by "Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
Published 05/15/2017 at 20:02
by "Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
Published 05/15/2017 at 20:02
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X-ray says busted ACL ( well, ccl, for canine cruciate ligament). Gonna suck, as we need to figure out where and what method of fixing, but recovery likely to suck. At least we’ll be able to fix her though. She hurts so bad she walks on three legs sometimes.
"jimz" (jimz)
05/15/2017 at 20:08, STARS: 1
joke aside, it’s still ACL (anterior cruciate ligament, to distinguish it from the PCL or posterior cruciate ligament.)
years ago, Mira (our cocker spaniel) tore her ACL needing surgery. This was not long after Steve Yzerman tore his after slamming his knee into a goalpost. we jokingly said Mira’s hockey career was probably over.
"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
05/15/2017 at 20:14, STARS: 0
How did they fix it, if you recall? There is a bone leveling procedure or a suture, essentially, as our options. We’re going to get a second opinion, but this vet didn’t think there was a difference.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
05/15/2017 at 21:28, STARS: 1
Poor doggo. Keep telling mine to stop jumping so much but he won’t listen.
"Roundbadge" (Roundbadge)
05/15/2017 at 22:03, STARS: 1
Several years ago, our beagle blew his ACL. He was 11 at the time, and the vet offered us the possibility of surgery...but also suggested that if we helped him keep off the leg as much as possible for 4-6 weeks, it would heal on it’s own well enough to preserve his quality of life (not perfect, but well enough). We helped him heal by carrying him up & down stairs and lifting him up on the bed & couch for a little over a month.
Another thing...if they hurt one ACL, they generally hurt the other one pretty soon. Ours hurt his other ACL 4 months later.
Keeping ours off his feet helped him heal, and he had no trouble walking or trotting. Climbing steps was difficult for him, though. In any case, ours lived another 3 years quite happily until we had to put him to sleep (unrelated issue, bladder cancer).
I get that a retriever (I’m guessing, by the pic) is a different (bigger) animal than a beagle...but you’re going to end up keeping her as inactive as possible for 3 weeks anyway. For us, the investment of several thousand dollars into a dog that may only live another year didn’t make sense. Your buddy deserves the best of care, no doubt...but sometimes it doesn’t make sense.
All that said, I’m really sorry to see your doggo in pain and wish you the best.
"xsnowpig" (xsnowpig)
05/16/2017 at 07:56, STARS: 0
almost 10 years ago, our golden retriever Fin got the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy procedure. a night in the vet and home the next day. no running or stairs for a month or so. after about a week, the limping and hopping were almost gone and he recovered great. can’t give you a long term report, but can say no more ligament tears before cancer a few years later.
"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
05/16/2017 at 09:24, STARS: 0
Thanks, that’s exactly what they’re recommending. She’s only 8, so she hopefully got some years ahead of her. Glad to know it worked well for yours.
"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
05/16/2017 at 09:27, STARS: 1
Thanks. She’s 8, so has some years ahead of her. We tried more or less everything at this point short if surgery (sever rest and limited exercise, anti inflammatorys, etc) and the vets think if she were going to heal on her own, she’d have done it by now. She’s on 3 legs as often as 4 on her bad days, and those are starting to be more often than her good days.
"Roundbadge" (Roundbadge)
05/16/2017 at 10:50, STARS: 1
I’m sorry...I was under the impression that it had just happened. Looks like that’s the only way to go then. And yes, 8 still has time left and it’s certainly worth it.
"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
05/16/2017 at 11:38, STARS: 1
It was an odd thing where there wasn’t as much movement in the joint as the vets all expected there to be, and she isn’t usually calm in vets offices so no one wanted to sedate her for an x-ray until we ruled out everything else. This most recent vet was able to keep her calm enough for an image, thankfully. Turns out she’s just strong and stubborn enough to keep her leg in place when the vets would test it for excessive movement. Big dumb girl.