, piss, and poop. Thats it. Maybe some potato soup if Hoss is interested, but I will water it down for Hoss.

 

[Meldrew79]

Don't be surprised if he doesn't poop for a day or two. I remember being on watch with Brandy just hoping she'd go! Sleep is good...here's to an easy recovery!

 

[dobebug]

I could probably tell you why Hoss presently smells like chit (I'm surprised that he also doesn't smell like a three year old who peed his pants

What ? I don't understand Aunt Bug - Maybe you go ahead and tell us why he smells like that : ))

Troublemaker!

 

[Meldrew79]

Can't figure out how to add to a post, so a new one it is! Yoga mats work really well if you have slippery floors!

 

[dobebug]

Do they like smell like chit after surgery, because they chit during surgery because of anesthesia or something?
Come on bug...whats the scoop On da poop.
He smells....and guess who gets to sleep with him tonight?????
If Hoss can handle this surgery I can handle the smell. Now thats a best friend!!!!

Yeeah--that's pretty close to right--dogs come in for surgery. They didn't get breakfast their folks come in and leave without them. Then some total strangers come in and put them up on a table, shave a spot on their leg--tell them they are a good dog and this'll only be a little pinch (that's for the IV line) then they get a shot or two for the preanesthesia--and they nod out while the rest of the the anesthesia stuff gets put in place.

LaDi this whole time they probably needed to pee and poop but were too wound up and upset to even think about it. So the preliminary stuff nods them out and relaxes them and what what happens? All those over worked sphyncters that were hanging on to both pee and poop relax too. Even though most clinics prep includes sticking a pee pad under a dogs butt which takes care of most of the poop--a lot of big dog with end up with a bit of sloppy thin stuff at the end and trying to get it all off of a dog who by this time has dribbled some kind of under him is hard to do. When he wakes up and before he goes back to sleep take a warm soapy washcloth and mop around his butt and under his tail and the inside of the thigh that wasn't involved in the surgery and then clean the soapy residue off with a very wet washcloth. He'll smell better. He probably didn't pee on himself--a dog the size of a Dobe with a full bladder can saturated all of the bedding under him and all of his underside,

The surgery tech's and I as housekeeper at least half the time were always thrilled when the surgery dogs just pooped on the floor when they got to the back before they went in kennels or to the prep area. Those accidents are easy to clean up with a pooper scooper and a mop. Ditto for pee. And they don't end up with the results on them.

And no, we never blamed the dogs, we blamed the owners who didn't think their dog might need to take care of all this stuff before they came to the clinic.

If it's any consolation--cats who are really freaked out also pee--on themselves and who ever was taking them out of the carrier. I once ran into one of the techs back in C Ward who was changing her scrub top (she said for the fourth time) because they'd been neutering a whole litter of young cats who were scared to death--they all peed on her--one at a time. She said changing the tops didn't do much good because now it was her that smelled like cat pee.

Life in a vet clinic was never dull.

ABTLH

 

[TNfisher]

One day at a time, LadyDi. Hoss will be running around again before you know it.

 

[LadyDi]

Thanks to all my virtual friends we are doing just fine tonight.
He hasn’t bothered to stand up so we are snuggled in bed.
Hoss was not interested in water, but he did like my watered down potato soup.
He took in about 1 cup of soupy soup.
He ate a few dog biscuits but turned his nose up at his regular kibble.
Shoot what was I thinking......cookies ? Kibble ? Hmmmmm
Anyway who’s ready for more pics !!!!!!

 

[LadyDi]

So lets keep an eye on this surgical site via a comparison pictures over the next few days.
Hoss loves Trazadone! Snoring currently.

 

[dobebug]

Poor Hoss--the bruising around a surgery site always makes it look worse than it is but the repairs like he had are painful. Did they put him on an NSAID along with his trazadone? The NSAID's help reduce swelling and that makes thing less painful.

And I ask you--who would want kibble when there was potato soup (even if it's watered down) to be had. Post surgery (barring surgery on the gut itself) I figure that dog or cat involved can have anything they want to eat--at least for a few days.

OK Hoss (and LaDi) over and out for tonight--keep sleeping and healing--that's your job for now.

dobebug/ABTLH

 

[LadyDi]

For the anti-inflammatory Hoss is taking Galliprant along with Tramadol.

