Zara at the vets - Cruciate Ligament - surgery 01/05/15

gettingready

Zara came back from her walk with dog walker today and I was told she kind of tripped - she was limping badly and held her back leg up.

Of to the vet we went and she was diagnosed with Cruciate Ligament Disease or Injury - staying overnight for Xrays in the morning and will need surgery.

Question now - where?

We already had an appointment booked at FR for the 14th may as her right hip did not seem right for a while now and we have this issue with the same right leg.

If tomorrow's Xrays show hip problems in addition to cruciate problem, will need to make an urgent referral to FR as she will need to be looked at from 2 angles - hip AND cruciate.

As usual - massive issues for me to get to FR if that is the way I decide to go. Had a ride arranged for the 14th but now Zara can not wait till the 14th...

Got to wait for what comes up on the Xrays tomorrow.....

Zara is 9 yo this year, she already had THR done on both hips and I really did not think she will need more surgery poor girl.

She will again need 4 weeks in a crate and then 8 weeks of on lead small walks only

This on top of all the other problems ...

My poor baby girl alone at the vets tonight

Johnny_Dangerously

Probably hard for you to be able to see a positive side right now, but there might be some upside to these both happening at the same time. Seperately they both have long recovery times, but together that should be compressed somewhat.

It's tough when they have times like these, but remember this is when they are at their luckiest to have a good owner. It's easy to have a healthy dog, but it's tough times like these when they really benefit.

Fingers crossed for you both

gettingready

Thanks.

The dilemma I have here is exactly because it is possible 2 issues.

If it is - will have to take her to FR which is a murder for me to get to (I do not drive) where her hips were replaced 3 years ago.

If I was 100% sure it is only the cruciate - my local vet can do the op.

gettingready

Also, we have about 5300 left from this year's insurance (she is insured for 7k). Cruciate surgery alone I was quoted around 3k.

From what I remember, an MRI at FR 3 years ago was 1500.

At the time of her hips replacement, some issues were also found with her spine - she had Xrays, CT and MRI at the time.

Now, if she only has Xrays at my own Vet - I was quoted around £600.00 for that alone and if after that I decide to take her to FR - they will want to do their own Xrays etc - they normally do....

tesuhoha

Poor Zara. I hope for the best.

gettingready

Hope all goes smooth like with this dog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtNP2EnXC7s

Zara already had so much surgery and spent so much time in a crate/on a lead poor baby..



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lFqOySZpBs

That looks very useful.....

http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/cruciate-ligament-surgery-post-op-care.html

rising_from_the_ashes

Oh no, poor Zara

Fingers crossed it's nothing too serious. Cruiciate surgery is hard but has very good recovery rates

I'm casting my mind back to her spine / back issues - did they ever come up with a diagnosis?

(I'm wondering if the hip could be arthritis - sadly Zara and Maisie are getting to the age where their breeds can start to have problems with joints)

I don't envy you at all - wish I was closer and I'd happily take you.

krlyr

It could be worth having a well experienced dog physiotherapist pay a visit. Not to replace a veterinary diagnosis, but to give their view on the seriousness of the issue.

Kiki's physio advised me that her bicipital tenosynovitis was a fairly mild case and that she didn't think surgery was necessary at that stage, so we avoided the need to put her through anything like that. The bonus being she had a real hands on (literally) view of how Kiki was doing, how she was progressing etc. so kept reassessing whether surgery would be best (in her view - and she wasn't being bias just to get business). Kiki goes very tense at the vet so they were finding it hard to tell how much stiffness was pain and how much just nerves, whereas she was much happier being handled in her own home by the physio.

I know cruciate ligament issues are a bit more serious, but they don't always mean surgery. An initial visit or two may be worth it (I paid about £50 a session)

gettingready

Thanks xxx

I do not think there is a question about Zara needing or not needing a surgery - she was holding her back leg up, proper up and walking on 3 legs with her spine curved.

The question really is where to have it done and how do I get her to wherever I need to get her.

Because of possible hip and spine issues of course I would prefer to have her looked at over at FR where her hips were done.

Getting from East London to Surrey (they are in Godalming) is not straightforward with a dog that can not walk properly and when I do not drive myself.

Waiting for the Xray results from the vets now and will see what I can do based on that.

44kg dog with injured leg in a 1st floor flat is a massive challenge but will do whatever I can to tr to do the best for her.

harrys_nan

Oh, bless her. Nothing of any use to say, bur I just wanted to say I hope things go well for her.

gettingready

Thank you - waiting for the vet to call, no idea what time her xrays were going to be done today....