8 weeks post TPLO

Dylan is now starting week 9 post TPLO. He is doing so well and is now allowed out of the kitchen when I am around to watch him too. He loves that and really missed my company and the company of his three brothers.

He is now on 2 walks of 30 minutes. In the morning walk I include some figure of 8 walking and stair walking for 7 minutes (25 flights of stairs) as well as curb walking. In the evening walk I include a short gentle jog (around 2 minutes I would think, have never timed it - it's 4 diagonal length of the green) and curb walking.

I do 20 sit/stand repetitions at home and we are due to start swimming/water treadmill work soon. I have also taught him to put his front feet on a chair for a little while which helps him strengthen his back leg and can also be used to do a gentle stretch (it's very controlled, no jumping or jerky movements).

I am really pleased how he is progressing. He is such a star.

7 weeks post TPLO

Today, I increased the intensity of the exercise yet again (though still 2 walks of 30 minutes). We are now doing 15 flights of stairs (about 5 minutes) and 3 diagonal length of the green until the week-end when I will increase this to 20 flights of stairs and 4 diagonal length of the green.

I would also like to take him hill walking. I thought I could use the slope at the fitness centre, but I don't think that is steep enough. The hill in the Country Park would be ideal, but I don't want to go anywhere where there are dogs off lead that could pounce on Dylan. His leg isn't strong enough yet to take that.

Dylan's doing really well and I am hoping to start the hydrotherapy very soon.

Chiropractor

Dylan is now in week 7, and he came to the chiropractor with me this morning. Susan adjusted his spine and did a lot of massage too. She commented that all the muscles in his right hind have shrunk quite a bit. Well, hopefully with the exercise and the swimming (which I am hoping to start this week), this will soon change again.

Dylan enjoyed the treatment, though the lumbar part of his back was a bit sore (to be expected). He was a little sensitive on that leg after the treatment, but by the time we went home (after Troy and I had the treatment), he was walking fine.

We are also doing stairs and jogging for two diagonals of Woodside Green. I think we are getting there slowly.

6 weeks post TPLO and x-rays

Dylan and I went back to Fitzpatrick's yesterday for his 6-week x-ray! All went well and the x-ray showed that the plate and screws are still in place and the bone is healing well.

So we can now continue to increase the exercise and make it a bit more intensive.

I will cut down to two walks, but they will now be 30 minutes this week. I will also add in some stairs and hill walking. I'll see whether I can pinch the fitness centre approach stairs and ramp for this.

Dylan is also due to see Susan, our chiropractor, on Monday. And I will book him in for hydrotherapy once a week.

It's all good and I am pleased about his progress.

20-minute walks

As from yesterday, we are now on 20-minute walks. Dylan is still doing really well. Since the week-end, he has now also been off the Rymadyl and the antibiotics. He is very slightly more uncomfortable, but not as much as I thought. I am really pleased about his progress.

He is due for x-rays next Wednesday to assess the bone healing.

15-minute walks

As from today, I have increased Dylan's walks to 15 minutes each. He was doing very well this morning, however, I did see that his leg was slightly more uncomfortable - which is to be expected.

I have also only four tablets left of the Rimadyl. As from tonight, I shall half the dosage for the next four days and then stop alltogether. We'll see how Dylan will feel with that. If there's too much pain, I will obviously get some more. However, a little more discomfort wouldn't be a bad idea as he is trying to jump about too much at the moment and I have to constantly stop him.

Yesterday, I also allowed him into the sitting room whilst I was watching TV. I asked him to settle next to me, which he did. Then I didn't pay attention to him for a few seconds (I swear that's all it was) and when I look up, Dylan is on the sofa! What a cheeky chappy. I carried him off the sofa and back into the kitchen.
I will allow him into the sitting room again occasionally, but in future it will be on lead, so I feel when he is sneaking off. LOL