My poor dog has blown out both of her knees... ruptured ACL::::UPDATE

[akaskip]

My poor pittie tore both of her anterior cruciate ligaments last night. One had a partial tear for last year or so and I've had her on glucosamine and other joint supplements, as well as reduced activity. She had been doing pretty good, a bit of a limp after waking up but getting better.

I took her out to my warehouse last night for a little bit of low impact exercise for about 10 minutes and this morning she was totally lame in both rear legs. I rushed her out to the animal emergency and they've confirmed what I feared. Torn ACL in both rear legs. I am just devastated seeing my poor dog unable to even eat or have a pee without having to hold her up.

They recommend surgery but I have been researching it for months now and I am not convinced it it the best option right now. Many dogs get worse after the surgery and develop other complications. It can also be hideously expensive even if it goes well, and if there are complications it may break me financially.

In the absence of the surgery option, the course of treatment is pretty much bed rest, (lots of fun for an active dog), very restricted activity, pain medication, joint supplements and physio. the best physio apparently is swimming. It is very low impact but I don't know how I am going to accomplish swimming when winter is around the corner. I don't know of any dog friendly swimming pools in my area.

I would welcome any advise at all at this point. Anything to make her more comfortable and raise her quality of life. This dog is like the child I never had. She is so simple and so loving. All she wants to do is love and it breaks my heart.

  Sorry to hear about your friend, i really don't have any advice to give, you know what is best for your friend and i am sure it will be a well thought out and tough decision, put yourself in the dogs shoes and decide what is best for her/him, good luck.

[kermujin]

Friend just had her shepherds knee re-done and it turned out excellently.  A little recuperation and some rehab, also taking it slow on letting her get back up to her normal speed.  She is doing really well. 

Yup, my friend's golden retriever had one of his ACLs repaired surgically a year or two ago. He's recovered very well. It was expensive, but ...

[PromiseLandAkitas]

I'm sorry to hear about your dogs problems, not fun for you or her.

I have an older Akita, he weighs about 110 pounds and is almost 13 years old now. 

He tore his knee up almost 8 years ago now.  I did go and have the operation on him, cost $2400 at the time.  It was done by a specialist.  He limps everyonce in a while now, but he is fine.  runs around and plays, no real problems. 

I thought that it was worth it.

But than, my name is Promise land Akitas 

[Tinfoilhatmann]

For those that may be interested, I have an update.

I put my baby on a diet and in 5 weeks she lost 9 lbs and is now a healthy 57 lbs from her chunky 66 lbs. No special diet, just reduced her intake. Turns out I have just been over feeding her all these years. Now that she is at her target weight, I have her food intake set for maintaining her current weight and all is well.

After restricting her activity for 4 weeks she was back to the vet for a followup. The vet determined that only one knee was actual tear, and it was partial. The other knee appears to not be torn. She no longer limps when she gets up and is doing much better. I opted to have her fitted for orthotics so she could resume her normal activity. The knee brace and harness were built in a few days and here she is with her new gear.



Where does the rocket launcher fit?



She took to the brace very well and I am back to walking her every day, to slowly build her strength and muscles back up. The first few days were only 5-10 minutes and now I have her up to 30-40. She doesn't show any signs of a limp, with the brace on her off, with the exception of one day when I overdid it and took her for two walks... too early in the program. She only limped slightly the next day when she first got up and has been great ever since. In a few days, when the weather gets better she will be allowed brief runs off leash. She does run around the house now while playing with us or Caramel and has been fine.

I'd highly recommend this alternative to surgery for anyone who has a dog with a partial tear in her ACL. My total cost was about $900.00 and my vet was very good in letting us and the orthotics guy use the examining rooms at no charge for fitting and such.

[mtlouie]

She still looks pretty pudgy. 

Of course, the camera does add ten pounds.

I have a dog that is in the same predicament. I just tell everyone he's not gaining weight, his head is getting smaller....


You've got adorable pups there, tinfoil!

[Tinfoilhatmann]

Thanks Mtlouie.

She will probably never get rid of the belly flap fro her extra weight... it was on her far too long. She may need to lose a few more pounds overall but I think now that I have started back on an exercise regiment she won't need to diet anymore. Already I can see muscle tone in her back legs and I can actually feel her ribs

[akaskip]

 Nice looking dogs Tfhm, glad to hear she is doing better

[Six Gun Jim]

She's got a nice drop leg harness Tin, along with a good chest rig it looks like.  Very happy for you man, very happy. -James

[speaksoftly]

I'm so glad she's doing well, and has you to take care of her. And she's still absolutely gorgeous.

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

I feel your pain.

My year old lab/hound mix got his back leg stuck in some wire in one of our fences.  We came home from the deer leese just before dark and could not find him.

At first light, we started running the fences and found him. Poor little sweetie!  He was just sitting there waiting for someone to come along and rescue him.  He must have been able to hear us calling for him. 

He had some superficial lacerations but wasn't putting any weight on his back leg so to the weekend vet clinic we went.

$300 later we found out that he had an ACL strain, not rupture, thank goodness, so he is confined to our porch to prevent the running around and is on daily doggie tramadol and caprofen.

My other dogs are consumed with jealously at his special treatment.