| Coral came to
us December 17, 2000, a very heavy-set tomboy - she has since lost
40 lbs., but carrying the weight all those years, combined with her
love of frisbees and chasing tennis balls, caused her to have
ruptures of her cranial cruciate ligaments in her stifles (knees).
In both instances, the symptoms began with innocuous activities -
such as simply walking around the house.
Both of Coral's surgeries
were performed by Dr. Jackson at
Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
The first CCL rupture was only partial. She underwent TPLO (Tibeal
Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) on
the right stifle on December 17, 2002. (Click
here for pictures of her first post-op experience.)
Coral recovered
from TPLO #1 very nicely, and by June she was back to
her normal self- running and jumping, chasing balls and playing frisbee. While we knew she would be at increased risk of an
injury to her CCL in her left leg (about 50% of all dogs with CCL
injuries will have a similar injury in the other stifle), we were
hopeful she'd have some more time enjoying herself before requiring
another surgery.
July 15, 2003 -
Coral has undergone TPLO of her left stifle. Dr. Jackson says
this time it was a complete rupture of the CCL, and that she has
apparently had a partial rupture sometime in the past, as there is
moderate arthritis in the joint. He feels she should still
have a pretty good post-recovery. Looking forward to picking
her up tomorrow!!!
July 16, 2003
- HOME!!!!!
Smiley girl is HAPPY to be home. Her pain control after this
surgery seems much better than after her first TPLO. Her
appetite isn't great - only nibbled on her dinner, turned up her
nose at her marrow bone daddy cooked for her, but she loves her ice
cubes made with chicken broth!
We
invested in a second ex-pen to make the next six weeks a little
easier. The new pen is stationed right next to my computer,
where I spend most of my awake-hours when home and not outside.
The other ex-pen is set up next to my bed in the bedroom.
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