Arthiritis and cruciate

charliewocka

Having been lame on and off for a while and the vet initially thinking and hoping it was a strain, we took Bas, our mixed breed 51/2 year old to our new vet on Saturday morning. He's been a bit under the weather, started being really lame and it's been horrible to see. Vet was amazing, just had a really caring personality. Felt his legs and his knee is really swollen and he has arthirits quite badly. Vet feels it is definitely the cruciate that is the problem and we are going to the orthopaedic hospital tomorrow for x-rays and consultation.


Just feeling a bit awful about it all - poor guy must have been horribly uncomfortable and yet just trying to get on with things. He's on Metacam (well, the generic version) and has perked up again loads. We know that this might only be masking the symptoms though so trying to keep him quiet and stable. Lots of warm blankets, tucked up in bed and keeping him beside me.


I know that Zara has had cruciate surgery but wondering if anybody else has experiences?


Feeling like a horrible mum to him! He's a resuce (both my dogs are) and had a rough start in life so want him to be as happy as we can make him in all areas of life!

gettingready

Ohhhh sorry about the diagnosis, hopefully a solution will be found after the specialist visit.

Not sure where you live, hope you asked for a referral to the best vet in your area xx

Fingers crossed

krlyr

No experience of cruciate I'm afraid (fortunately for me) but my girly was diagnosed with arthritis earlier this year. I really have to recommend 'golden paste' made with turmeric, it has made a huge difference to her - I've actually run out and been so busy with work and exams that I hadn't made a fresh batch, and despite being on Yumove tablets, coconut oil and fairly restricted exercise, she's soon stiffened up. On the golden paste, you'd never know she had anything wrong with her (or guess she's 9 years old!), so it really isn't just a placebo effect. Making up a fresh batch for her tonight so she can reap the benefits of it again.

The Facebook group "Turmeric User Group" has lots of info on it, there's some quirks like the brands of turmeric to use, what you need to add for maximum benefit etc. so worth a read.

This article is a good one too - http://www.dogaware.com/health/arthritis.html

charliewocka

So I took Bas to the vet this morning and after a detailed examination the vet has taken him in to do the cruciate surgery today . Totally unprepared for it, as my OH is away working this week and I am overseas next week so going to have to manage recovery for a while. Poor guy - although not ruptured it looks like a tear.


Wish us luck

charliewocka

Put an enquiry into Carefree Credit who specialise in offering 0% loans to people requiring veterinary treatment but unfortunately our vets are not registered with them so onto the credit card it will have to go! (we only moved into our house 2 weeks ago, have had to renew car insurance, get car repaired, boiler fixed, etc so it's a VERY expensive time!). Was surprised though that Carefree credit then suggested I go to Amigo loans for finance

teddysmum

Many vets will allow you to pay in instalments, but your position is different as you have moved house and vet. However, would the new vet be willing to allow payments, if he got a recommendation from your old vet ?

charliewocka

Potentially, and my in laws have been using them for years! However I have the space available on a 0% card so that will encourage me to pay off faster. The shocking pink bathroom suite may just have to remain in situ a bit longer ��

Person_one

What kind of surgery is your dog having? There are 2 main types, which are very different. Did they go through the choices with you?

My 8 year old had cruciate surgery nearly a year ago now. He doesn't have any arthritis but had ruptured the ligament in an injury. He had the TTA surgery and is now absolutely perfect, his gait is a little different, but no limp, no pain and best of all no chance of any further problems with that knee.

The hardest part is the recovery period, when you'll have to severely limit his activity for weeks or months depending on the type of surgery, and build it back up slowly and carefully.

Best of luck to you all, hope he's home now and resting.

charliewocka

Yes, because of Basil's short leg length (Bassett Hound X Japanese Spitz X possible Labrador!) he felt TPLO was the best method for him. Luckily I have an engineering background and loved the technical walking through of the condition (I know, I can be a geek! ).


Collected him this morning, all went well. He's walking on it, was delighted to see me and get home and is now snoring on his bed which I've placed in the sun. Will take him out for a toilet break when he wakes up. Other dog and cat are a bit confused by it all though! Vet is a bit wary of a build up of fluid in his right knee so we will monitor that over time and one of his hips are very shallow (did a full X-ray examination) which can cause problems later in life but nothing to worry about now.


Bill was £2989 - yikes! - but the practice subscribed me to their loyalty scheme so I now have £80 credit to be used with them whenever I need to in the future. Will be useful for the follow up X-rays etc! Plus my other dog has hip dysplasia and my cat has a pinned leg from a fight with a car a few years ago so we will be regular visitors!


Looking forward to getting him through this and enjoying our long walks together - probably end of next Spring!

Person_one

Fantastic, really pleased to hear he's doing well.

I've never once regretted getting the more expensive surgical option for my dog. He's completely back to his old self and I've hopefully bought him 5 or 6 years more of running down the beach and chasing squirrels!

Have you got a crate? I was never a fan of them before the op but found it incredibly useful when I needed to leave him unsupervised during his recovery period and was warned strongly that he mustn't even try to jump onto furniture or stand on his back legs etc. He took to it straight away as well, amazingly. I think he appreciated the peace from my other dog who was obsessed with his leg dressing and his buster collar!

Basil is a brilliant dog name by the way.

charliewocka

When I took him in from the rescue centre he was nameless, and I just thought that 'Basil' or 'Bas' suited him perfectly. And it does!


I do have a crate as both the dogs were crate trained, as well as travel crates from when we brought them to the UK by place, so plenty of room to move around if needed, but its plastic sided so not the best view out.


OH is away on business this week and I'm working from home which is a big help, and then I'm in the US next week, so OH will work from home. Plus my in-laws live next door which is a massive help and we have just started a dog walker to call over when we are in the office so we should be fine for keeping an eye on him.


My mum is visiting us in the UK until tomorrow and Bas loves his Granny, so he has been loving the TLC from her. Fast asleep now, seems the morphine patches work!