Week 16, Day 4: Look Ma, I'M FREE!

We spent this past weekend letting Maeby run around and hike like crazy for the first time in a LONG TIME. Gosh it's so great to see her so happy!


at the park


hiking at runyon canyon






Maeby's on top of the world! (or at least, Los Angeles)




I guess this is the end of our blog. So it might be appropriate to end with a big fat

"AND THEY LIVED HAPPY EVER AFTER.
THE END."

Best wishes to all those with recovering doggies. Time flies by faster than you think!

16 Weeks: WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my sweet baby Maeby, YOU DID IT!!!!!
Thank you sweet Maeby, for all your patience these last 16 weeks. Thank you for letting me shove antibiotics down your throat (not just one round, but two!), for letting me lift up your naked chicken leg for daily incision photos, for tolerating that stupid plastic lampshade, for waiting so patiently in your ex-pen for weeks on end, for even stopping your running when I yelled "STOOOOOOP RUNNNNNINGGGGG!!!!"

Thank you for looking at me with your warm wet eyes every day, letting me know that everything was going to be okay. Thank you for understanding that this surgery was for your own good. And thank you, my dear girl, for healing so fast and healing completely!

And lastly, I want to thank those reading for following along with us on this incredible journey. I never imagined I'd go through surgery like this for my dog. And I certainly NEVER IMAGINED that I'd be keeping such a detailed experience of it! I hope you've found this information helpful, entertaining, and a source of hope for you if you're about to undergo surgery too.

Before Maeby's surgery back in March, I spent a lot of time reading up on TPLO stories. There are some GREAT websites out there. But I wanted to do something a little different by keeping our story pretty detailed, with lots of consistent updates, pictures, and videos. I know seeing lots of photos and videos would have been helpful for me, so I hope this blog has helped you!

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I took a video of Maeby walking every week (except Week 8) and have compiled them all here. Stay tuned for one last blog entry with some TPLO tips!

DAY 6


WEEK 1, DAY 2


WEEK 1, DAY 5


WEEK 2


WEEK 3


WEEK 4


WEEK 5


WEEK 6


WEEK 7


WEEK 8
[NOT AVAILABLE]

WEEK 9


WEEK 10


WEEK 11


WEEK 12


WEEK 13


WEEK 14


WEEK 15


WEEK 16
[COMING SOON!]

Week 15, Day 4: 3 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE END

The countdown is officially ON!!! We only have 3 more days left until Maeby is free and clear with her "romping papers!!" Since week 13, we've been steadily introducing her to jogging and running. I've been taking her on short runs in the morning and she's been doing fantastic. No signs of limping at all.

So this past weekend, we took Maeby to Dog Beach in San Diego for what'll probably be the last time for awhile. She spent a good hour or two just running around the beach and having a good time splashing around in the ocean. She was just having too much fun and I couldn't bring myself to stop her, even though it might cause her to limp later from all the playing.

WELL SHE NEVER LIMPED AT ALL. Not even her weight bearing changed. I think she'll be ready for a leash free weekend by the end of the week -- I'M ECSTATIC!


After running, this is Maeby's next favorite activity

Week 14: Video Update

I had an incredible stroke of luck in my professional life: I resigned at my last job and gave 2 weeks notice, only to have my (now former) employer tell me to take a 2 week paid vacation.

I don't know when the last time I had a paid vacation was! (Maybe never??) And this coincided PERFECTLY with Maeby's recovery process. I've been taking her hiking every other day, on slow jogs through the neighborhood, to dog beaches in LA. Maeby's leg is getting so much stronger, and I've been getting a nice tan!

You can see how well Maeby's walking now in our latest video -- she's just zipping down the sidewalk. And if you could see my face, you'd see a very happy and well-rested me.

Week 13, Day 4: These paws were made for hiking

Finally took Maeby to Runyon Canyon for her first hike ever!!

She stayed on leash the entire time, per vet's instructions. And we really didn't hike that much, maybe just 20 minutes. But she had such a good time!! I think the last time I saw her so happy was when we went to the beach and she dug to China.

I was worried that she'd be limping later in the day, but she never did. I think her 2 hours of walking everyday has helped tremendously. Again, I can't stress how important it is to increase walks GRADUALLY, and CONTINUOUSLY!

Can you find Maeby in the sea of doggies?

Running on leash!

Week 13, Day 1: OUR LAST CHECKUP!!!!!

So the end is FINALLY near!

The vet told me to bring Maeby back 6-8 weeks after her 7 week x-rays. I was going to bring her back next week at 14 weeks but because she was 100% healed at her 7 week check up, I was able to get an appointment today.

The great news is that Dr. Owen was EXTREMELY pleased with Maeby's progress. She didn't tell me this before, but she was a little worried at how the surgery would turn out because of all the orthopedic problems Maeby has in her hips and pelvis. (We think she may have been run over by a car in Mexico, where she was rescued from). So Dr. Owen thought that she might still walk a little funny. But she doesn't! Maeby looks great!

