12 weeks post TPLO completed!

A huge milestone has been reached by Dylan today as it's the end of the first crucial 12 weeks! The main physio is now completed and it's only walks, hydrotherapy and chiropractic that remains now.

On Sunday I took Dylan for a walk together with Jesse in the country park. Dylan's face lit up when he realised where we were going! He missed going to the park.

On Tuesday I took him out with both Jesse and Flash for the first time. He loved it. He remains on lead of course for another 3 months, but just being with the others is heaven for him.

Fractured tooth

Last night, I gave the boys a bone. Troy had a marrow bone, Dylan and Jesse a venison marrow bone and Flash a couple of vegan chews.

When I checked their teeth afterwards (as I always do after chewing bones), I noticed that one of Dylan's large molars is fractured and a part broken off. I have no idea whether he is in pain or not, he doesn't react at all. But I remember how quickly my own tongue ulcerated when I fractured one of my teeth earlier this year, so I am going to get it checked out quickly. He also has one fracture line going all the way up into the gums...

I have no idea what they will do about it, whether they will try to fix it or extract it! I will take Dylan with me on Wednesday morning so Mark can have a look at it.

Week 11 post TPLO finished, first proper walk

We are now in Dylan's 12th week.

Dylan had his third hydrotherapy session yesterday. He is now on 12 minutes and the treadmill running slightly faster than before. I think it is excellent for him.

Today I took him for the first proper walk in 3 months. I took both Dylan and Jesse to the country park (still on lead for another three months though) for 50 minutes and Dylan was in heaven. It was lovely to see his happy face!
He wasn't tired at all after the walk, which is great.

Chiro treatment

Today, Dylan had his second chiro treatment and it went really well. He wasn't sensitive anywhere and Susan said that his muscle mass is improved in his thigh, so that's good.

2nd hydro therapy session

On Saturday, Dylan had his second session on the treadmill. It went very well and he now actually got to the point where he walked completely on his own. He did 9 minutes (3 x 3 minutes). He wasn't enthusiastic, but didn't seem too worried about it this time. He also walked into the hydrotherapy centre without problems and was very happy to go there.

10 weeks post TPLO

‎10 weeks post TPLO for Dylan now, starting week 11. Since having hydro therapy on Saturday, his slight limp when trotting has gone and he really enjoys all his exercise. Still walking stairs daily, a short jog a few times a week, and walking on hind legs (whilst front legs are on a bench) for a short distance, walking circles and figure of 8s and sit/stand squats... it's all fun. More hydrotherapy on Saturday, and chiro on Monday.

No problems after hydrotherapy

Today, Dylan wasn't lame or stiff either and had plenty of energy! It looks like he is fitter and stronger than expected.

Hydrotherapy

I was quite worried how Dylan would react to the hydrotherapy, but I needn't have.

It was explained to me that the best course of action would be the water treadmill for him. He got harnessed up, then walked through the open treadmill a couple of times. Then he got locked in. He was fine with it all.
It was then switched on, which made him panic a little, but he quickly recovered and started walking fine. Then the water was added.

He was obviously a bit stressed, but did a lot better than I thought he would. And towards the end, he visibly relaxed looking around every so often whilst walking.

The hydrotherapist (Gemma) said that his recovery was going really well as he is hardly limping at all now. She also said that he didn't look like a 9-year old, which was nice of course.

So far, Dylan isn't showing any sign of lameness etc yet at all, so I am hoping that it remains that way. He is doing so well.

9 weeks post TPLO - and hydrotherapy booked

Dylan is doing really well and we are starting our 10th week of rehab now. We are still doing 2 walks of about 30 minutes, the morning walk including 10 minutes stair walking (30 flights of stairs) and the evening walk including one round of gentle jogging on the green. I have also started an exercise where Dylan puts his front feet on the park bench and then walks along it on his hind feet slowly. This way he has to put full weight on the leg and he is doing it very well.
We are also still doing the sit/stand exercise (20 repetitions) and some curb walking.

I have booked the first hydrotherapy session this Saturday afternoon. We'll see how it goes. I must remember to bring the camera along.

Three more weeks now and then I'll switch Dylan to one 1-hour walk a day to the country park; I can then include hill walking too.

He is doing so well, no tiredness after the stairs/trotting, lots of energy, he's looking well and feeling well!