Otter's Journey....

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Oh no it's all coming back to me now.

Get ready!

 

[Beanwood]

@Mr Beanwood and our neighbours daughter took the four out for a lovely long walk to Badminton yesterday leaving me with Otter Potterhead. We had a wonderful gentle play on the floor. I spotted something tiny, and realised with an odd lump in my throat it was one of her canines. She is still such a baby.

 

[Beanwood]

Otter 6 days post-op

Hunting for sossiges...

Three blue cones, about 3 metres apart (triangle) few pieces of kibble in the middle as a starting point, so she works outwards, thus changing sides and direction. I use a gentle, quiet hunt cue. You can see her moving nice and slowly, turning around, and hunting close. Her wound looks really good, so very pleased with that, she is not bothering with it, so it's not itchy or sore.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Such a good girl.
Do you think she is using her legs fairly evenly or is she still favouring the good side?

 

[HAH]

This is great, she’s such an active, bright girl. I think she’s looking very even in her legs, she turned left as much as right and seemed comfortable. I’ve never heard the hunt whistle before, I love how gentle you are. As an aside, it’s fascinating seeing her muscles move so well on the shaved leg - a privileged insight into movements normally more masked by hair. Thanks Otter x

 

[kateincornwall]

What a good little love , it really is rotten luck for her , having to go through all this and only still a baby x

 

[M.F.]

Just seen your thread. Thank you for sharing all the details. How devastated you must’ve felt. But how positive is your rehab! So impressive. Wishing you and Otter all the best for a 100% recovery. Snowie’s physio said Lab puppies are so boisterous that their antics catch up with them as adults and she sees a lot of knee issues caused by early puppy days.

 

[Beanwood]

Such a good girl.
Do you think she is using her legs fairly evenly or is she still favouring the good side?

Good question. I am deliberately asking for slow walking from her, in order to maximise length of contact with the ground, through her affected limb. She injured her leg exactly one month ago...and she was under 4 months old, so not much muscle has developed, and with not using her leg since there is likely to already be some wastage.

@HAH, this is a rough diagram showing the major muscles in her thigh (sorry not 100% accurate, but you get the idea!) The most important one highlighted in red is her biceps femoris (there are 3 in the back of the leg.) This is the one you can see clearly moving. The main job of the biceps is to flex the knee, and is the first must to atrophy when the CCL is injured.

 

[Cath]

this is a rough diagram showing the major muscles in her thigh (sorry not 100% accurate, but you get the idea!) The most important one highlighted in red is her biceps femoris (there are 3 in the back of the leg.) This is the one you can see clearly moving. The main job of the biceps is to flex the knee, and is the first must to atrophy when the CCL is injured.

Wonderful @Beanwood

 

[Stacia]

Coming on well, I am so pleased she is allowed exercise which will help her. Poor Drift could only go in the garden on the lead to toilet and then straight back in, so I am sure she will make an excellent recovery.

 

[FayRose]

Ah, bless her, poor little bare bottom. She doesn't seem to take any notice of it at all, which I would think is a good thing.

 

[Boogie]

That wagging tail says it all

 

[Beanwood]

7 days Post Op

7 days already? It's all a blur. Today is not a good day for Otter. She has been up at her usual time, which at the moment is just before 6 am. She has been on the go all day so far, apart from around 8am. She seems restless, and I can't work out if she is uncomfortable or not. I am not sure either if her knee is a tiny bit swollen today, or is it her fur seems to be growing in really quickly, even compared to yesterday. Wound all good, no heat or redness. I have given her meds early, and will cut out her 5 min lead walks for the rest of the day. We will see how we go. Otter has just this second given a "humph" and closed her eyes, think I might join her in a snooze....although my IMDT revision is beckoning...bah....

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Speaking from my own experience, seven days post op was about the time I'd simply had enough of the whole thing and was super crabby. Maybe Otter is also getting a bit squirrelly, despite all the enrichment you've been doing?

Or she's having sympathy angst for your test this weekend.

 

[Beanwood]

Otter has had a snooze, and is in a better frame of mind. She has also pinched Loki's toy, so is feeling super chuffed. She aint giving it up...even for a treat! Oh and a gratuitous shot of Bramble's iron bum! I have had chocolate so feeling a lot less "crabby" @Emily_Babbelhund


Day 7 Post Op vid

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I have had chocolate so feeling a lot less "crabby"

I was referring to ME and possibly Otter feeling crabby, NOT you! But hey, if chocolate helped, then all good!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Aww, she's so pleased with her new stuffy (sorry Loki). And those eyes are mesmerising. I think she's outdone even Bear in the beautiful eyes contest.

 

[kateincornwall]

And still their tails wag , even in times as these, bless her heart x

 

[Stacia]

I love 'that look' she has. It is still early days, though I cannot believe it is day 7 already! When do you have to go back for a check up?

 

[Beanwood]

@Jelinga we go back to the orthodog in 7 weeks time for Xrays to see how much the tibial plateau has levelled. I am thinking maybe I will pop back to our local surgery to check out the little bit of swelling. Going to dial back the exercise tomorrow, but increase the number of times she is out so instead of 4 x 5 mins walks, 8/9 x 1min slow walk and wee break. We will need meds to slow her down though, seriously she is so hyper it is unreal.