post-op

Arthroscopy

Topi was operated on Tuesday at Eläinklinikka Morelius by DVM Mikael Morelius. Both shoulders were operated by arthroscopy. On the left side there was a appr. 10 mm wide piece of cartilage removed. On the right side, which is also affected, the situation was calm and nothing was done. Everything went well!

The beauty of arthroscopy as a method compared to open surgery is the tiny little wounds instead of large wounds. Topi’s wounds are dry and clean and there is no swelling at all. Another advantage is faster recovery and less risk of infection. I’m super happy that I chose this clinic to operate Topi. The entire staff is so professional and friendly! I was very well informed at all stages and had a good chat with the surgeon pre- and post-op.

The first night post-op went well. Topi was calm and we all slept well trough the night. Now we have to take it very easy, just the mandatory leashed outings. Inside Topi may stroll free as long as he stays calm. I’ve blocked his favorite spots where he usually jumps like the side table in the kitchen… Topi is using the leg well and shows no signs of pain. Sure he is on pain meds still.

Wanna have a look on shoulder arthroscopy? Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/live/EsdYrIGArxs?feature=share

Week post-op

It’s now been a week and everything is going well. We make only very short outings, 3-4 times a day. Topi doesn’t agree with the protocol but keeps himself together amazingly well. Good boy!

A bug visiting us

All dogs have had a diarrhea, caused by a rotten meat. It looked and smelled good and was defrosted in the fridge but it wasn’t good. Loads of watery stool and vomiting but all are better now.

Topi is well. He is getting to be a pain in the ass and needs more brain work. It’s very challenging to keep him from jumping and climbing..

Slow feeder

I’ve started to use a slow feeder. This keeps Topi busy with the food a little longer. I’ve also removed sticthes, wounds are perfectly healed!

1st physiotherapist visit

Today we went to see the physiotherapist for the first time. We are seeing Kirsti Lind at Eläinklinikka Morelius, she is just awesome! So friendly and calm. Topi is very good state and we can now start walking! We also got so many tools for rehab at home.

The photo below reveals what Topi should not be doing right now. He was reaching for the apple flowers and I tried to take the cutest photo of him smelling the flowers. Things escalated in a blink of an eye… He has quite a lot fool’s energy at the moment.

Cartrophen, 1st injection

Today I started cartrophen injections to Topi. It’s a serie of 4 weekly injections. It should provide relief from pain, stiffness and lameness. The treatment is repeated twice a year. I’m hopeful that this would prevent arthritis!

21 days post-op

It’s now 3 weeks post-op and all is well. He is allowed to walk 60 minutes a day. We’ve been taking short tours on the surrounding fields which already gives him so much more activation than just walking in the garden.

Topi’s favorite part of rehab is digging. He just loves to dig and I was very happy that our physiotherapist recommended it 🙂 So daily digging is included in our rehab program!

Cavaletti training

Today Topi started cavaletti training. Just a few minutes in walk. The target is to make him stretch his steps, just little for a start.

Vet visits

We visited our own vet first and then headed to an orthopedist.Luckily I managed to get very soon an appointment to Tiiu Toijala, who works in Avec. While catastrophizing everyhting I had concluded that despite all my efforts Topi has developed osteoarthritis in already such early stage and that’s causing pain.

Tiiu performed a very thorough lameness examination to Topi. There was some palpation findings like striffness in biceps tendon and supraspinatus muscle and tendon. Also infraspinatus was stiff on both sides.

Movements today: Mild lameness in trot on straith line. After turning first limping front left, then right.

Topi was xrayed in shoulders and elbows. No markings in elbows, and bot shoulders look very good in humerus head. Healing is still in progress and there is no signs of osteoarthritis. And then there is a but. In left glenoideum there is a small suspicious area. The shoulders were also checked with an ultrasound, no deviations found.

So, it’s possible that Topi has osteochrosis also in glenoideum, meaning the lower part of the scapula. To verify this we would have to take further examinations and possibly even a new operation. Is the finding in the glenoideum the cause of pain or not, who knows. The diagnose unfortunately remains open at this point.

Now what?

The newest findings have now sinked in and I’m thinking about the future. I’ve received opinions from specialists and it seems like Topi really has osteochrondrosis also in glenoidium, the lower part of scapula. To verify this further examinations are needed.

This week we ended again the Cartrophen injection serie. With these injections we try to avoid osteoarthritis to develop and later to slower the progress. So far there is no signs of osteoarthritis, thanks to Cartrophen maybe. Anyway, in this situation Topi is not attending any lure coursing trials this year, if ever. I was planning to xray him anyway before the season, as the competing dog must be nothing but 100% healthy. Even a minor osteoarthritis is ending the career in this household. Sad, I was so much hoping Topi to be my next coursing Ridgeback :/ But dog’s wellbeing is the priority always, and now I’m not worrying the lost coursing career but the everyday future. Will he be able to have a good, painless life without restrictions?