September 21, 2010.  A beautiful fall day, Cassie takes off after a squirrel.  Runs about 20 feet and comes up lame on her left rear leg.  I knew immediately what she had done.  The vet had us bring her to his office to check the leg.  He confirmed the left knee ligament is torn.  Surgery is scheduled for the 23rd.  

Of significance with this torn ligament is this is the second torn ligament she has experienced. In June of 2009 Cassie tore the ligament in her right knee again chasing squirrels.  To read about her recovery from her first knee surgery, click here.  Cost for this surgery likely vary across the country.  My vet charged $1200 for the surgery and follow-ups.  From the first surgery I had estimates that ranged as high $3500.

Surgery was scheduled for early Friday morning. I took Cassie to the vet's office at 7am. By 9:30 I received a call from the vet that her surgery was successful. I picked her up Saturday morning. From last year's surgery I knew what to expect so our anxiety was less regarding her condition.

Cassie is permitted on our couch and bed, thus we had to make sure she didn't try to jump up and down. During the first week, this is relatively easy since she just seems to know she is unable to do this. We keep her on the couch and spend a lot of time making sure she stays there. Since we're retired, one of us can usually be in the room with her. 

Last year she had some swelling in around her ankle and foot of the repaired leg, but this time that did not occur. The inside of her leg where her fur was shaved was pretty irritated, just like last year. We put Dissident on this figuring if it is okay for a babies bottom it should be fine with her. We just had to make sure she didn't lick this.

By the end of the first week, her incision seems to be healing pretty well. The redness is basically gone. Note the pictures from the day she was brought home to 7 days later. She is beginning to use the repaired leg to support herself when going to the bathroom although it is more a "tapping" motion to maintain balance. She still walks using three legs.

10/9 Two weeks after surgery Cassie visited the vet to have the sutures removed. The vet is pleased with her recovery. Over the next three weeks I will begin therapy on the leg to strengthen the thigh muscle and improve the motion of the knee joint. She'll have another follow-up in 4 weeks.

10/16 Three weeks after surgery; Cassie is beginning to put some weight on her leg. Outside she'll put the leg to the ground when standing still sniffing the grass. She's started to tap it lightly to the ground when walking, however, most of the time she moves on three legs. Her progress appears good.

10/22 Four weeks after surgery and Cassie still is not showing much weight bearing on her leg. It appears the muscle atrophy is the bigger issue as she doesn't have the strength in the thigh muscle to support her. I've begun the second phase of therapy whereby I lift her good rear leg and force her to stand on her repaired leg. She can do this for only 10 seconds or so. Other than that she appears to be her normal self, is alert, eats well, and enjoys the yard.

10/29 It's been five weeks since surgery.  There is still not much weight-bearing on the repaired knee.  She tries to use it about 30-40% of the time although if she runs she appears to use it.  There is some noticeable improvement in the muscle tone of the thigh and she moves about the house in her normal fashion, but most of the times uses three legs.  Next week we return to the vet for a check-up.

11/5  Six weeks since surgery.  Cassie had a follow-up checkup with the vet today.  He is pleased with her progress.  No swelling and the knee joint is tight.  I have begun walking her around the block this week.  She limps, but uses the leg nearly 90% while walking the block.  The vet also wants me to continue stretching the thigh muscle to help build it up.  Around the house, Cassie uses her leg about 70% of the time.  The home is all hardwood floor or laminate floor and she doesn't seem to feel real comfortable on them.

11/12  Seven weeks since Cassie had her surgery.  Her recovery is pretty much the same as reported last week.  The short walks around the block continue, but by the end of the walk she is limping noticeably and occasionally will go back to three legs.  It appears the thigh muscle tires.  Overall she seems to progressing fairly well, but it seems the recovery is slower this year as compared to last year.  After all she is 11 years old.