My poor little man. He's home. UPDATE with pictures.

[beeniesmom]

Finally our appointment with the orthopedic specialist has arrived.
I will be leaving the house in about an hour.

Frankie's knee has been so bad in the last couple of months. I posted about his patellar luxation probably a year ago. I hoped he would grow out of the problem, as did Beenie a few years back but he didn't.

Our regular vet suggested this appointment with the specialist because he really belives Frankie needs surgery (possibly on both knees). One is much worse than the other. It causes him to yelp in pain everytime he jumps and limp pretty much most of the time. I haven't been able to walk him for about 2 months now because he stays sore when I do.

I found out the other day, when confirming the appointment, that they may even keep him today and do the surgery tomorrow, if need be.

I'll let you know what happens when we come back. I just hope he doesn't need it for both legs. This is a very expensive surgery and we really didn't need this expense ($1,500) for one leg, especially with the baby coming too.

With me not working like I did last year, it will be tight....

That said.... Frankie is worth it to me, and more. :(

[boomersooner]

Good luck to you and your pupper....

[lv4dogs]

Aww poor Frankie. I remember your concern about his knees before & I too was hoping it would diminish over time. I'll keep yous in my thoughts & prayers. I wish him the best of luck... I love that little guy! Keep us posted please.

[JenBKR]

Oh poor Frankie! ((((hugs)))) to you both. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[cassiesmom]

Prayers for Frankie and mom from here too

[beeniesmom]

OK, We just got back from our appointment.
We were there from 10 am until 1 pm.
They did an initial visit and consult and determined that yes, there was a problem.
They then sedated him and did x-rays.
Second consult an hour later ... confirmed that both knees are crap and that they've been crap since he was about 1 years old.
One is worse than the other. The left is a stage 4, the right leg is stage 3.
4 is the worse rating.
I was wrong about the cost. It's closer to 2K for one leg. It was either this dr. or take him to the university animal teaching hospital in Gainsville where a student would have done it for a little less. I think the choice was clear.
For now, we are having the right one done. It's not the worst one but it's the one giving him pain. The left one is so bad they want to wait and see if he is stable with the right before even considering touching it.
He is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. I drop him off in the morning.
I'll have to leave him for the night and will get him back on Wednesday.
He's sleeping off the sedation from the x-rays now.
This is him a few minutes ago still groggy from the x-ray sedation.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/beeniesmom/IMG_0575.jpg

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

[Casper]

Poor guy! Smooches going out to the handsome boy. I am sorry he has to deal with bad knees.

(((Hugs))) and good vibes headed out for both of you. I will keep you all in my thoughts.

Get well soon, Frankie! :love:

[lvpets2002]

:( Oh No Poor Wittle Frankie.. I hate you are having to go thru this & with pain.. Sending Lots of PT Positive Healing Vibes & Prayers & Huggss..

[Alysser]

Poor babe, I'm sorry his knee is bothering him :love: Get Well soon!

[lizbud]

Poor little guy.:( I'm sorry he is going through this. Hopefully the
surgery will help him be painfree. Best of luck Frankie.

[lv4dogs]

Glad to see he's back in the comforts of home... for the night at least. We will continue to keep yous in our thoughts. Hoping for a successful surgery & fast & proper healing too!

[chocolatepuppy]

Poor Frankie.:( Hopefully soon you'll be fixed up and playing without pain. It's no fun Carmen, I know, and the expense hurts too, but is well worth it. Please keep us updated on the little guy.

[Daisy and Delilah]

OMG!!! I'm so sad seeing you, Frankie. Just think, buddy, after your surgery, you'll be a new man. I can certainly relate to the crappy knee syndrome. Thoughts and prayers going out to Frankie, Carmen, Beenie , Hubby and the rest of the family. Get well soon, Frankie Boy!!!! SMOOCH!!!!!

[beeniesmom]

I just got back home (alone).

I left the house at 6.30 am. and dropped him off at the vets at 7.30 am.
He didn't even give me a kiss bye bye. He was too busy showing off with the vet tech to bother with his mommy. I swear that dog would go off with anyone! :rolleyes: All the other dogs were scared and pulled towards their owner... mine the opposite. He was ready to go with the nice lady.
This is the same dog that cries when I leave the house to go to the store for 5 min. but if my husband leaves he could care less. :confused:

I hung around the vets until 9.00 am.

I then went to get a little something to eat and then roam the nearby mall. I walked the mall back and forth... back and forth until 11.30 trying not to look like I felt and then went back to the vets.

They said they had just started prepping him for surgery (sedation and shave his leg) and that I was more than welcome to stay but I wouldn't be able to see him afterward anyway. I stayed in the lobby for about 5 minutes and called hubby at work who told me to go home. They assured me they'd call the minute he was done with surgery and awake for an update. According to the front office, that would be around.... 2.30 - 3ish pm.

So I will wait and try not to drive myself crazy with thoughts of stuff going wrong. I know, you all probably think I am a nut. This is a routine surgery that they do at least 5x a day. He will be fine and none the worse for wear and I will be a wreck. This is the first time I leave him anywhere for the night besides my in-laws. I can't wait until they call me to let me know everything is ok and I can't wait to go get him tomorrow.

[lvpets2002]

:) We think you are normal.. If you did not worry = thats when we would think your nuttss.. Its so normal to worry about our wittle ones at the Vet.. All Paws Crossed for Good News.. Sending Prayers & Huggss..

