My dog had knee surgery. Why is she suddenly yelping and limping?

Poor Lily! Obviously she is in pain if she is limping more, and given that it looks like her knee wings outward when she walks, I would make an appointment with the vet for tomorrow morning to have her seen. It can take up to eight weeks or longer to fully heal from a TPLO, and she had surgery about three weeks ago. Being knocked down could be enough to disturb the healing process and potentially disrupt the plates in her joints. She likely needs an x-ray to make sure everything is ok, but it's not an emergency. Rest her tonight, do not take her for a walk. Only take her into your yard to potty on a leash, and bring her right back in when she's done. Have her seen by the vet who did the surgery tomorrow. Best of luck.

This could be just a flareup of arthritis in the knee which is very common in dogs with the surgery. Depending on what was done sometimes there could be a meniscus injury after the surgery. Some surgeons do a "preventative" meniscus surgery at the same time others do not. Rarely it could indicate an issue with the implant placed during the procedure. I would follow your veterinarian's advice and if she becomes worse have her seen sooner. Sometimes x-rays of the knee or needed other times we can figure out what's going on with just an orthopedic exam.

She may have torn her cruciate ligament, have a problem with her knee cap, have a fracture, etc. Since she seems to be in pain, you should take her to your vet today for an orthopedic examination. Your vet can take an x-ray, if needed, to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. An anti-inflammatory and pain medications can be prescribed to help relieve any pain. Hope she feels better soon!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. I am sorry to hear about her recent troubles. How frustrating! There is a muscle known as the iliospoas that wraps around from the lower back to the pelvis. If this muscle is strained, it is extremely painful. This can be detected on a physical exam, but would not show up on an x-ray. Other problems can be related the spine itself such as disc disease. The most common cause of rear limb lameness is a torn cruciate ligament in the knee. Has she had stifle x-rays? More rare conditions are autoimmune joint disease or a tick borne infection. Both of these are typically accompanied by a fever. You may consider a referral to see an orthopedic specialist if you are having trouble reaching a diagnosis. I hope this information helps!

If Lucy was prescribed pain medications by her vet, you can certainly use those. You can also apply an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel if you can locate where she is most tender. Other than that, keep her calm and encourage her to rest. If she isn’t feeling better in a day or two, it’s best to have her checked out by a vet.

Until Sally is examined by the veterinarian, make sure her activity is severely restricted. That means no walks, running, jumping, no climbing on furniture or the bed, outside to potty on a leash only and minimize stairs. This will help to prevent further injury and possible allow minor injuries to begin healing. A joint supplement for pets and an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets will help to decrease inflammation though will not likely fix the problem. Just like people, she could be lame for many reasons including a bad back, a bad hip or a torn ligament in her knee. She needs an exam and likely radiographs. You may ask your vet if any type of financing is available in New Zealand. I hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Chestnut's care today! This could be related to being under anesthesia in one position which can result in pain in patients with arthritis for example. I think other possibilities for lameness should be considered. Lameness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!