My dog tore his ACL today? Anybody with same experience and advice?
- Thread starter KyWildcats7_rivals276200
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Just a 100% loyal dog who's life revolves around his or her pack aka known as family.
I agree with conservative approach first, it may be sprained and not torn. The vets are not doing MRIs on the dogs so they are guessing.... and they always guess they need surgery. Take the approach orthopedic physicians take with humans try ice, NSAIDS, and rest for a 2-3 weeks and see how it goes. My bulldog started limping I took him in and they said definitely needs surgery... two weeks later he is walking fine without it. The trick is getting a dog to not run or jump during that 2-3 week period.
A good ortho exam can determine a tear in your pet without an Mri. If you want an mri done for a more definitive diagnosis that can be arranged. Just cause your dog is walking fine two weeks later doesn't mean he is healed. It could just be a partial tear that will later become a complete tear. Or if it's complete already it doesn't matter, it can still walk but it can't run and jump normally and it's still painful and scar tissue and fibrosis has just occurred in that joint and it will still be lame over time. So bad arthritis build up from joint instability will happen and then you will go crying to orthopedics for surgery when the leg can't be used in a few years and ortho will say no, no use now, I'm not doing a surgery that will not change this pets prognosis. Too much arthritis and it'd be pointless to cut. Also 50% likelihood of tearing the good leg within 6 months. There are some seriously expensive braces and physical therapy to keep the pet managed if the owner is adamant about not doing surgery, but by the time you go through all those consultations and buy the brace it's going to be as or more expensive than the surgery itself. Just listen to your vet or don't. Thats up to you. More than likely your vet isn't trying to take your money. They're just doing their job and you don't like what you're hearing.
Exactly correct
A doc who doesn't specialize may not be able to tell
An good orthopedic specialist can without an MRI
A complete tear will develop arthritis and the dog will be lame
A partial tear, if not too bad, will mend itself and not cause the dogs quality of life to suffer much
Having gone through this and having another family member who have with one of their Bichons, I will back DaBossIsBack 110% on this
Ok, so this thread got off topic quickly. My dog is about 10 lbs overweight for the one commenting about his weight. He swims at the lake all summer and stays at proper weight. During the winter, he adds about 10 lbs.
Also, the vet showed me how to feel his torn ligament compared to his good leg, it is extremely noticeable just on feel.
Now, I do appreciate the suggestions from those who have gone through this process. That being said, we had the procedure yesterday and picked him up today. My big question is how do you get them to "go potty"? We have taken him out with the sling they provided us, and the sling covers his area and he won't go, but is acting like he has to go. Would appreciate any suggestions. This has already been miserable just 6 hrs into picking him up. We are keeping him in his kennel, but has a hard moving around with the cone on, and is constantly whining. Really, any advice would be great, we have never been through a dog surgery.
Thank you in advance! This is really tough.
Also, the vet showed me how to feel his torn ligament compared to his good leg, it is extremely noticeable just on feel.
Now, I do appreciate the suggestions from those who have gone through this process. That being said, we had the procedure yesterday and picked him up today. My big question is how do you get them to "go potty"? We have taken him out with the sling they provided us, and the sling covers his area and he won't go, but is acting like he has to go. Would appreciate any suggestions. This has already been miserable just 6 hrs into picking him up. We are keeping him in his kennel, but has a hard moving around with the cone on, and is constantly whining. Really, any advice would be great, we have never been through a dog surgery.
Thank you in advance! This is really tough.
How big is he? I had to carry ours out and set him down. I had the leash on him
So he couldn't move much. We did not have a sling. He did not want to move around much. You do have pain and inflammation Meds, right?
The first week is really tough. As I said in my first post...this will try your patience
He is now 82 lbs, so carrying him is not really an option, the sling keeps the weight off the back legs. They gave us tons of meds and seems to finally be resting comfortably, but he has to go potty at some point.
And the worse news is he tore the other ACL the night before surgery, so he can't bear much weight on either leg.
And the worse news is he tore the other ACL the night before surgery, so he can't bear much weight on either leg.
And you are correct, this really is trying our patience and making us doubt our choice to repair the other leg.
One of my friends has a lab who's needed three ACL-related surgeries in the last several years. I think he used someone in Louisville for the first procedure, and it cost an insane amount. After that experience, he found a specialist in Knoxville who focuses specificlaly on those kinds of surgeries and who charges significantly less than what he paid the first time around.
So if you're willing to take a day trip, you might be able to save yourself a hell of a lot of money.
So if you're willing to take a day trip, you might be able to save yourself a hell of a lot of money.