As I learned when Scout had a broken leg, dogs are incredibly stoic and live in the moment and an impulse to run and chase something on a less then completely healed injury over rides any pain they fell, until too late.

Scout didn't let on her leg was even broken when we first brought her in, the doc twisted it and she didn't flinch so we thought it was a sprain. when it wasn't healing, we x-rayed it and to our horror saw the clean broken bone.

We didn't a good job of keeping her quiet in the first weeks and she kept re injuring the new bone, causing swelling and damage.

If the recovery is 7 weeks, I am certain this is well documented time line for recovery without doing damage to newly healed tissue.

I think that's 'passive' - passive range of motion
that's when the limb is moved by someone else (not the affected muscles doing the work)

AROM is active ROM - where the affected muscles do the work - and Patron is not ready for that now

You are probably right.

Thanks HAMM. I didn't think that one through all the way. Definitely not worth causing re-injury to all that expensive surgery and I didn't realize you were doing the ROM exercises with him which are so important for proper healing. Patron is one lucky dog to have such loving, dedicated and commited family.

We are just so lucky to have him. I cannot thank everyone who made this possible nearly enough.

all this talk of PROM/AROM has me thinking about massage therapy - one of it's benefits is increasing blood flow which is needed for healing - not deep tissue as that could cause more harm if done too soon, but a medium-light pressure above and below the injury is very good - so don't be afraid to 'caress' his leg!

Patrón goes in to have his staples taken out today. He is still "hiking" his leg up more than I am comfortable with so I am having the surgeon examine him as well. I hope it's just due to the fact that he is off the Rimadyl now. That combined with the physical therapy may be leaving him sore.

thanks for the update HAMM, I hope he is making good progress. How are you holding up?

I am good, I worry too much.
He has settled in to his routine quite well.
Last night he decided we were done with stretches after only 10 or so. I am not supposed to "force" the stretch if he is resisting. He is so strong that when he decides he's isn't doing something, you sure can't make him, lol. (Part of being a bully breed, I guess, so stubborn.)
Wiggles races into his gated area every time I have to take him out. She just wants to play with him. I've never seen a dog so happy to be confined as Miss Wiggles. She would spend the whole day in there with him if we would let her.
Bardot is so laid back, he isn't phased by any of this.

Staples out, knee is stable, cone is gone as well as the sling.
WOOHOO

good to hear the good news!

Good job!!!