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.....We are now dealing with the rehab of the leg. I walk him three times a day and walk slow enough so that he cannot hop, it forces him to use the leg. I also have him swimming now that all of the drains and surgery incisions are healed......I want to add that the major lesson I have learned from this experience is that a normal vet's office is for shots and that is it, anything else and I will be going to the emergency clinic, period....

It sounds like you're on the right road, and I'm so glad for you both!

Have you heard of this?
http://www.fourleg.com/article.htm

That article includes home therapy -- very gentle, simple warmups for a working or sporting (etc.) dog, along with hints for senior dogs with arthritis.

If the vet surgeon says it's OK, you might want to check out these warmups before the walks and/or in addition to the walks. Or the vet surgeon might say that s/he thinks Jet would benefit from a little work with a licensed animal PT practitioner.

Also, you might be interested in reading about food-source anti-inflammation supplements, such as Omega 3 EFA; I particularly like human-grade distilled fish-muscle oil, plus Vitamin E. You might ask your vet about that. Pitcairn likes extra Vitamin E post-surgery, anyway. What I have read supports that idea, for both people and dogs.

About the vet v. e-vet thing: I'm thinking maybe you mean with regard to emergency situations or injuries? Chronic and incipient ailments, I think, might be better treated and diagnosed by a vet your dog has seen, who knows your dog and has a history. JMO!

Anyway, it sounds positive all around, and the regaining of lost weight is a great sign.

Thanks Connie and you are right I will still see my vet, but not the one who we took Jet to for the injury and only for minor issues, anything that seems suspect then i will go to emergency.

And thanks for the PT info., we do physical therapy at home and still use warm compresses, but I will review the link for more help.

Oh, I forgot to say the after seeing nine different vets, they still do not know what was the cause of the infection. I might as well have gone to a witch doctor. Not a little bitter, am I? Yes.

And the hits just keep on coming!

Jet was not progressing as quickly as I expected so I brought him to a vet PT and she immediately told me he had ligament damage to the knee. More x-rays, non-conclusive, but a joint tap found more infection in the joint. While he was under sedation for the joint tap the vet said from what he could see the knee does have ligament damage. Now Jet has to go back on antibiotics, then another joint tap to be sure the knee is infection free, then possible surgery for the damage to the ligament (which one is unclear). I read the thread on Jenni's dog Caleb and the other link Will posted so I have seen the discussions of the types of surgery, so it helps with my education prior to my meeting with the surgeon.

I know this subject has been discussed but any other advice is always appreciated.

Sheesh, Brian. Poor Jet! I was thinking about Jet the past few days because I've been reading up on this pesky ACL (poorly-placed ligament, if you want MY opinion) and read that they can be damaged by a collision to the knee as easily as a running/jumping-induced accident. I was even going to PM you to see if that had been checked, JIC, because they seem to just get worse and worse the longer you wait. Swelling is a question they asked me about when I made the appointment, and I immediately thought of his distant cousin's ordeal. I can't believe they didn't check this, knowing the problem was in that area.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Not to freak you out more, but if he does need surgery, be very diligent in preventing infection. The only links I read to osteosarcoma involving an ACL repair were all involving dogs who'd had an infection in the affected joint.