24 hour post surgery. Vet says she's doing very well.  She's up walking (on 3), ate 100% of her breakfast, and is greeting the people with a constant wagging tail!  I can't wait to see her on Monday morning!   So excited! 

Best wishes for Maybrie to recover speedly. All the advice sounds great on here from others who have gone thru this type of surgery.Sounds like you and Maybrie will be enjoying lots of on leash walks to keep her from being bored and gentle exercise till healed. Hope Monday morning comes soon for you.

 Hello and a HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE who has posted here.  You have no idea how much every word you have shared has helped.

I spoke with the vet just a few minutes ago.   He said Maybrie is doing quite well with minimal swelling.  He said one of her paws was a bit swollen though so they took off the bandage and put her cone on. She's doing better now.  She is recovering and a lot more active than he was expecting!  He said that he could be wrong, but he wanted to warn me that she will never go back to 100% as active, in the way of agility,  as she was prior to the torn ACL and surgeries.  He said her knee was so bad, and the TPLO combined with the already severe arthritis, will always present a problem.......but he says it will DEFINITELY be 100% better than she was when he first saw her.  That's true, she was literally lame 3 days ago.   He added that the knee was SO arthritic and messed up, he spent 4 1/2 hours alone on the one knee....2 1/2 hours longer than he was expecting.  He is starting her on  injections to keep her joints more lubricated, and in fact, already gave her the first injection. She will get several injections for the first couple of months.  .....Twice a month for the couple of months, and then once a month....a 5cc bottle costs 80.00, and she gets 1cc with each injection.  Initially the cost is expensive, but then 80 every 5 months is not that bad.   He also said  that Maybrie is not permitted FULL ATHLETIC stunts, hunting, field trials, agility, etc. for 6 months.  The maximum amount of activity she can be allowed for 6 months is a light jog.   After that, BOTH surgeries should be completely healed!!  Just in timre for the HOT SUMMER!   

I will pick her up tomorrow afternoon!!  The vet told me he wants to watch her a bit longer.  He wants to get Maybrie through 100% of the most critical period for post surgical complications.... swelling, bleeding, etc. Infection is also a risk, but she will come home with antibiotics, and received antibiotics before and during and after surgery.   I asked about scarring, and he said scarring will be minimal at the most because he uses a special closing technique. There are NO visible sutures.  She does have a few staples here and there just to strengthen the closure, but that he will take out in 14 days.   

 Can I just say that I am very nervous about picking her up and handling her correctly.  I found a WONDERFUL website that has downloadable PDF files for both the FHO and TPLO. Now,  I am an ER nurse and can handle seeing anything.....and though I will never say, "I've seen it all"  I'm pretty sure I've come close.    I am not sqeamish around anything, however, when I downloaded both of those PDF files, and started reading, I had to lie down!  I started feeling very dizzy and the room started turning black.   I also felt like this after they sedated her for x-rays, and she was just lying there with her tongue hanging out and barely breathing....eyes semi opened and glazed over.   The vet was explaining what he had planned, and it was all I could do not to pass out.  I had to change my thoughts.....I didn't even hear half of what was said! 

What in the world!!  I am not even this sqeamish when my children or husband gets hurt!  Maybrie.....and other dogs.....I just cannot stomach causing pain, or them being in pain.   I also watched the video on the passive range of motion.   They suggested using a muzzle!  This too, did me in!   I am going to have to toughen up!!   It's even hard for me to cut their nails for fear I will hurt them!  I quit using the clippers and have switched to a drummel.    Having said that, I am going to do EVERYTHING to get that little girl going again.......just praying for no squeamish moments.....and that I remain upright at all times!  Lol!  I think I will feel much better after I actually see her up and walking around and happy like she always is.  I just cannot handle it at all if she is in pain!!     The anticipation of the feats and hurdles to come is most un-nerving.  I'm sure it will be okay though.  

Remember how tough they can be and how they (generally) do not remember brief unpleasantnesses.  Years ago when Peppy (the Best Dog Who Ever Lived) had a front leg amputated for cancer, a week or so later I was looking at her lying on the floor, still all shaved, the horrible bristly stitches sticking out of the incision--I went over to hold her, all crying and saying "I'm so sorry, Peppy". . .and she just rolled sleepily onto her back so I could rub her tummy!  They manage better than we do.