So Maeby is now freeeeeeeeee! Well, not ENTIRELY free. Dr. Owen said we shouldn't introduce her to high energy acvitivity immediately, but gradually introduce her to it. She's allowed to run on her leash, go hiking, and do all those kinds of things, as long as they're on leash. Over the next 3 weeks, I'm to keep increasing high energy activity and then she can be off leash and REALLY be free!

Wow. I can't believe it's almost over. I'm really really happy this all went by so fast. Back in March, June seemed light years away. Gosh, it's already mid June!!

Week 12, Day 5: Video

Week 12, Day 3: SAY CHEESE

I didn't take Maeby to Runyon Canyon with me this weekend. I just didn't want to push her too far. But the good news is that, we're back up to 55 minute walks now because her limping went away. WHEEEEEEEEW.

We did take her to Third Street Promenade though, and she had fun weaving in and out of the crowd of shoppers and tourists. And if we had any questions as to whether Maeby really is a Whippet mix, I think we got our answer today. We came across the sweetest Whippet named Moose, and when they played it was like Maeby was looking in a mirror. The same crazy play bowing, the same frenetic moves, the same circus dog twirling.. Actually, he was a lot better at the twirling than Maeby!

So I took Maeby to the pet store with me Mother's Day weekend last month, and there happened to be a photographer there doing pet portraits. I FINALLY just got the photos this weekend and I really liked some of them. The photographer referred to Maeby as being "soulful." Ain't she puuuuuuuuuurdy? :)

Week 12

Hello hello, we've reached Week 12! 2 more weeks and I can take Maeby in for her FINAL CHECK UP!!!!

I think Maeby's limp is nearly gone. I decreased her walks and have been helping her get on the couch/bed, so I think she's doing better. We did a lot of walking on Sunday -- I took her to the Dog beach at Long beach so maybe that's why this happened? She didn't do any running around but maybe it was just too much walkign for her. I was planning on taking Maeby for a slow walk at Runyon Canyon this weekend, but maybe not...

I have a Week 11 video I still need to post. Man keeping up with this blog is getting HARD!

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WEEK 11 VIDEO:

Week 11, Day 5: Limping

Maeby's walking has been looking really great these past few weeks. That weird rotating in her knee I kept blogging about since april was like 99% gone. Her slow trot was looking awesome. And she's up to 50 minute walks as of last Thursday.

This morning, I noticed her limping. It was very slight, and I thought it was because her leg was stiff from sleeping. But on our evening walk, I definitely noticed the slight limp so I cut our walk in half.

Now I'm starting to worry. I nearly forgot how sick to my stomach I get when I see any limping or change in Maeby's gait. I haven't had this feeling for WEEKS! I'm hoping it was a case of too much walking or something, but I haven't increased any walking since Thursday.

Of course, my mind jumps to worst case scenarios. I think about Guzzy on the orthodogs list, who was healing great until he started limping and was diagnosed with tendonitis at week 12. Or Nixie who had to get her plate and screws removed 4 months post-TPLO.

I need to stop driving myself crazy and get some sleep.

Week 10, Day 6

As promised, here are some photos of my Photogenic Pup from our trip to San Diego a few weekends ago:


Thinking really hard about digging...


AFTER said digging


I love the colored stone ground at Balboa Park...



...and Maeby likes them too!



So I've decided... if this whole advertising thing doesn't work out, I'm going to be a full time dog photographer. That would be fun.

Week 10, Day 5: Corn Dog, Redefined

*WARNING: Don't read this post if you love corn dogs. You may never look at them the same way again.*

I always use a bag of frozen corn to ice Maeby's knees after our walks. One night this week, I forgot to take it away from her and put it back in the freezer. Major woops. I stepped out for a minute to pick up a friend from the airport, and when I came home I was welcomed by the faint scent of sweet corn.

Inside her ex-pen, I found the bag. Torn open. With only half the corn remaining.

And then Maeby pooped corn for the next 3 days straight.

So now, not only is she a circus dog. She's a corn dog. My sweet, yellow corn-pooping corn dog.

On another non-poop related note, we had a BBQ this past weekend to celebrate Memorial Day. Maeby loves company and had a blast being an attention whore. The cool thing was, nobody could tell which leg she had surgery on!

Okay so here's our Week 10 video:

Week 9, Day 6: Beach fun

Took Maeby to visit the boyfriend in San Diego this past weekend. SHE HAD A BLAST! Since she's up to 40 minute walks now, we took her everywhere -- Lounged in the sun at Balboa Park, ate at a bakery in Hillcrest, and even took her to the dog beach.

This was maybe her second or third time going, and she had such a great time. She wanted to run and jump around in the sand with the other dogs, but as we all know that's a major no-no. So I found a patch of sand away from most other doggies and Maeby had fun people (doggie?) watching. She also had a lot of fun doing this:



I think she may have been trying to dig back to Mexico. I took some great photos of her over the weekend too, so stay tuned!

Oh, and here's her Week 9 video. Lookin good Maeby, lookin good!

Week 9

Happy Week 9 to you,
Happy Week 9 to you,
Happy Week 9 dear Maaaaaaaaaeeeeby,
Happy Week 9 to you!

In case you didn't realize, we've reached 9 weeks. =)

I'm so bummed -- I got so busy this past week that I didn't take a Week 8 video!! Darn it. There goes my TPLO video collection.

