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View Full Version : Torn ligaments - knee surgery


MYGOODFREIND
01-21-2005, 05:32 PM
Geoff - has had not one but both knees repaired - torn ligaments.
We had him nuetered before he was a year old - I have always wondered if this may have had an effect on his growth as he stands between 26 and 27 inches at the shoulders and is not as wide through the chest as most Goldens - could this added height have placed more stress on his joints?.
He was a playing machine - My arm could not take throwing the ball (very light soft plastic balls) so I would hit them with a bat like a baseball coach hitting to infielders. He was fantastic and made many of what I termed "circus catches" and would play as long as you were willing, he would be pouting five minutes after stopping.
The first injury occured at the end of a day of much playing I wondered if it may have happened because he was tired.
IN the days and weeks following he would still want to play but he would get very sore. We put off the surgery till winter (not a great idea). Post surgery we had to be sure he did not put any weight on his leg for at least a week - weeks 2 and 3 he could just touch it down and gradually build up to where he was allowed to be of the leash 6 weeks total. The vet had suggested putting a towel around his tummy so we could take him out to do his business- I made a harness that fit around his hips and attached it to a broom handle - it worked very well - We could support him up and down steps, out walking and never once did it get dirty from doing his business.
I'm getting to long here but his surgerys have been very succesful - my wife gives him glucosamine/chondrotin every morning at he gets plenty of exercise - but these days he'll sit down and take a break on his own and enjoy a good snow sandwich. I have much more to tell on this subject but will wait to see if there is intrest.

By the way I am " ie ei " challenged and my wife wants me to change the username I guess Geoffrey is my good friend -- not good freind, so does anyone know how to change your username?

goodtim'n
01-21-2005, 05:37 PM
I don't believe you can. But don't worry most of here can't spell anyway. :204 rofl3 jump2 :laugh2

Cassidy'sMom
01-21-2005, 07:07 PM
Don't worry, most of us here are spelling-challenged! :laugh2

You never said how old is Geoff? From his hieght it sounds like he is of field pedigree. You talked about running him and having him jump in the air. At what age did the fast running & high jumping start? Hopefully not until after at least 18 months!?!

MYGOODFREIND
01-21-2005, 08:19 PM
Geoff will be 6 in a couple of weeks - from your reply I guess I did my freind a diservice. We started playing that way I think in the spring or summer of his second year so he might have been closer to 14 or 16 months. Ignorance is no excuse - hes our first dog - promised the kids if we moved out of town we'd get a dog - I wasn't sure - was kind of a cat guy but now I couldn't be without him. He's doing great thou - we had him in to the vet clinic the other day and heard the comment that he should be their poster boy for the surgery.

I'll get a picture of him on site soon - people often think he's a Irish Setter because of his color and finer features.
This is a great website - wish I would have discovered it sooner

Cassidy'sMom
01-21-2005, 08:46 PM
The thing about dogs is they don't know their limits - esp. goldens b/c they aim to please. So you need to know your dog's limitations. He will jump as high as you encourage him too, even if his poor legs can't take the landing. You really need to be the judge of his excerise and when enough is enough. But, hey, we all live and learn.

I'm glad things are going good now. The G/C combo should do great for him. Make sure you keep him on it for the rest of his life.

I can't wait to see a picture. He sounds beautiful . . . oh, I mean HANDSOME!!! banana