Dog torn knee ligament

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JayADee

2148 posts

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#229109 7-Feb-2018 22:14

Dog has been limping on hind rear leg, took her to vet and she has a torn, but not completely ruptured knee ligament.

Dog is the size of a female shepherd, only 6-7 years old, has fine hips and spine otherwise and is still evenly muscled on both legs but starting to get arthritis on the dodgy leg and adores running on the beach and in the woods which now she can't. As it is she is not allowed to run, jump and shouldn't be going on stairs but that is the only way out of our house so they can't be avoided (hubby is thinking up a way to make a ramp). We got a weeks worth of anti inflammatory/pain killer drugs and the vet said basically wait for until it ruptures completely then we will operate and wire it up inside. I said can't you operate on it now and she said we usually don't. She says they get about a dog a week with this.

It sounds whacked to me to keep the dog in pain, not allowed to do what she loves and allow the muscles in the bad leg to atrophy and wait until she breaks the ligament! You wouldn't treat a person that way, I don't think.

Anybody got any experience with this injury? Meanwhile I am thinking second opinion by taking the dog to the next town over.

Thanks.

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#1953356 7-Feb-2018 22:31

I'd say get a second opinion.

At about 6 years old our dog started to have knee trouble. It would usually come right with some pain meds. Until once it didn't. A lot of pain for him and hopping on three legs.

IIRC it presents with excessive movement in knee (anterior draw the vets call it). Similar to an ACL in whomans. Our dog ruptured both back knee ligaments (a couple of years apart) and he had them "reconstructed". It's not cheap. The vet put in what looked like a plastic and metal implant to secure the ligaments and probably some screws. After the first one the vet said there was a high chance the second would need doing, and a couple of years later he was right. In male dogs it's something about having them "fixed" and the ligaments not forming correctly.

Without surgery it will keep happening. With surgery our dog was as good as new after a few days of feeling sorry for himself.

Like I said, worth getting a second opinion.

dusty42

117 posts

Master Geek

#1953372 7-Feb-2018 23:11

Thing to consider - inflammation and the permanent damage that'll be occurring in the joint. Expect arthritis and degenerative pain earlier.

Our young dog has 2 modified marquet procedures. Titaniam wedge inserted down the shin bone that changes the mechanical bend of the knee. It's a hell of thing: proper muscle rehab takes a very long time, yet he literally walked around after surgery looking more comfortable than when he walked in. We're 18 months after the second opp and he still is building strength in it. Dog looks and moves perfectly - he's seems entirely "cured" and only sign is a slight scar-tissue type buildup over titanium hardware.

Apart from strictly moderating exercise, surgeon gave no recommended rehab. Our dog is very calm, which helps, pity owners of active restless dogs.\

Check the type of procedure. Research. A lot of cruciate surgery has poor outcomes. New techniques get popular then abandoned as they start showing failure. Ask your vet why they've chosen one over the other. Some procedures are really poor with bigger active dogs, but are cheap and therefore get installed in unsuitable animals.

JayADee

2148 posts

Uber Geek

#1953393 8-Feb-2018 00:27

palmypete:
I'd say get a second opinion.

At about 6 years old our dog started to have knee trouble. It would usually come right with some pain meds. Until once it didn't. A lot of pain for him and hopping on three legs.

IIRC it presents with excessive movement in knee (anterior draw the vets call it). Similar to an ACL in whomans. Our dog ruptured both back knee ligaments (a couple of years apart) and he had them "reconstructed". It's not cheap. The vet put in what looked like a plastic and metal implant to secure the ligaments and probably some screws. After the first one the vet said there was a high chance the second would need doing, and a couple of years later he was right. In male dogs it's something about having them "fixed" and the ligaments not forming correctly.

Without surgery it will keep happening. With surgery our dog was as good as new after a few days of feeling sorry for himself.

Like I said, worth getting a second opinion.

Yeah, that's the one, too much movement in the joint. She is a girl. I can't remember if she had one heat before we had her fixed.
Thank you both, I'm going to make an appointment in the town over and get a second opinion. I really love my dog and I want her to come right.

Do I get the X-rays off my vet or what? My dog has to be sedated for this kind of exam, I'd really rather not put her through it again.

JayADee

2148 posts

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#1953406 8-Feb-2018 07:10

Husband wants to know how much for surgery? Just so we know.

palmypete

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#1953415 8-Feb-2018 07:37

JayADee: Husband wants to know how much for surgery? Just so we know.

From memory it was about $1100 per knee.

Second vet will probably want to take own xrays. Although I'm not sure how much of ligaments will show. Get more from physical exam.

In regards to the rehab. Our dog was self limiting. If it hurt he didn't do it, but still had three good legs to hop around on.

Good luck.

JayADee

2148 posts

Uber Geek

#1953421 8-Feb-2018 07:52

Thanks. I want surgery. I'll pay a grand to make her well. I need to find a vet who will do a good job.

JayADee

2148 posts

Uber Geek

#1953422 8-Feb-2018 07:53

Anyone know a good dog surgeon in Whakatane area?

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MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1953426 8-Feb-2018 08:14

+1 for second opinion and expect to shell out >$1,000 for surgery on a large dog.

Mike

JayADee

2148 posts

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#1953451 8-Feb-2018 08:41

The dog is pretty much my best friend and kid rolled into one. I'm definitely not just leaving this leg. I can't sleep.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

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#1953488 8-Feb-2018 09:29

JayADee: Dog has been limping on hind rear leg, took her to vet and she has a torn, but not completely ruptured knee ligament.

Dog is the size of a female shepherd, only 6-7 years old, has fine hips and spine otherwise and is still evenly muscled on both legs but starting to get arthritis on the dodgy leg and adores running on the beach and in the woods which now she can't. As it is she is not allowed to run, jump and shouldn't be going on stairs but that is the only way out of our house so they can't be avoided (hubby is thinking up a way to make a ramp). We got a weeks worth of anti inflammatory/pain killer drugs and the vet said basically wait for until it ruptures completely then we will operate and wire it up inside. I said can't you operate on it now and she said we usually don't. She says they get about a dog a week with this.

It sounds whacked to me to keep the dog in pain, not allowed to do what she loves and allow the muscles in the bad leg to atrophy and wait until she breaks the ligament! You wouldn't treat a person that way, I don't think.

Anybody got any experience with this injury? Meanwhile I am thinking second opinion by taking the dog to the next town over.

Thanks.

Our friends have a beautiful border collie with similar injury. They paid for ACL replacement surgery. He's fine now. Like youo this dog loves to run, and goes absolutely at the beach tearing into the waves. They think that's how the injury happened.

Dunno about dogs but I'd rather be alive in managed pain than dead!

tehgerbil

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#1953550 8-Feb-2018 11:22

We have had a bad experience recently with out usual (and very trusted) vet whereby they've made it abundantly clear they only care about money and getting as much out of us as possible, under the guise of treating our animals.

Seriously, don't ever trust a vet to think they have your animal in their best interest, their best interest is draining your bank account.