Not what we were hoping to hear...

[Jenna B. & Chianti]

We were suppose to have an all healed puppy by thanksgiving day. One that was going to be able to run and jump and play without the club that had been adorning her right leg for the three weeks prior. Well, we got not so great news at UPenn last week. Apparently, Chianti's radius bone healed perfectly, so perfectly that it continued to grow forcing Chianti's ulna further apart than the original green line fracture. One bone healed & one to go!!!!! She is sans cast and we are playing a wait and see game for 2 weeks. If the bone heals she will have a fully functional, but crooked front leg. If not, we are looking at surgery, pins, and about 16 weeks of recovery. So we are hoping for the best and doing our best to keep her laying down, weight off her foot (this is proving to be difficult even when bribed with treats) and limiting her to 3 to 4 five minute walks a day. I don't know how the vets think I can convince a 4 month old doodle to lay down all day!!!! Its torture when she just wants to get up and play play play, but I know the crate is the best thing for her right now.

Bright side is I get to hit the gym because she is in her crate anyways, might as well get some benefit out of it.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Hang in there Jenna. How sad and animals don't understand. My own daughter is a vet and would prob kill me if she knew I said this, but I wonder what the vet would think about a LIGHT sedative or anything to keep her still? Proab a horrible idea. Have you asked your breeder if she has encountered this? Any other breeders out there?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry that you and poor Chianti have to go through this; I hope her leg heals and no more surgery is required.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Jenna - It was harder when we were waiting for the surgery than after. Gordie was either in the pen or leashed to someone sitting. He was unhappy if he couldn't see one of his humans but once he realized that was the way it was, he settled in for the long haul and it got easier. We did carry him upstairs to sleep (hauled the pen up also). It was the only way we could keep him from jumping and he was almost 6 years old! I do feel your pain. I hope time makes it better. The meds he had after surgery made him much calmer - of course he wouldn't eat and getting the meds in him was not fun.

[Jenna B. & Chianti]

Thanks ladies for the pen suggestion. I grabbed a pen last night from our neighbors. She is better in it, whines and cries a lot less than when I had her tethered. She does like to jump up and put her front paws on it, so we are working on fixing that. I don't know how you guys did this for 8 weeks. I am going nuts already! Thanks again!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We used a pen for our Springer after his CCL surgery. Gives them a little more freedom than a crate. We used ours to block off a short hallway to our den. We used a piece of furniture on one end (actually a hutch to block the area completely) and the pen across the open end.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm so sorry to hear the news wasn't good. We will keep our fingers crossed and say a little prayer that the heeling goes well the next couple weeks. I know what those trying to keep the puppy quiet times are like as we have dealt with some ligament injuries in our Sophie and had a 6 week time out the first time but I extended it to about 8 weeks. The second time it only took a couple weeks. They are no fun. Thought I would let you know that I used one of the exercise pens that are about 3' by 5' or something like that. You can put it in any shape you want (round, square or rectangular) what ever works best. Gave Sophie a little more room but not enough that she could get in any trouble. She did really well in it. We even still use this pen when we travel for the 2 of them to sleep in. I just put her bed and some toys in it and she did fine. I kept it in the part of the house where we spend the most time so she felt like she was right with us anyway. Didn't even seem to matter that Lucy was outside the pen and she was inside. Occassionally Lucy would want in just to lay with her. Folds up for easy storage or travel. Here is a pic during Sophie's recuperation when Lucy decided she wanted in with Sophie!