 March
2010
Daisy
Daisy is a 10 year old Golden Retriever who came in to see us at
The Pets Practice in January as her lameness had worsened. When she
was examined by our Pets24 vet, Gary, he could feel swelling and
crepitus (a crunchy feeling) around the right knee, especially on
the inside. He suspected that Daisy had ruptured her right cruciate
ligament. Surgery was recommended to examine and repair the damage
to the joint. Daisy was booked in the following day and underwent
a general anaesthetic and X-rays.
On the X-rays, we found that Daisy had arthritis in both hips and
in the right knee. She also had a very wobbly right knee suggesting
that the ligaments inside the joint had ruptured.
Daisy was then taken into theatre where the inside of her joint
was thoroughly examined and a tear in the meniscus (joint pad) was
treated. The joint was then stabilised using a special procedure
called an extra-capsular (CCL) tightrope technique.
Daisy spent a few nights in hospital on antibiotics and pain relief.
She was able to walk when she left hospital but still had to have
quite a lot of painkillers at home.
Daisy has done extremely well after the surgery
which was only 6 weeks ago. She is almost walking without a limp now, but still
needs to have excercise restriction. She is also on long-term supplements
of Chondroitin & Glucosamine for her joints which wee hope will
minimise any long-term arthritis that may develope. Daisy has responded
so well to the surgery that we expect her to make a full recovery,
though it is possible that the arthritis in her hips and knees
will need some extra attention as time goes by.
Graeme and Sue Semple, Daisy’s
owners, sent us an update:
Since the operation, Daisy has become completely mobile and is now
even better on her feet than before her treatment at The Pets Practice.
She is happier in herself and up to her usual tricks - barking
at the postman, barking at the pigeons in the back garden and always
looking out for the fox, as we have many pet rabbits.
She is 10 years old now and we all feel that although Daisy is
getting on a bit we are happy that she has a new lease of life for
a few more years and that the she now looks out for her walks, which
before were becoming a big struggle for her.
Daisy has been a great family pet and we chose a Golden Retiever
knowing that the children would be safe around her as they grew up.
She even tolerated the odd tug at her tail when the children were
babies.
This picture that we took of is post-operation and she looks wide
eyed and ready to play, something that she enjoys doing, especially
with our shoes!
Click
here to see February's Pet of the Month - Holly the Labrador.
Click
here to see January's Pet of the Month - Ebony the Labrador.
Click
here to see December's Pet of the Month - Stitch the Jack Russell
Terrier.
Click
here to see November's Pet of the Month - Charlie the Staffordshire
Bull Terrier.
Click
here to see October's Pet of the Month - Basil the brave dog.
Click
here to see September's Pet of the Month - Chelsea the domestic
short-haired cat.
Click
here to see August's Pet of the Month - Lucas the domestic short-haired
cat.
Click
here to see July's Pet of the Month - Rabby the English Lop-Eared
rabbit.
Click
here to see June's Pet of the Month - Thomas the West Highland White
Terrier.
Click here to see May's Pet of the Month - Harvey
the Boxer puppy.
Click
here to see April's Pet of the Month - Mitzi the Yorkshire Terrier.
|
