Surgery- Round 2

Remember my 85 pound problem from a few months ago?

Yep.  The same 85 pound problem came back.  

Of course it did.  Because it's my dog, and she just can't make things easy on me!

About 2 weeks after the boy got home from deployment in October, Mocha girl started limping again.  Everyone told me not to worry about it, that she was fine.  (Have I mentioned lately how much I hate that word?!)  I took her to the vet, and was told to keep her resting and quiet. 

So that's what we did.  When December rolled around and nothing had really gotten better, we took another trip to the vet.  She said that something just wasn't quite right, and suggested we take her back down to the surgery center in Richmond.  

Thankfully, we were able to get an appointment while the boy was still around and I was off of work for the holidays.  So on December 30th, we ventured back down to Helping Hands.

I of course had been stressed out for weeks- just knowing the nightmare I was facing once again.  I hated that I had done something wrong, and was causing the dog to be in more pain, and causing us to have to deal with this surgery again.  When we arrived, Mocha was so tense and so stressed out, they had to give her a short acting anesthesia.  Once the doctor examined her, we still didn't really know much.  Something just wasn't quite right with the ligament that had been replaced, and the only way to tell was to do surgery to check things out.  

So we left the brat with the surgeon, and spent the day exploring Richmond.  We went to an art museum (where I was quickly reminded that immature Marines and fine art just do NOT mix) and then did some after-Christmas shopping.  That part of the day was great- and I was happy to have the boy there with me for round 2 of surgery.

When it came time to pick the dog up- I was a nervous wreck. In June, the wonderful people at Helping Hands had to carry her out and lift her into the car.  She was completely drugged up and couldn't hold herself up.  My mom had to hold her down in the back seat the entire way home, and she had to be carried into the house by my fabulous neighbor.  So of course, I was expecting the worst.  The absolute WORST.

Thankfully, this time around was totally different.  Mocha came charging out of the back room like nothing was wrong, and was alert and wide awake and could not be happier to be running around giving everyone kisses.  I got all teary eyed when I saw how different she was.  What a huge relief!!

I must mention here how absolutely fantastic the staff at Helping Hands is- just absolutely wonderful.  Dr. Pasternak was sympathetic and understanding, and really made me feel better about the situation.  It turns out that somehow Mocha had stretched the ligament- and it's just not supposed to do that.  We were told that it was the most bizarre thing- and that she had never seen that happen before.  (Again-of course-because it's my dog!)  I am so glad that we were referred to this place- not only because they are so affordable, but because they genuinely love and care for your pet when they are there. 

Now, I am a professional at post recovery ACL repair in dogs.  Not something I really thought I'd be an expert at, but hey, it's all good!  Mocha's stitches came out this past Tuesday, and everything is healing really well.  I think this second surgery has made the dog a bit more cautious- she's still hopping around on 3 legs, but sloooowly beginning to put weight on her leg.  Hopefully by the time her daddy is done with his latest school, she will be all healed up and ready to run around with him again!