6 weeks post-op

Well today we are 6 weeks post-op!  Sorry I missed our 5 week check-in... I just started school this week and was distracted by all the preparations of being a student again, but that's a story for another day.  Today we actually begin going on 20 minute walks.  Heidi has thoroughly enjoyed her 10 minute walks and will love our even longer ones I'm sure.  As far as her limp goes, it's only barely noticeable, yay!  She still does not evenly distribute her weight between her two back legs while standing still, but slowly she seems to be balancing it out more and more.  I think these rehab walks are helping with that because there was such a difference in muscle mass between the two legs and now we're beginning to build that back up in her left.  Surely strengthening the operative leg makes it feel more stable and trustworthy (for lack of better word).

So needless to say, Heidi is doing great.  I can't wait for her to be able to be "normal" again!  But we'll take it slow and ease her into more and more activity.  I cannot remember if I told you guys, but dogs who have cruciate ligament tears are more prone to meniscus tears.  The meniscus is a  cartilaginous cushion (if you will) within the knee joint.  The chance of a meniscus tear is not as great as the chance of tearing the second ACL after the first tear though... I think the doctors quoted us a 10-15% chance of meniscal tear post ACL surgery.  Much better odds than the 60+ percent we were warned of a second cruciate tear after the first.  So we're hoping we're in the majority and don't have to worry about any more tears!

Oh one other thing.  I did notice earlier this week Heidi had a loop of suture coming out of her incision site.  I was afraid that was happening because she kept licking her knee and it looked weird... almost the way an ingrown hair looks.  These sutures aren't the outer sutures that I removed after 14 days, but rather the internal sutures probably used to stitch up the muscle and other tissue under the skin.  These are supposed to dissolve on their own, but I know from experience working with vets, sometimes it takes a while.  So they appear to be working their way out.  I cut what I could because I was not able to pull them out.  They must be connected to other pieces, but I wanted to let you know this happened, so if it were to happen to you, you don't freak out!  I think it's normal (I did not consult a vet, but I've seen this before) so I'm not worried. 

Anywho, I just wanted to give you a quick update!  Enjoy your weekend!