Bug's Hip Dysplasia - Update #3: Post FHO

Bug is now 48 hours post-op! 

I've written some thoughts on the past day and a half since I picked her up from the vet.

1. I think Bug is sleeping better than I am! She has a memory-foam doggie bed set up in her "house," while I fitfully slept on a backpacking mat next to her. She's napping a lot, which is good for her recovery. I am just tired without end!

Napping with a snack #winning

2. Last night bruising started appearing. There's a purple mark along her femur. It's to be expected, along with this morning's swelling. I've been icing 20 minutes every few hours to keep down the swelling and pain. She doesn't seem to mind the ice sitting on it.

Bruising at 2 and a half days post-op

3. Her good leg is SORE. She's 90% 3-legged, so that poor hind doing double duty is quite tired, although she's getting better at lying down somewhat slowly, rather than attempting and falling onto the sore hip (she doesn't like me to help, she'll just stand tense and stare at me).

4. Range-of-motion exercises are really difficult - for me! Due to the nature of removing a joint completely and depending on scar tissue to compensate, making sure scar tissue doesn't form limiting the range of motion of the "new" joint is very important. I was instructed to do "75% of normal hip movement 7-10 times, 3 times per day." I'm not entirely sure what 100% range of motion is, so I've been going to the just before the point of pain as gently as I can. I can usually only do about 3 or 4 reps before she decides she's very done. Flexing she's ok with, extending is OUCH. She whines and considers nipping me, so I feel horrible doing this to her!

5. Bug does not like the cone of shame! She's been AMAZING about not licking at her sutures at all, but I've been putting it on while I'm not directly supervising her. Having awesome friends (canine and human!) Bug was able to borrow an inflatable donut "cone" that she likes a lot better - that also functions as a great (wear-able) pillow!

For the near future:

• carefully continue manual ROM
• more ice, crate rest
• soon, short walks on leash (slow!)
• make a consultation appointment with agility/rehab veterinarian Dr. Kathy Topham
• recheck/sutures out (14 days post op)
• one day after sutures are out, start swimming! See: The Bugzercisor! 

Bug's Hip Dysplasia - Update #2: The Bugzercisor

D-day is scheduled!! I'm dog/condo sitting for a friend a week in July, so scheduled the surgery at the very beginning of that week. The details seem to be fitting together perfectly - the condo we're at has a same-level patio for dog potty trips (no stairs!) and little, polite dogs (no behemoths *cough* ROMAN*cough* to knock a sore Bug down).

I had planned on getting a referral when back in Cleveland for PT/rehab because, with an FHO, early and intense rehab is critical to a getting functional false joint. This is because scar tissue is forming the joint - if range of motion exercises aren't done during recovery, it will be limited. Doing a lot of reading on FHOs, the consensus seemed to be that "hydrotherapy treadmill" is what's usually done by veterinarians to rehab dogs (a treadmill filled with water to add resistance and encourage more range of motion), but swimming is almost ideal. So I did some researching and found that a pool deep enough for Bug to swim in was surprisingly cheap at walmart!