 

[dobebug]

For the anti-inflammatory Hoss is taking Galliprant along with Tramadol.

I forgot to tell DT or CT where ever it was that Galliprant came up awhile ago--I finally looked it up and as I thought it's relatively new and evidently has fewer side effects than many of the NSAID's. Cool--nothing but the best for the Hoss.

dobebug

 

[Fitzmar Dobermans]

Hope his recovery is smooth sailing. 🤞

 

[ECIN]

Hoss loves Trazadone! Snoring currently.

Ask Hoss if he wants to trade a few for FULL box of Milk Bones . lol

 

[LadyDi]

Yes easier on the lining of the belly is my understanding.

 

[melbrod]

If it's any consolation--cats who are really freaked out also pee--on themselves and who ever was taking them out of the carrier.

Yup, I have a vivid image in my mind—my sister, who was something of a cat rescuer (she usually had about 8 at a time—that was her limit—and they just somehow seemed to find abandoned kittens wherever they went)—anyway, one of the wilder ones needed to go to the vet, or something. This was probably 50 years ago—they didn't have a cat carrier.

I just remember her husband walking down the outside hallway of their apartment building, holding the cat at arm's length, basically by the scruff of the neck, while the cat left a pee trail from her apartment all of the way to the car.

 

[LadyDi]

Well here is my latest tip!

Hoss needs us to spot him as he walks around And the harness we have for rehab its to soon for use.

Soooo....maybe someone on this forum gave me this tip or maybe I picked it up during my home study of TPLO surgery but this has been our go to sling for Hoss.

Grocery bag...the non disposable ones we buy at the grocery stores .....cut the side out and wa-la we have a quick go to sling!!!

Oh let me share PICS.....

 

[LadyDi]

Hoss slept good last night and he is putting pressure on his leg.
He prefers to walk by himself.
Hoss still looks at us weird if we lift up his back end....like what the heck are you humans doin???
So we are “Spotters” thats it. We are there to catch him if he slips.
Our entire house is carpeted so no issues in that area.
This morning was watered down potato soup and His regular dog cookies.
But do not tell Hoss I slipped some of Pro Plan kibble into his cookie container...so he is getting kibble.
We are keeping the portions small and awaiting the big big big # 2 expected soon.
He wanted to poop this morning but I could tell he was to uncomfortable.
And when he peed.......it was long and well deserved.
I could smell that smell real strong when he peed. Must be all the stuff in his system including.
It certainly was not from my potato soup.
Thinking I need to make him more soup. I have chicken but no rice.
Guess it will be chicken broth soup.

 

[LadyDi]

Hoss is up and moving around !

Will try to send video.

 

[sandy2233]

OK here are some PIC’s!
Hoss is still sleeping, yeah! View attachment 136678 View attachment 136679 View attachment 136680 ]


Egads!
So his instructions from this point are:
Suture removal in 14 day
Recheck with Orthopedic Specialists in 60 days with x-rays to note progress
Exercise: Hoss is to be managed in a 8X8 area for 60 days.We are to assist him outside for potty breaks only (While leashed at 6 feet and controlled). No running or jumping. And no slippery floors.Although at 30 days he can begin short walks 1 block or less “controlled” leash walking.
Bandagelease notify if the bandage becomes wet or dirty or if there is any swelling of the toes or foul odor.Bandage can be removed in 3 days. Hoss has no bandage on but our nurse said it kept falling off so OK to leave the bandage off. That suited me just fine...dry is good with dog wound care. Just MUST not let the area get dirty at all.
Surgery siteo not permit any licking or scratching at the surgery site.
Continue to wear Elizabethan collar until the stitches are removed.

 

[sandy2233]

If it's nasty out, ask you vet for a cattle ob glove. You can cut the hand off and slip over his legs. to keep the foot from getting dirty, ask for an empty IV bag and just tie it with some string. you can attach the ob glove by punching a hole low in the glove and just wrap it up over his back and under his belly and up again. We just use bandage tape. It just designed for one use anyway. Hope that helps. When SE was having her ears posted, I used the hand part of the glove and cut off the fingers and put them over her ears. She looked so funny but it kept her ears dry if it was wet outside. Wishing you a quick and easy recovery for your baby!