Our puppy is not recovering

[anxiousbundle]

He's a beautiful cocker spaniel- it's his first birthday in a few days.

Since December he's had 2 surgeries to try and fix his Luxating Patella in his right knee to no avail the first surgery was to attach a piece of plastic to hold the knee cap in place with 3 bone screws, the second was to relieve pressure on the wound 4 weeks later as he wasn't healing.

We went to the vets today and he's been given more anti inflammatory's and we're to go back in a week or so to see if the inflammation has gone down. The vet couldn't tell if he's healing or gotten worse as he inflammation was so bad. Poor boy yelped and cried when the vet was handling his leg examining it.

He's always been such a happy, bright dog- pleased to see me and OH, wagging his whole body even if we only popped out the room for 2 mins!
He's been crate bound for over 2 months now and it's killing me each day seeing his sad eyes. He can't understand we're trying to help him, all he must know is pain.

I feel exhausted from the whole ordeal and to make things even worse we've claimed all we can on our insurance for this condition.
Our vet wants another X-ray in a week or 2 which will cost around £250.

Then potentially another upwards of £1500 surgery.

I feel beaten down, I feel like we've failed him. I got so desperate this evening I've been emailing veterinary orthopaedic specialists that have treated luxating Patella successfully before literally begging for help.

It's hard work too, constant meds, making sure he doesn't leave his cage, ensuring when he has his 5min (he's not allowed more than that) wee and poo breaks outside 3 times a day that he doesn't jump up or run whilst on the lead. He barks and cries a lot, I sit with him all day when I can and stroke him, talk to him etc.

[OrcinusOrca]

He's gorgeous 😍

[anxiousbundle]

@BiteyShark 100% agree, honestly throwing around any legal action would be the last last last ditch attempt! And it could be good news or bad news in a week when the inflammations gone down. I'm really holding out for some good news finally, he's not hopping on his leg or limping like he was after the first surgery so he looks good! He's obviously in pain though and the vets concerned about the 'crackly' feeling in his knee.

[anxiousbundle]

Wow it's been a day! Just got back home, spent the day out with my mum and Nan which was lovely, and my partner stayed with pup all day. It's usually me here on my own with him during the day as I study from home and my partner works so it's nice to not feel the pressure for a day.

I'm knackered though got a nice jacket potato in the oven ready in 10mins...

[BiteyShark]

So glad that getting away for a bit has given you a rest. I know how hard it can be when they aren't well and we only had that for a few weeks at a time. I am not sure I would have coped if it had been months. Fingers crossed the swelling goes down.

[anxiousbundle]

@BiteyShark Thank you, it's hard, definitely. That's partly why I made this thread- for some support and also opinions on the matter.

[BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo]

Your pup is lovely OP! So cute! Really glad you have got a plan in place, please let us know how things progress, I so hope he starts to make a recovery soon.

[anxiousbundle]

@BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo Will do! Thank you :)