Betsy had her Patella surgery

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Kaida

Official Shiba- Squirrel Tracker

Barked: Thu Jan 12, '12 6:35am PST


	Hi pups! Been a while since I gave an update on Betsy. Betsy went in on Tuesday to have her knee repaired and we got her home last night. She seems to be having quite a bit of pain, but other wise she is doing ok. She has been drinking and taking bits of cheese with her meds. She hasn't gone to the bathroom yet, so I was wondering how long should we keep taking her out and her not "going" before we start to worry? I know the stress and anesthesia can throw them off going poo, but its the not peeing part that worries me. She is on complete crate rest for the next several weeks, and isn't liking it too well. I guess she was spoiled a little! Betsy however isn't coming along in her trust for us. She trusts my boyfriend even less. It is to the point where she won't even be in the same room as him if she doesn't have to. We are working with her a lot on the trust thing. I have been having him feed her when he can, he gets her treats but she won't take them, or even eat them after he walks away. It takes her a while, but I am able to coax her to the door to be leashed and taken outside (before the surgery of course) and once outside she refuses to walk on a leash. We are at the wondering around the yard at her will stage, slowly improving on that aspect. Does anyone have an trust building tips to share for us? I know this all takes time, and we have all the time in the world for her.

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Betsy

1217236

Barked: Thu Jan 12, '12 2:18pm PST


	We had a huge scare today. We've been keeping Betsy locked in our small bathroom (floor space is the same size as her large kennel with room to put a food and water bowl out) and we went to let her out to go potty and noticed her leg was bleeding pretty bad. It looked like she had ripped open her stitches about half way up the incision. We rushed her to the vet, and he looked at it saying it was still holding together. The incision line had slipped a bit, but it was still together. He wrapped her leg up in a cast that we go next week for another checkup on. Thankfully that disaster was avoided. We were so worried!

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Nami

I'm just a- little cutie.

Barked: Thu Jan 12, '12 6:17pm PST


	Did they do both legs or just the level 3 one? When I had my LP surgery, they did both legs at the same time. Mom and dad didn't want to go through two recovery's and the vet said it would be OK. The first week was the hardest. Dad would take me out to go potty by carrying me out in the bottom half of my crate. I cried every time I had to be picked up, but using the crate as a litter helped a lot. I don't remember having too much trouble going potty, but I think it took a couple days to get regular. Here's a picture after my surgery: LP Surgery I was a cone head for a little while, but dad worked with me so I would leave my legs alone. It seemed like I was constantly watched. Good thing dad is retired. I was kept pretty confined for 12 weeks. Everything worked out and I can now run almost as fast as Haun. I5t's too bad you couldn't have gotten Betsy comfortable with you before her surgery. I can only suggest sitting quietly with her and don't look at her. Just let her get comfortable having you around.

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Jasmine

Mom's Valentine

Barked: Thu Jan 12, '12 7:29pm PST


	Hi Betsy! When they say crate rest they mean it. You need to be in a small space and out of the bathroom. Mom actually partitioned off part of my crate to make it even smaller after my surgery. I have a water bowl that attaches to the door. I had my meals in the crate as well. At the beginning I did not stand up to eat. I think you also need to be a cone head for a while if you are not going to leave that knee alone. The crate should be someplace where you can watch what the pawrents are doing - it will help you keep focused on them and not your leg. Heck - mine even has wheels! As far as the potty issues. It may take up to a week for a poop. All depends. I made it about 5 days and then I just couldn't hold it anymore. Yes i screamed good and loud the first time. Mom says i was all stuck -- whatever that means ....... Pee was not a problem. I had so many fluids in me though. Remember you are a girl so squatting will be painful. If you go more than a few days without peeing then you may need to be expressed. Just keep an eye on your water intake versus output. Let us know how you are tomorrow.

