snow Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Vet has just rung, Nog has had his operation and has come round from the anesthetic, as feared the tendons were a mess and they have had to be removed and the hock permanently stiffened which will leave Nog mechanically lame however the leg will not cause him any pain and he will still have a good quality of life ahead of him including being able to run again. He can't come home today, they have had to open both sides of the hock and have had problems with being able to close the wound due to the skin being so thin and the leg being very badly swollen and bruised, they also had to abrade some of the area around the hock so they cannot yet splint the leg. He's being kept sedated today and tonight and give large doses of anti inflamatories to reduce the swelling which should then mean the leg can be dressed and splinted and he can then come home, but again until tomorrow they won't know if he might need another day in the hospital. We talked about whether to get him a raised bed to help him get up and down but have been advised against it, instead we will be looking at either a cot matress or foam with some vet bed over it but we'll see first how he gets on with his own bed which is nice and soft and squidgy. Thankfully it won't be me doing the twice weekly resplinting that will be done by our own vets. I'm now off to google stiffened hocks ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Whilst not what you might have liked it still sounds a lot more promising than you initially feared. Hope Nog is soon back home with you & "on the mend" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Poor Nog Thank goodness though that they have said he won't be in pain and that he will still be able to run. Sounds as though they are taking very good care of him until he can come home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 I've been googling and found the right term for what he's had done it's Arthrodesis - she'd said it to me several times but you know how it is it went whoooooooooooooshhh over my head at the time. From all I have read which consists entirely of vetinary articles no anecdotal stuff at all - which surprised me - the long term prognosis is very good, and gentle exercise is highly advised almost from day 1 due to the bones loosing density or some such though we'll be guided by our specific vet & surgeon when we collect him. By the time we've finished tho my guess is we'll hit 5k for all this as there will be more xrays and mri's needed at every step of the way. Almost all of the articles relate to racing greyhounds or working border collies - in a racer this is a career ending injury and almost all racers with this injury are destroyed which no doubt accounts for the lack of anecdotal reports of treatment and recovery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purrpuss Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 Lots of good thoughts for Nog and his worried family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incapuppy Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 I'm glad to hear that Nog has come through the op safely and that the long term prognosis for his problem is very encouraging Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 really pleased that the operation went well. thinking loads of good thoughts for a speedy recovery for gentle Nog for you too SNow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 I have been away and only just seen this, I am sorry Tracey, but thankful that there will be a very good end to it eventually. Lots of Reiki on the way for Nog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 Nog won't be home today - legs still not stopped oozing and they want it dry before he comes home - apparently tho he's settled well all the staff have fallen in love with him, he's eating, drinking, wee'ing & poo'ing and begining to extend the leg and walk on tippy toes on it. We discussed visiting but decided that as he's so settled it might upset him if we went to see him for an hour and then left him there, visiting would be more for us than him so we won't risk upsetting him. As a result we now have half a day of our holiday back so we're going to Cotswalds Wildlife park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amaranth Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 Enjoy your day and I hope he stops oozing soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kats inc Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 I've missed all this Tracy so am really pleased it wasn't what you feared and am pleased Nog is doing so well Good thoughts on the way for the handsome devil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Nog wont be home today the leg is still very swollen and oozing, they are getting concerned about it now (as am I) as it's not healing as well as they hoped, he's going to need daily dressing changes and resplinting for several days yet. They have tentatively offered for him to come home tomorrow provided we take him back there every day over the weekend and continue daily visits until they are happy the dressing can be left longer between changes. It's now looking like I'll need to take a further (unpaid) week off work to be with him and be able to keep the hospital appointments, but we wont know for sure until he's home and see how the wound responds over the next few days. I'll be honest that I am now starting to grow concerned again - necrosis is a very real danger following this type of surgery as the blood supply to the leg was interupted Nog is apparently still doing well in himself and is settled and not stressed about being there which is all good news but they are starting to sound a lot more cautious about his healing than they were a few days ago. I just want him home now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smirnoff Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Sending good, healing thoughts for Nog's leg. Get well soon, sweetie. Tell those nasty bugs to take a running jump! Diane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindlebabe Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Only just seen this and read all the lows and highs for Nog and you . Hopefully tomorrow will bring better news and he'll start to improve. Lots of healing thoughts for your beautiful boy . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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