Cruciate ligament damage in dogs

starbucs

hi. I'm new here after finding this forum through a search engine.
My dog had traditional cruciate surgery a week ago and what a week of ups and downs! He's using his leg almost normally and it's difficult keeping him still. hoever he spends a lot of time in a crate so the he has to rest.
My query is....in 2 weeks he has to have the same op on the other leg.......the leg with the worse tear.......and I'm worried about the aftercare.
Has anyone's dog damaged a repair, and if so, what happened?
He's also suffering terribly from parts of the sticking plaster adhering to the shaved leg. His leg is bright red in places.....any ideas how I could remove this painlessly?
Thanks in advance for any replies

MRSCARNEY

starbucs wrote: »

hi. I'm new here after finding this forum through a search engine.
My dog had traditional cruciate surgery a week ago and what a week of ups and downs! He's using his leg almost normally and it's difficult keeping him still. hoever he spends a lot of time in a crate so the he has to rest.
My query is....in 2 weeks he has to have the same op on the other leg.......the leg with the worse tear.......and I'm worried about the aftercare.
Has anyone's dog damaged a repair, and if so, what happened?
He's also suffering terribly from parts of the sticking plaster adhering to the shaved leg. His leg is bright red in places.....any ideas how I could remove this painlessly?
Thanks in advance for any replies

Sadly we've experienced this with Briar and she has had to have further surgery this week.

She had the nylon loop treatment on both legs, the first in September and the second at Christmas. The one she had done at Christmas failed and she has been back in this week for a Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA). We have been advised that she should be as good as new once this has healed but we are back to the nightmare of keeping her (an 18 month old Springer Spaniel) on a lead :eek:.

The latest surgery has cost a further £1700 and we're keeping our fingers crossed that the insurance will pay up.

I hope your dog recovers well, it's hard keeping them still and maybe we didn't do a good enough job last time and that's why she's had to have further surgery

starbucs

Thank you for your reply....although it's made me think that my dog may have been too active this first week!

I am assuming from the op Briar has just had that you've been to a specialist ortho? I'm not insured so it's had to be done at my vets....having said that if it's successful then it doesn't matter, does it!!
Did Briar start limping on the leg again?
Good luck with the recuperation.....I have to start this all over again in 2 weeks after the second op!

MRSCARNEY

starbucs wrote: »

Thank you for your reply....although it's made me think that my dog may have been too active this first week!

I am assuming from the op Briar has just had that you've been to a specialist ortho? I'm not insured so it's had to be done at my vets....having said that if it's successful then it doesn't matter, does it!!
Did Briar start limping on the leg again?
Good luck with the recuperation.....I have to start this all over again in 2 weeks after the second op!

Just try and follow your vets instructions regarding post op care - pity the dogs can't understand them though!

Briar has had her treatment at a referral centre and we've been very impressed with the surgeon - largely because you can see how much he cares about his patients. I'm sure your vet will have done a great job and hopefully one your dogs other leg has been done he will be right as rain.

She did start limping again about 3 months after surgery, her treatment could have failed for a number of reasons but we are taking no chances this time and when unsupervised she will be in a cage. She normally sleeps on the bed at night but we have set up a play pen in the bedroom that we had from when one of our other dogs had puppies. She wasn't very happy about it but we can't risk her jumping on and off the bed when we're asleep so we'll have to be cruel to be kind.

Michele+3

Am just catching up on the forum and was saddened to read of Briar's second operation - do wish her well and fingers crossed no more surgery for her.

Meggie has fully recovered from her TPLO - we were very careful with her - she had her op at the end of October and kept with the lead walks beyond the recommended time but increased the distance slowly as we too have 2 other dogs, one being a 2 yr old springer.

Although I had major reservations about the TPLO it seems to have been the best operation for her as she is running around like a mad thing - you really wouldn't know there had been anything wrong with her and appears to be completely back to normal but have heeded the vets advice and got her weight down as am worried about the other one going!

Mrs Carney - Thanks for all your advice and support during our time - I do hope Briar and the other dogs recover successfully.

MRSCARNEY

I am so pleased to hear that Meggie has recovered well :j

We're back for a check up with Briar on the 21st, fingers crossed all is well. She's so desperate to get going and not very impressed about being in a cage when we're busy doing things!!! We have been fastening her lead to the middle of the headboard though so she can sleep on the bed with us at night :rotfl:

It's been a long hard road though and we'll be glad when it's over and she can be a proper Springy Spaniel again.

It's been really useful and comforting to have the support from members of this forum THANK YOU

Kaz_Blue

My Jack Russell ruptured his cruciate jumping off the table part of a garden bench on July 12th! he yelped and screamed! the vet didnt even need to x ray he just went right ahead with the op! He was in overnight and looked a sorry sight when I brought him home! He had to be lifted down steps and taken out on a lead for a while, we were at our caravan at the time! But I ended up bringing him home because it was a struggle and at least he was able to go out in a small part of my garden for his toileting. Keeping him downstairs is a nightmare! We let him out into the back garden today for the first time it is now 30th Aug ( 7 weeks after his op ) someone passed with a dog and he ran at the fence let out an almighty yelp and hes back to square one!!!! :eek:Not sure if there is anything else they can do now?? I have given him the painkiller they gave him (it has an anti inflammatory in it) and I will see how he goes! The op cost £415 and that included an overnight stay. Has anyone elses dog injured the operated leg again???
would appreciate some info
Thanks
Kaz:mad:

starbucs

Are you sure he's torn the repair...or just given it a painful jolt?
My terrier had both cruciates repaired within a month. This was 18 months ago and although I've had a few hairy moments when he's jumped where he shouldn't or skidded to a halt while running, he's been fine.
I did think a couple of months ago that he'd torn one of the repairs but with rest he's back to 'normal' He has Seraquin tablets every day and these have really helped him.
Rest really is the operative word in cruciate damage. You have to be cruel to be kind sometimes in not allowing the runarounds that the dog previously enjoyed!!!
I found the Orthodogs group on yahoo very helpful as everyone on there has a dog with aleg problem.
Good luck and I hope you find rest is the answer. J.