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Betsy

1217236

Barked: Fri Jan 13, '12 1:08am PST


	We have moved her back to her crate yesterday, she's doing great with not bothering her leg. I think what the issue was, was that she was trying to clean her self down there (We noticed her trying to do this in the crate before) and the cone caught her stitches. The vet had to unwrap it before we brought her home because her toes were swelling really bad. Now she's all wrapped up and doesn't bother it at all. We finally had pee yesterday and I swear poor little Betsy sighed in relief! She's having an easy time going it seems, she just flops her leg out to the side and goes. The vet told us to put a bag over the bandage when we take her out so that she doesn't get it wet, and I think that's the part she hates the most. So far vet said 4-6 weeks kenneled and we'd go from there. He said the repair wasn't as bad as he's seen before and she seems to heal quickly so may have a reduced kennel time, and be allowed out for longer stretches sooner than most. She didn't have the 2nd surgery because at this time they don't think it will be needed. We just have to watch that knee to make sure it doesn't progress on to a grade 3 and require surgery. I have to say Betsy is a real trooper, she hasn't once whined or cried. She gets a little shaky before it's med time and spends all of her time napping and healing. As for the cone, yeah she's not allowed to take it off at least until the next vet visit, and he said he'd see then, but it was doubtful she'd be ready for that yet. She doesn't seem to mind it much, except she hasn't quite mastered how to eat or drink without almost spilling it, and when she tries to go potty and sniff the ground she gets it stuck in the snow

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Tomo

Bad to the Bone- *SHIBA*!

Barked: Sat Jan 14, '12 3:17pm PST


	No words of advice but lots of puppy prayers and hugs coming your way!

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Betsy

1217236

Barked: Sun Jan 15, '12 10:27pm PST


	We now have a new issue with Bets.... she wants to pick at her bandage, and no matter what we do she still can get to it. She's wearing a large cone, and is in a small kennel except for feed times. She somehow manages to move her leg in a position she can chew on it. I had to wrap some new bandaging around the top because she had chewed it and it was wet/yucky. I think the bandage is itchy underneath because of her leg being shaved. Its driving her crazy she can't scratch. The lady I talked to recommended giving her a benedryl maybe to slow her system a little bit and perhaps help with the itchies. What do you guys think? I can't keep up with her constantly about leaving it alone. She seems to do it while we are sleeping or gone for a few hours. It isn't possible to crate her in any smaller area as she can't really even turn around in the kennel she's in with the cone and her leg all wrapped up.

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Nami

I'm just a- little cutie.

Barked: Mon Jan 16, '12 8:27am PST


	You could try using some Cortizone cream on her skin and then re-wrap it. It's probably itching because it's healing.

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Betsy

1217236

Barked: Mon Jan 16, '12 11:41pm PST


	Still having a huge issue with her picking at her leg. She is keeping the top part of the incision open, and I am worried that once she goes off the antibiotics she will get an infection. Is there anything I can do to keep her from doing this? She is in a tiny transport kennel, with her cone on and her leg wrapped the best I can. We have an appointment for checkup on Thursday, but not sure what to do to keep her from bothering it until then. She isn't chewing on the incision, just keeps licking it open. I was thinking about trying a larger cone, if I can find one to buy somewhere, and putting that on her. The only issue would be we'd have to move her to a larger kennel with more room than she should have. What do you guys think?

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Jasmine

Mom's Valentine

Barked: Tue Jan 17, '12 8:54am PST


	Hi Betsy! When you say she is getting at the top of the incision, do you mean the part closest to the groin? It sounds like you may have to wrap the bandaging all the way up the leg as far as you can go. Or can you try to rig up a set of "pants" for her? A larger cone may help as well. Maybe you can try to get one of those comfy cones that is flexible, but large enough that she can't reach anything with it. Sounds like Betsy is a real contortionist! Wish I could be of more help, but without actually seeing what she is doing it's a little hard to make suggestions. BTW, I wouldn't put her on any benedryl without talking to your vet. As Haun said the itching is probably part of the healing process, but licking the wound open all the time will not allow it to heal.

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