After her FHO surgery, Poppi returned home to our Sanctuary for some much-needed rest. At first, she required a little assistance getting back on her feet, but we were thrilled to see her gradually regain her independence. Just under a week after her surgery, she was getting up all on her own!

A Milestone Moment

Fast forward to 30 days post-surgery—today is a significant day! Dr. Metcalf is scheduled to evaluate Poppi, and guess what? It’s the first day she ventured out of her stall! Watching her take those initial steps over to another stall filled us with joy. Now, we eagerly watch for signs of her engaging her operated leg and putting it on the ground.

Progress & Setbacks

Soon after her little adventure, we caught our first glimpse of progress. Poppi bravely put weight on her operated leg for the first time! It felt like a huge victory, but we still had a long way to go.

However, when we planned to take her for physical therapy on the water treadmill, Poppi struggled to make it to the trailer. Concerned, we decided to wait for Dr. Metcalf to assess her condition further.

Evaluation Day

Dr. Metcalf arrived and provided both hope and concern. Although Poppi had been bearing weight on her leg just a few days earlier, she had since stopped. He conducted a thorough evaluation, including an ultrasound, to rule out any issues at the joint—thankfully, there were none.

But here's the crux: for her healing to progress, she needed to start bearing weight on her leg again. We knew that physical therapy wouldn’t be beneficial until that happened. Dr. Metcalf suggested we try a different pain management approach, and we would know within two weeks if it made a difference.

Unforeseen Challenges

A couple of days later, during another check-up, Dr. Metcalf noticed something concerning: Poppi had a luxated patella. After discussing with his brother, the surgeon who performed her FHO, it seemed this might have developed post-surgery, potentially explaining her reluctance to use her leg.

While a surgery called patellar ligament imbrication could fix this, it was a tough decision. However, Dr. Metcalf advised that addressing this issue sooner rather than later would give Poppi the best chance at a full recovery.

Surgery Day Again

On the day of Poppi’s second surgery, we held our breath in anticipation. The procedure was simple and went smoothly! After spending a week in the hospital recovering, we were overjoyed to welcome her back to the ranch.

Feeling Hopeful

Poppi’s journey is far from over, but we’re optimistic! Recently, Dr. Metcalf put an extension on Poppi’s shoe, hoping it would encourage her to start putting a small amount of weight on her leg as she moves.

We’re so grateful for the support from all of you and remain hopeful for Poppi’s continued progress. Stay tuned for more updates on her journey back to health!