Cruciate ligament injury Hank needs some prayers

15 years ago

My 8 year old Catahoula, Hank the Cowdog, had to have his right front leg amputated about 2 months ago due to a large fibrosarcoma under his shoulder blade that caused nerve damage in the leg. He was doing great until recently. I notice a slight "skip" in his step on his right hind leg. We treated him with Rimadyl and it worked for a while. He has gotten worse and can now hardly move. The vet has diagnosed a torn cruciate ligament. He doesn't think Hank is a good candidate for surgery because of his amputation. He wouldn't be able to walk at all with one leg gone and one leg injured. So far now we have switched his meds from Rimadyl to Derramax and are keeping his exercise to a minimum, potty breaks only and I carry him up and down the stairs. Does anyone have any experience with non surgical treatment of this type of injury in a 60# middle aged dog? Also please keep Hank in your prayers. He really is special and a whole lot like his literary namesake.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

glaserberl
15 years ago
Wireweiners,
our Brittany had "only" a partial tear.He was six when it happened. We used a special brace. I posted about it in another thread.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pets/msg0212382531101.html
Healing thoughts to Hank.
Katharina
mazer415
15 years ago
I would get a second opinion. Dogs undergoing TPLO surgery are not suppose to be active anyway until they recover. We dosed our dog with Rescue Remedy a couple of times a day and he wandered around in a daze until he was cleared for activity....There are a number of harnesses/slings you can use including just a big towel to wrap around their abdomen areas for when they need to go out and sniff a bit. We used the same rescue remendy treatment on my dogs friend (a dobie/greyhound cross) who spiral fractured her ankle and then broke the pin so she was down for 2 surgeries and gorked out the entire time....Im sorry to her your puppers is going through so much, but you might want to keep in mind, these dogs heal quickly and with a TPLO done by an orthpedist, your dog should be fine in a couple of months
Related Discussions
a-rooooooooo!
Q
Comments (15)
Very sorry to read about Izzy's knee problems. I am a boarded surgeon in the Denver area and routinely do TPLO surgeries. Unfortunately, cruciate tears in both stifles isn't uncommon. If they are only partial tears, they can be difficult to feel until they worsen. Did your vets do radiographs? Although you won't see the actual ligaments, even with partial tears, you will see swelling within the knee to suggest a problem. Pretty much, if there is swelling within the knee, there is almost always a cruciate tear to some degree. It is a matter of surgeon's preference, but when dogs have torn both knees and are having significant trouble even walking on either leg, I recommend repairing both at once. When TPLO surgeries first came out the surgery was patented and you could only purchase the plates to do the surgery from one place (Slocum Enterprises). Unfortunately, those plates where terrible. Made of weak metal and did not withstand much weight-bearing on them. When we attempted to do bilateral (both knees) TPLOs with those plates, there was a high complication rate (40% in one study). Now, the plates are no longer patented and other companies make very good, high-quality and strength plates that hold up to significant weight-bearing. My preference is the Securos plates because they are super strong and thin. With the better and stronger plates, doing bilateral surgeries does not result in any higher complication rate. The down side of doing both at once is that the first week is pretty rough. The dog really doesn't want to walk on either leg. The owner needs to help them get up and support some of their weight with a sling under the belly. The dogs tend to have the most trouble getting up but once up, tend to walk okay. After about the first week, the dogs tend to start getting around pretty well on their own. By doing both at once, you cut out some of the cost because only one catheter, anesthesia, hospitalization and cut the total recovery time down to around 3 months. I only recommend bilateral procedures if the dog is significantly lame on both hindlegs because the recovery is going to be hard on the dog whether we do one or both. If the dog is using one hindleg pretty well, even if I know both are partially torn, I tend to do one at a time because at least the dog will walk on the better of the two after the first surgery. The good part, is that you should get really good results with the TPLOs. In my patients, I expect greater than 90% to return to good to excellent function on the legs. I think the key during the recovery is making sure to walk them. Once they are putting the surgery leg down every time the go to walk (usually about one week from surgery), they should start taking short leash walks. No off-leash activity and no twisting or turning but straight, on leash walks. Gradually keep increasing the distance as the dog improves. The key behind TPLO surgeries is that when the dog bears weight on the leg, and all the muscles contract around the knee, the joint is stable. So, keeping and getting back as much muscle in the leg is really what gets the best results after surgery. Hope Izzy's second surgery goes as well as the first. The post-op radiographs look nice. Here is a link that might be useful: More Info About TPLOs
...See More
ACL surgery in my Golden Retriever
Q
Comments (22)
We had Tightrope surgery done on our 90 lb Akita 4 years ago. She was only 4 years old at the time, but I thought the TPLO was way too invasive. A week after surgery, the cast came off & we started 10 min walks 3-4 times a day, Never left the yard. we did put a ramp up the steps - they didn't want her doing any steps for 3-4 months. also had to keep her off the couch (no jumping) - so I had garbage bags of empty soda bottles that we would put on the couch to keep her off. Got quite a few comments & looks fromvisitors :) We gave her Tramadol for the pain - which worked just fine. The vet also suggested water therapy. I couldn't find anywhere in my area for this - so we went to the lake 3-4 times per week & she swam. Now - 4 years later, she doesn't seem to have any problems. Walks fine, runs & jumps -but on cold mornings, she is a little stiff until she gets moving. All of the food & treats I give her are loaded with glucosamine & omega 3, which I believe has contributed to her recovery & maintenance. We still swim as often as we can. Kita is pure white & is still my lovable polar bear.
