Bennett was only 6-months-old when one evening, he started limping on his hind leg. Bennett’s parents were hoping his leg had just fallen asleep and he would walk out of it. But he did not.
Perhaps he just sprained something?
Bennett’s parents saw a vet right the next day to make sure that whatever happened gets taken care of properly.
After a quick exam, the veterinarian told them that Bennett sprained his cruciate ligament (CCL) and sent him home with anti-inflammatories.
Sprained ligament? What does that mean?
A ligament can be stretched (without an actual tear) or tear partially or fully. Either of those means loss of stability in the joint.
Unsatisfied with the diagnosis, Bennett’s parents went for a second opinion only to get a verdict they liked even less–torn ligament.
It seemed so unfair fur such a young puppy to face such a hardship already. And how does one keep a young Lab boy subdued for 8+ weeks? Unfortunately, an orthopedic specialist confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ligament.
Is it a good idea to get a knee surgery on a pup that is not full-grown?
It limited available options dramatically. Another possibility was waiting for Bennet’s growth plates to close and go with a TPLO surgery. Bennett’s parents decided to wait.
Trying to keep Bennett subdued to prevent further damage was heartbreaking for everybody. If you ever tried to keep a young puppy from running and jumping, you can imagine what that was like. And when on sedatives, Bennett seemed so depressed.
Eventually, they found a formula to still allow Bennett to be himself but keep him from going crazy. Arthritis was inevitable at this point, and the little guy needed to have some semblance of a life.
Finally, the surgery.
After what seemed like forever, the time when Bennett’s body was ready for the surgery came. His knee might have been ready, Bennett not so much.
At this point, the ligament was entirely gone.
The surgery went well.
If your dog ever had major surgery, you know how heartbreaking it is to see your baby so “violated” and how scary it is to try to keep them from hurting themselves in any way.
Despite the expected challenges, particularly trying to keep Bennet from busting his implants before he healed, they made it through post-op successfully. Being so young, Bennet healed faster than expected.
6 months post op
Six months after the surgery, with the absence of setbacks, the ordeal is officially over. Finally, Bennett was done healing and could return to being a normal puppy. Finally, he has his life back. Nothing could make Bennett happier.
It was a long journey and left Bennett with fear of the vet. But other than that, he can live his life fully, and that makes him very happy.
Original story:
TPLO Surgery Story – Bennett
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