Maeby is doing well! Her hair has almost completely grown back. Her walking is looking great -- we're doing two 40 minute walks a day now. And that weird knee-rotating thing is like 90% gone! She's still sort of sticking her leg out a bit when she walks, but it's waaaay better than before. I think if you saw her on the street, you'd have no idea she had major surgery. Most people sure are surprised when I tell them!

Thank you God for getting us this far. We're almost there Maeby-meister!

Week 8, Day 5: The Return of the Mall Dog

Alas, I've gone from daily updates to barely doing weekly updates on this blog. You know when you're scrutinizing the TPLO leg less and less that your doggie is starting to do better!!

Los Angeles is a really wacky, but dog friendly place. You can actually bring your dogs to the malls here. And I'm not talking about just outdoor malls. I'm talking about bringing your dog into Bloomies and trying on lipstick while your dog is laying next to your feet at the makeup counter.

So we used to bring Maeby EVERYWHERE with us on the weekends when we first got her. And it's been pretty rotten that we've had to leave her behind on the weekends when we go to the mall, coffee shops, or beach. But this past weekend marked Maeby's triumphant return to the mall! She loves all the attention she gets (and frankly, as a proud mommy so do i!!) so needless to say, she had a great time prancing around, showing of her new bionic leg. Heeeheee, I LOVE HER!!!

Week 8 video to come!

Week 7, Day 4: 100% BONE HEALING!

Maeby had her X-rays taken on Saturday, and we received great news:

100% BONE HEALING.

Yipppppeeeeeee! The vet said her knee is tight, and that she's healing faster than average. I'd been worrying about these x-rays all week long, so needless to say I was SUPER EXCITED to hear this news. We are to keep doing what we're doing, and continue to increase walks by 5 minutes each week. Then in 6-8 weeks, we go in our for final checkup.

Good girl Maeby :) Thank you for keeping mommy's gray hairs to a minimum.

Here's her weekly video. She's walking much much better here than she was last week!

Week 6, Day 6: We've come a long way, baby

Maeby finished up her antibiotics for that weird inflammation in her scar this past Monday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't swell up again. The bump is actually pretty solid now. Why would her scar tissue be so solid? Yet another question to ask the vet this weekend.

The GREAT NEWS is that Maeby's walking is getting so good. Her limp is pretty much gone now, but I've been wondering when the knee turning out/rotating would start to get better. I saw today that it's starting to go away!!!!!! She's actually moving her leg BACK AND FORTH more -- yes, her leg is still sticking out from her body a bit, but the weird rotating is definitely going away!

When I saw the improvement in her gait today, I wanted to jump in the air and pump my fists like a lunatic. Man, I love this crazy dog:


at Venice Beach a few months pre-TPLO
when she's not smiling, she's thinking really really hard

Week 6, Day 4: Video Monday

This video is actually from this past saturday but I got lazy about posting. Per vet's instructions of increasing by 5 minutes each week, we're at 25 minute walks now. And now I'm keeping an eye on how much her knee turns out when she walks. Hoping that will go away soon.

I study these videos like a nut! I watch each week's and compare it to the last one to see if there's any improvement. It definitely gets harder to see improvement from week to week now. I feel like I'm a sports coach, studying plays and old games or something.

Week 6, Day 3: My Circus Dog

So the good news: Maeby's limp is really starting to go away.
The bad news: She's getting REALLY HARD TO CONTROL!!



She's going in for her 7 week x-rays this Saturday (and I'm crossing my fingers for 100% bone healing) but then my mind goes back to all the "woops" moments we've had the last 6 weeks and I get so nervous.

We haven't had any major accidents -- no slipping or falling on the leg -- but she sure has been trying to jump, spin, and flip a lot.

Today was no exception. I stood there in complete and utter shock as Maeby proceeded to jump and spin around in a circle no less than 4 times. Had she been in a dog circus, it would have been really cute. But as a post-TPLO-only-6-weeks Dog, it was horrendous! "How did you allow her to spin like a top FOUR TIMES!!" you ask? Let me tell you, Maeby is light on her toes. She's part dog, part rabbit. It all happened so fast, and I stood there frozen with half of me going "AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW" and the other half going "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

I've always secretly refered to Maeby as "Maeby the Wonder Dog". It actually sounds like a pretty good stage name, doesn't it? Maeby the Wonder Dog, coming to a circus tent near you!

All jokes aside, I've really been making a concerted effort to keep her from jumping and being the spastic self she wants to be. So I HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL THIS WEEKEND!!!

Week 6, Day 1

Dear Maeby's Left Hind Leg,

It's me. Just checking in to say congratulations, we've reached the 6 week mark. How's it going in there? Are all those natural foods, supplements, and vitamins I'm practically pouring down Maeby's throat doing anything for you? I really hope you're doing okay, and not bothered by the crazy dog's attemps at jumping. I'm trying to keep her controlled, I really am. But I swear since this surgery, little Maeby has transformed from a dog into a rabbit. She just wants to bounce, bounce, bounce!

I promise to keep her still, if you promise to keep healing.

Thanks bunches,

Grace