Torn ACL and hip problems
However, he wouldn't get out of the car. It took two people to get him out. He has a torn ACL in his right rear knee. The vet doesn't think it is too bad, put him on anti-inflamatories, and said to watch him this week. If it isn't better later this week, they'll prep him for surgery, see how bad it is, and base amount of surgery on that. First question - what do you suggest we do to help with the ACL? We're doing everything to be sure he doesn't have to do stairs in the house; we'll shorten walks; etc. What about a warmed dog bed? A raised bed? Next question - during the exam the vet said he's showing signs of developing hip displasia in both hips. They'll do an x-ray when he's under for the knee. What do we do about that??? I feel so sorry for the guy.  |
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| Geez - poor kid doesn't get a break! How old is he again?
You can't typically tell if they are dysplastic sans an x-ray and who knows what is feeding into what? (ACL?) Did they perform a drawer test? I'd want to be pretty darn sure it actually was a torn ACL before I let anybody cut my dog open...Partial tears are often treated conservatively now days. If it is a partial, he could end up blowing it out completely and or rupturing the other knee. Either way, if it's a partial, it won't "repair itself" in a week. It takes months of careful management. No doing the wild thing, but also trying to maintain any muscle mass he has. That can be hard, and you'd be shocked how quickly they can lose it. Just keep him reaonably quiet until your recheck, but also keep him carefully moving if he'll put weight on the leg. (No rough surfaces, no stairs, no climbing on furniture, short, short walks on level ground, no quick turns. Etc) If they still think it's an ACL after a week, please ask for a referral to an orthopedic vet. For one thing, there are different types of surgeries and you'll want to discuss the pros and cons (and costs, and surgeons competency levels!!!) for each one. Also, I've had two dogs tentatively diagnosed with partial tears over the years and both times when I took them to ortho surgeons for a second opinion they said, nope, knee is stable as can be. It's one of those situations where it really, but really, pays to get a second opinion. Was he fine before he got to the vet's office. Has he been holding that rear leg up funny? Once you know exactly what you are dealing with, you'll have a better idea where to go from there. Certainly keeping the boy lean and as well-muscled as you can will be helpful. Just systematically narrow down what might be going on. If you're going to get a second opinion on the knee, you may want to consider having the ortho surgeon do the hips x-rays too unless you know your vet has a lot of experience with hip x-rays. Certainly you can have you vet do them (probably less expensive) but do bring them to an ortho vet if you end up seeing one for a second more experienced opinion. I worship my vet. And part of the reason I do is because she knows she can't specialize in everything so if need be, she'll refer me to someone who does in a heart beat. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for a second opinion from a vet who sees whatever the issue is all the time. Hang in there. Kristine |
| I am sure a good vet will also tell you that there are additives for their food that will help with the hips. My dog had pretty severe hip d. Lots of glucosamine and resting up in the crate to keep motion limited. Rimadyl works great for comfort as well. |
| Ralph is 5, weighs about 68 pounds, so he's very lean. We're definitely letting him tell us how much walking he wants to do.
I think the tear may be fairly recent. He got out and after a squirrel yesterday and I saw him leaping something and then jumping up the tree. Or, he may have just over done it at the park these last few nice days. He didn't want to move much yesterday evening, but we put that down to the upset tum. When he didn't want to move more this morning we thought, again the tum, so Karen took him to the vet. Karen said he just didn't want to get up to go out and really struggled to stand (which I've now noticed him do). He doesn't want to put much weight on the leg at all and really limps. We'll talk to the vet about alternatives and second opinions. She wants to see him if he's still limping badly. |
How's Ralphie doing today??  |
Ralph is doing much better today!  He's being his usual Ralph self - following me to the bathroom , checking in on the cats, jumping down the stairs (as much as we'd like him to not do that now), and being his usual sheepie self. 
He's not really limping any more and the vet didn't want to see him unless he continued to limp. He wants to do a big run, but we're trying to keep him from that, and don't plan to take him to the dog park anytime soon. We're back to our regular walk lengths - about 1.5-2 miles a day, excluding dog park running. We'll get him started on glucosomine soon. His tummy is back to normal now. Solid poops today - only a sheepie lover can understand that one. Thanks for all the advise and support. This is a great place for that. |
Fantastic news! 
Kristine  |
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