Cart / Brace Options?
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:00 pm
Hi - We are trying to be 'happy' today given that it's New Years Day, but it's really hard.
Bear has had 2 ACL surgeries on his left hind leg and a PTLO on the the right hind that just got amputated 3 weeks ago because of Osteosarcoma. He did so well recovering but unfortunately, I think he over exerted himself this weekend and is now showing signs of his ACL injury on his other hind leg and is now worse off, mobility-wise than immediately after his amputation.
We expected his leg to give way eventually, but thought it would take a year rather than 3 weeks! Originally, we prepared ourselves to put him down when this happened (again a year from now, closer to the average life expectancy of his cancer) but aside from his bad / missing hind legs, he is very healthy for a 10 year old dog with osteosarcoma (no hint of it spreading anywhere). We have an appointment with his surgeon tomorrow afternoon, but we are now leaning towards getting him a brace and a cart.
Any thoughts / words of widom would be very appreciated. Specifically, how does the cart affect the psychological aspects of the dog? Help!
Bear has had 2 ACL surgeries on his left hind leg and a PTLO on the the right hind that just got amputated 3 weeks ago because of Osteosarcoma. He did so well recovering but unfortunately, I think he over exerted himself this weekend and is now showing signs of his ACL injury on his other hind leg and is now worse off, mobility-wise than immediately after his amputation.
We expected his leg to give way eventually, but thought it would take a year rather than 3 weeks! Originally, we prepared ourselves to put him down when this happened (again a year from now, closer to the average life expectancy of his cancer) but aside from his bad / missing hind legs, he is very healthy for a 10 year old dog with osteosarcoma (no hint of it spreading anywhere). We have an appointment with his surgeon tomorrow afternoon, but we are now leaning towards getting him a brace and a cart.
Any thoughts / words of widom would be very appreciated. Specifically, how does the cart affect the psychological aspects of the dog? Help!