[lute]

Poor Frankie. I'm sure he will do just fine. Beanie has this problem with both his back knees. He also has arthritis in them too. He is rated between 2 or 3 in both. He gets uncomfortable sometimes, but it's not horrible. I have pain meds for when he does have flair ups. I chose against the surgery simply because my vet said he'll be in discomfort anyway because of his arthritis.

Prayers for Frankie for easy healing!

[Taz_Zoee]

I don't think anyone here on Pet Talk is going to think you are nuts. They might think you were nuts if you weren't worrying about your baby.

Well, I will be hoping that everything goes great and he is back home with you and on the road to recovery tomorrow. Try to stay busy so the time will go by faster.

[beeniesmom]

They just called. He is out of surgery. It went well with no complications.
They said he's awake but resting. I can go get him tomorrow at 10 am.
Now I can breathe. :)
Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Thank goodness!!! I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief. Kisses for our Little Man from me please. Some for Sister too.:)

[gemini9961]

Give him some kisses from me Carmen and hugs to you. :)

[pitc9]

SO glad to hear everything went good!
I'm sending wishes for a speedy recovery for the little guy!

[caseysmom]

Oh I am glad he is doing okay. Take it easy you need to relax mom.

[kokopup]

I'm sure frankie will do fine. Koko had to have acl surgery on both knees when she was 9 months old. She spent 6 weeks in her krate for the first knee and then we had to take her back to Auburn University to have the other knee repaired. We decided after 12 weeks in her krate enough was enough. She hasn't been in her krate since. Two years later she runs like a deer with no knee pain. Frankie will be back running in no time. :)

[lv4dogs]

I'm so relieved to hear that everything went well... I am sure you are too! We'll still be thinking of yous, hoping the recovery is just as successful & speedy too.

[boomersooner]

So glad everything went well....he'll be back romping around before you know it....and best of all, he'll be pain free!!!

[beeniesmom]

He is home. Very tired and dirty but doing ok. (He poo'd on himself).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/beeniesmom/surgeryfrankie/IMG_0591.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/beeniesmom/surgeryfrankie/IMG_0589.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/beeniesmom/surgeryfrankie/IMG_0584.jpg

I gave him a sponge bath, fed him boiled chicken and put his knee on ice.
Now he is resting.

[beeniesmom]

He goes back in 2 weeks to remove the staples (11) and then in a month he has to take more x-rays. They put 2 pins in his knee which will stay unless they start moving about.

He is a little embarrassed because they shaved his leg.

[lvpets2002]

:love: Hey there wittle man Frankie = good to see your doing good & at home.. Now you are so stay calm & no running or jumping right?? Are you on some pain meds?? I sure hope so due to that looks painfull.. You be good for mom now & she will take good care of you.. Give her that wittle wink & she will feed you chicken soup furrever..;) Heal up good & real soon.. Sending Some gentle wet nose kissess..

[Taz_Zoee]

Awww, Frankie, don't be embarrassed, we won't laugh at you. I promise.

He looks so sad. But I am sure he will be all better soon. Please give him a hug from me. :)

[jennielynn1970]

Awe... sweet boy. I'm glad he's home. He does look sad, but he's probably just wondering why he's got a bare leg, lol.

Hope this does the trick for this leg and that if they operate on the other leg, it will go just as smoothly.

Hugs and kisses for Frankie!!

[JenBKR]

Aww, so glad he is home. Looking good Frankie! Don't be shy about that cute leg!

[Daisy and Delilah]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!! Poor widdle fella :( I have a scar just like that, buddy. I can relate. Get better , sweetheart.

[gemini9961]

He's looking good Carmen. What a trooper!

[lv4dogs]

It's nice to see him home. He's so cute... tired, dirty it don't matter. ;) I'm sure he'll pull through with ease, he's got it in him! Give him some lovin from us please.

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

:( Ouch, poor baby. I wish a very speedy recovery for you Bean.

[beeniesmom]

I think Frankie is doing ok. He slept in the crate all night (not by choice).
He was whining a little around 3.30 am. so I took him outside for a few minutes and then I put him in the bed with me for about 20 minutes.
Right when I thought I'd fall asleep again, I put him back in the crate.
I really can't afford for him to jump off or on something, especially the bed.
This morning he ate his breakfast, took his pills (pain meds and antibiotic) and let me ice his knee for about 10 min. He didn't want to go potty (it's really cold here today). He is now resting in his crate. I will stay home with him today. The incision site looks a little red but not angry red. If it gets darker I will call the vets. He doesn't seem to be in pain so that's a relief.
I love you Frankie. Get better soon so you can give your sister a run for her money.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I love you too, Frankie Boy!!!! Get better sweetheart!! Carmen, please give him and Beenie some kisses from me.:)

[chocolatepuppy]

Good to hear things went well with Frankie's surgery. I hope he's doing well.

[Kona & Oreo's mom]

Oh my goodness, Frankie. You look so sad in the first picture. But I'm glad that you're feeling OK and that you're surgery went well!

I'll be thinking of you--Oreo just went through knee surgery, too, and the first few days were the toughest. Good luck!

[cassiesmom]

Give him some lovin from us please.

From me, too please (and some for Beenie too, please)

[beeniesmom]

He is doing really well. He is doing this step step skip thing.
He's a bit impatient and wants to run and jump and play.
Keeping him still is hard work! He's getting his staples out on Monday!

[cyber-sibes]

Catching up on this - so glad o hear he's good so far. He'll be one happy pup after those stitches come out! Paws crossed for him!

[lv4dogs]

Glad to hear he's doing well! I feel for you... I know it's hard work keeping them calm. I hope he continues to have a full & speedy recovery.