Luxating patella surgery in 7 yr old Pomeranian....davet....

[JMM]

Some dogs also take a little while to figure out how to navigate if they'll be on 3 legs for the first little while. Just give him some time and, if your vet approves it, encourage him to walk slowly.

[Traci]

Since it was an involved surgery, he is probably slightly nauseous from anesthesia,...give it 12-24 hours post-op for the anesthesia to wear off. The pain patch could also be leaving him slightly sedated.

As long as he is alert to his surroundings, interested in food and water, is urinating normal amounts, just monitor him and give him lots of TLC. If he vomits, whelps or cries in pain, seems lethargic or withdrawn, call your vet promptly for further instruction.

[Vicki]

My littlel Huey is improving.....small progress each day it seems. He's begun hopping around on 3 legs a bit now....eating and drinking ok too. Only thing is he hasn't had a bowel movement since I brought him home Wednesday night. He got no food on Wednesday and only very small meals each day since. Some of that food has GOT to come out soon I'd think. He pees outside and I'm with him the whole time talking to him. But he hadn't had any bowel movement at all yet. Should I be concerned? Maybe that little bit of food he's been getting just hasn't moved all the way through his intestines yet. Anyway, he is feeling better. I took the narcotics patch off yesterday. Today, sometimes he seems to want to get to his leg so I thought maybe the incision area was itching a little....I got a wash cloth and soaked it in warm water and then held it on the leg....did that for about 20 minutes...thinking the warmth might be soothing. He did fall asleep towards the end of the 20 minutes.

[Traci]

Give your vet a call and ask what you can add to his diet to help with bowel movements.....he may suggest any of the following: canned pumpkin, fresh vegetables, psyllium or fiber capsules, or as a last resort, taking him in for an enema. Remember, if he hasn't taken in much food, he won't produce much....but also ask about the patch's medication effects, that is, could cause constipation. Immobility can also cause this, but since he does go outside to urinate, that should be enough mobility to induce a stool. Best to call your vet.

[Vicki]

Good news....little Huey finally had a bowel movement this morning and it was normal. I was afraid he wouldn't even be able to get into the position to do it but he did....bless his little heart. I'm so glad that part of his system is ok. He's improving each day.....hobbles around quite well on three legs.....every once in a great while the affected leg might touch the ground. But I know it will take quite a while before he starts using it normally.

[davet]

form here on out you just have to give the drug "tincure ot Time" aa chance to work...it works good but sometimes takea a little time

[Vicki]

Now I've got a new problem with little Huey.....it seems one of his anal glands is all swollen. Just discovered it today when rising off his little britches with some warm water. The swelling feels soft to the touch and it's exactly in the right location for an anal gland so I'm sure that's what it is. He's going to the vet tomorrow to get the staples out from his surgery so I guess he'll have to endure another unpleasant thing too. Poor little guy. Do you think this happened because he went for nearly four days without having a bowel movement after his surgery? It kinda makes sense to me that that might cause this problem.

[Traci]

If it's really the anal glands, it probably occured due to straining or producing a hard stool. Your vet can express them tomorrow.

In the meantime, if you're certain this is the anal gland, you can apply a warm compress to the area a few times.

[Vicki]

Is it also possible that not having a bowel movement for that long could cause it? I thought that when a dog has a bowel movement the gland empty so if they aren't emptying wouldn't it back up?

It doesn't seem to be bothering him at all.....even when I was examining him he didn't even flinch or anything....I guess it just isn't painful or tender yet. And only once today did I see him scoot his bottom on the floor.

[Vicki]

Bad news.....just a little bit ago Huey got up from laying down on our bed for over an hour...there was blood under him. That swelling has ruptured. So I took him in the bathroom and bathed the area with warm water - he didn't seem to mind much. Except if I put a little pressure on the area - which I was trying to be careful not to do. The poor little thing....he's been through so much and now this. This happened to him about 3 years ago - it ruptured and the vet gave him antibiotic ointment that I had to put in the rupture opening every day. It healed up just fine. So I guess we'll have to do that again tomorrow. And also clean out the glands. The substance that came out on our bed didn't have that strong anal gland smell....just smelled like blood.