 ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
#397854 - 04/20/2015 01:00 AM |
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Reg: 01-21-2007
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Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Hello,
I have been away for quite some time but I always end up back here when I run into a problem. I'm so grateful you're here.
I have a 9 year old terrier/husky mix that was dx'd with an ACL injury yesterday. I'm know this much - I'm going to wait the 8 weeks and hope he improves. I do not want to move forward with surgery. I'm looking for any good threads or articles but my search did not yield anything great. I know these moderators have a wealth of knowledge and am hoping one of you can point me in the right direction.
I'm scouring the internet in addition but I love the advice given here.
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397857 - 04/20/2015 10:28 AM |
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Reg: 01-19-2012
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Loc: whistler bc ca
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I know nothing about you, your dog or your background , but I'd think long and hard before I'd drop the cash a lot of vets are asking for ACL surgery .
I know humans who are operating pretty well with less than complete knee structures , so to me , to shell out the thousands of $ to rebuild something that isn't absolutely essential to a long fulfilling life seems a little misplaced . Hell , look at the three legged dogs out there that seem pretty happy with what they have to put an ACL problem in perspective .
At the least , keeping your dog active maintains his fitness , so that if and when a surgical solution becomes necessary , your dog will be fit enough to ensure a healthy , well balanced recovery .
In my hometown , the ACL has become the " injury du jour " and there are enough pet owners with sufficient resources to afford the procedure .
dogs : the best part of being human |
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397858 - 04/20/2015 02:49 PM |
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Here is a very detailed thread from another board. The individual decided to go with surgery (twice since the ACL in the second leg tore as well a couple years later) with a very good outcome.
http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=33480&page=1
If money allowed and the dog was reasonably active before the tear, I would most likely opt for surgery.
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397859 - 04/20/2015 11:06 PM |
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The several dogs I know know that had the surgery..blew out the other leg from the stress of the extra burden of having to fake up the support during the healing of the surgery leg. The Surgery itself was successful.
MY DOGS...MY RULES
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397862 - 04/21/2015 10:26 AM |
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Most dogs who blow one leg will eventually blow the other one with or without surgery. If the conditions are right for one leg, they're usually right for the other.
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397864 - 04/21/2015 06:35 PM |
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Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Thanks for the replies. I've found someone who does rehab (pool, reiki, massage) one block from home so I'm going to go with that and hope for the best. I'm aware of the high probability of the other side going within 18 months. :-(
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397865 - 04/21/2015 10:32 PM |
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Reg: 06-14-2002
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Loc: St. Louis Mo
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I think the key is keeping the dog off the leg while it heals.
That can be a huge undertaking with some dogs.
One of my Daughters had a Pit that went through the surgery and even with tranquilizers to slow the dog down it didn't work out well.
The dog had a limp forever after but, being a pit, it never seemed to be bothered by it. She would just move on three legs when running.
old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks |
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397874 - 04/24/2015 06:18 PM |
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Reg: 01-21-2007
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Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Thanks Bob.
I agree with you about letting it heal but I haven't done much with that but try to teach him to 'relax' when he gets excited.
We're still walking every day (only about 30 minutes once per day). I'm 10% nervous about continuing to walk but I just keep thinking about how many dogs are out there with the same type of injury and aren't even taken to the vet then I don't feel quite as bad.
I'll be back to post an update every so often because any little bit of information might help someone else going through the same thing.
Thanks again.
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397899 - 04/26/2015 01:17 PM |
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Hi - my dog had same thing two years ago - but a complete rupture. As she was and is still young, I went for the tuberosity advancement surgery. Afterwards, I basically kept her under house arrest for over six months. 10 feet from back door to pee then back on the couch.
Luckily she is just as good at being a couch potato as being a rocket. LOL. I was trying to be even more conservative than the vet suggested, because of the stories I have also heard about the other leg going while healing.
I don't know if it helped, but two years later and all is totally normal. The only difference is that she sits differently. The only consequences of my doing that was that she had lost a lot of muscle in the leg - which soon returned - and for a few days after, when I walked into the back yard she would stay on the porch, head down, because she thought she wasn't allowed any more  .
Wish I had taken a vid of her reaction when I gave her the go ahead the first day out. You've never seen such a dementedly happy dog.
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Re: ACL Injury - Looking for threads and/or articles
[Re: Cathi Kemp ]
#397901 - 04/26/2015 10:01 PM |
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Loc: Whitehorse, Yukon
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My brothers dog was hit by a vehicle and severed his ACL - limited mobility returned within 8 weeks, 6 months post accident you would never know he had an injury. Crate rest.
A rescue who was returned to me severed her ACL, but was never rested. She had a permanent limp but otherwise was fine.
10 Month old Pom I co-own, tore her ACL. Crate rest for 4 weeks, everything healed up fine, no limp or other damage.
Things to consider - is the dog currently overweight and can you limit exercise for minimum 8 weeks?
Here is a link I found that helped with my decision on the co-own Pom.
http://tiggerpoz.com/
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