Casey's story

Owner: Nannette Evans E-mail: Ravenwoodoriginals@dellnet.com Date posted: November 14, 2000 We knew Casey's rear was weak for quite a while but didn't have the experience to know that it was her knee. Before we started draft training I was already concerned about her rear and we had a preliminary hip x-ray done (she's a Newf -- it had to be her hips right?) She was just a bit over a year at that time so we just did a hold-her-down-as-good-as-you-can x-ray. The doctor said she should be fine for carting -- her right hip looked fine, and they weren't sure about the left for the long term. That seemed great to me because it was her right I was concerned about. (Ah, ignorance!) Well, we started carting and she did fine. By the way she got her draft title with finesse! Well the summer came and I have to admit I holed up in the air conditioning here in Sunny Southern California with my two big black hairy beasties. I tolerate the heat only slightly better than they! So, we were off our excercise as it never seemed to me to cool down! if it did it was dark, etc., excuse, etc ... Well, I had been noticing Case's weakening rear -- she'd been getting up slow and not too gracefully. We were planning to have it checked out, but sort of assumed that a gradual return to a regular excercise routine would help, if not fix her up completely. We started walks again once it began to cool down and slowly too since none of us are in the very best shape (except for maybe my Collie, whom I keep more busy out of self-defense). We went on vacation up to Oregon the 26th of October. The dogs have more ups and downs while we're away, getting in and out of the truck and the fifth wheel. Coming down the steps, which we try to keep slow and controlled, Casey rushed it and scraped her knees across the steps. But she didn't cry out or limp or whine or anything. We heaved a sigh of relief and were on about the serious business of enjoying the beauty surrounding us. We were already planning to make a new stairway to put over the existing one as soon as we get back. It is only our second time out in our new rig. Well, next day Casey wakes us up screaming! Did we shoot out of our little upstairs bedroom! She must've been getting up. Then she does it again! We look her over pushing, poking, prodding she doesn't respond to anything. Okay ... we're confused ... We get the dogs out for their morning constitutional, and Casey cries out coming down the steps. Okay, it's lifting the 123 pounder in and out from now on. It must be one of her front legs. I take her out to potty and every once in a while she cries, we can't figure out what's hurting, she's not favoring anything! We lift her back into the trailer, she screams, it must be her neck! She's hurt it by laying funny in the truck on our drive up North. We give her some aspirin and limit her activity. She seems to be doing better. We still can't really tell what she's hurt. Well, we're on our way home, we wake up to her having a huge hot spot (if you're not familiar with Newfs, these can appear as suddenly as any sleight of hand scarf!) and she starts holding up right rear leg! ... We still can't find which part is actually hurting her. We got home Saturday evening and took Case to the vet Monday. She's ruptured a ligament in her knee and needs surgery. AAARGH!! That'll cost $1,300 to $1,800, says our vet. "What's that surgery called?" I ask my vet. She looks at me funny and says "Just cruciate surgery." My mind is racing -- isn't there another? It's expensive, this is expensive ... it must be the same kind. TPLO -- yeah, isn't that the knee thing? A friend of ours just had both her Newfs knees done. It's the one where the Surgeon has to go to the guy who patented it .... Why didn't I read those posts on Newf-L?!!!! We're stunned and depressed and of course feeling horrible for Casey. I spent all Tuesday calling Newfy buddies and talking to those folks that have had their dog's knees repaired (actually only three others of the four that our friends are aware of). It seems like a lot. The consensus is go for the TPLO. I read everything I could find on the Web, I even looked at all the graphic surgery pics, and I read every story here in its entirety. I am convinced TPLO is the one for us. I called the Vet in Woodland Hills, Ca. that did our friend's Newf and they squeezed us in yesterday (Wednesday) because Casey is in pain. Dr. Henry confirmed the diagnosis of a ruptured cruciate ligament and Casey has an appointment for Monday for her surgery. Dr. Henry was extremely nice. He answered all of our questions patiently and explained the surgery with a model and in clear terms that were easily understandable. What he conveyed to us is that he believes this method to have far superior results especially over the long term, and we were further convinced that we've chosen well for Casey and ourselves. He actually said that anytime he has to do one of the traditional cruciate surgeries he cringes! And he has done thousands of knee surgeries. So for now I am trying to keep Casey's spirits up. She is keeping her own self quiet, not getting up except when she needs to go relieve herself. I wish she could be having her surgery today so she could be starting her long healing process. We were prepared for the surgery to cost about $2,000. I was actually thinking that perhaps it might be a tiny bit less ($1,800). Unfortunately ours was quoted at $2,200-$2,500. Difficult as this is to swallow on its own, the prognosis for never having it come undone, a dog as good or better than before, little if any arthritis seeping in and only one recovery time per knee -- all that has us convinced that it will be worth it.