...See More
My very old cat is dry heaving A LOT (sorry very long post)
Q
Comments (51)
Hello again all, I have been taking these past few days one at a time. Some are good days and some are bad days (both for me and Jelika). But we are trudging onward. I am so grateful that I can come here and read all your posts of encouragement. It appears I am not the only one who has gone through this type of pain (even though some days it feels like no one in the world can understand what I'm going through). I am so glad that there are so many pets out there that have good and obviously loving homes. It makes me feel better. Biwako, my hat is off to you for bringing 15 deserving kitties into your life.. I don't know if my heart could stand losing that many... Yesterday was a bad day. I came home and Jelika did not want to eat or get up all that much. But Saturday was a relatively good day. Again we went outside in the sunshine and just sat there (which was nice because we have had about 35 solid days of rain here.. and she so loves to sit in the sun). She is still on Pred.. this coming weekend I may start the weaning dose... the vet wants her to come in for another check up but I just don't know if I can do that to her. She hates it so much. She may be getting slightly more dehydrated though so I should bring her in for a shot of the sub-q's. I really don't know why they didn't show me how to do it at home when i specifically asked them to last time (so that I wouldn't have to bring her in again for it!). Grrrr. It is so frustrating. Also, I am experiencing a problem that may be of my own making. My other cat, Kitty, has started "attacking" Jelika a little more lately.. and she has been acting like she's holding a grudge.. which she may be. I know I have been ignoring her a bit lately because I want to spend all my time petting/being with Jelika. Because I just can't stand the thought that one day soon there won't be a Jelika there to pet anymore. I do try to make a little "Kitty time" each day. But because I have to feed Jelika special food (stuff that Kitty really likes too, but she's a little too..uh...healthy (read fat) to eat it all the time) So she just sits there and watches me feed Jelika. I do try to give her a couple of "treats" at the same time so that she doesn't feel too left out, but I think she does anyway. I feel really bad about it. They have never been the best of friends, and Jelika has ALWAYS been jealous of any time that I spend with Kitty. If she ever saw Kitty in my lap cuddling, Jelika would come right up and sit even higher up on my lap or chest.. to get in front of Kitty (as if she OWNS me.. well I guess she does :) So anyways I have this dilemna because I don't want Jelika to see me spending too much time with Kitty in what could be her (Jelika's) last few weeks, but I also don't want to ignore Kitty too much and alienate her... I mean they do get along and they are friends.. but there has always been a bit of rivalry going on as well... Anyway I will update shortly. P.S I haven't tried pumpkin yet, but the lactulose seems to be working.. however it is dehydrating so i have only been giving it once a day instead of two.. I think I will try the pumpkin.
...See More
acl injury
Q
Comments (17)
Vicki. If you need to keep your baby quiet, go to a whole foods or other holistic - natural type food store and get some rescue remedy. It kinda drugs your dog to the point where they dont want to do anything, I have used it with my dog and with my friends dog who had a spiral fracture to her ankle and was not suppose to get up and move around for 4 weeks or so. Good luck with your baby. Hope everything turns out ok. My buddy has been doing great and his second TPLO we put in used equipment which costs less, ask your vet about that as well. I also chose not to have my dog on Rimadyl because of the issues with liver disease, that also saved me money. So there are things you can ask your vet about which may save money. My dog has a bit of arthritis in the leg with the botched surgery. Other than that, Ascripton once a week or so when they show signs of pain (panting, toeing, no wanting to go...) On the patent thing, I heard the vet that invented the surgery had died and that is why it is now available to everyone.
...See More
joepyeweed
15 years ago
We didn't have ACL surgery for our dog when he tore his. He weighed about 50 lbs and was about 8 years old when it happened. He still had the use of his other three legs though...

He got a couple shots (cortisone, maybe?),some pain killers and a brace to help with support. We kept him crated when weren't home, to make sure he wasn't running around. We also gated off the stairs and took care to walk him slowly but frequently for short walks... to keep it from getting stiff.

He didn't use the bad leg at all for three or four days, but then he started using it gradually, and as time went on he used it more and more. We stopped crating him, when his limping was no longer noticeable. After a few months, he probably forgot he even had a problem. Though we did try to keep him from running for a long time... and after that he would get sore and a bit limpy, if he seemed to over do it.
cheryl_p
15 years ago
I have no words of wisdom, but chalk up another big prayer from me!
User
15 years ago
I'm sure it is hard to see your pup in so much pain and not be able to stop it. I will definitely pray for him!
anita22
15 years ago
Saying prayers for you and Hank.

Here is our experience with non-surgical treatment of ACL tear in a 160-lb senior English mastiff who has all four legs.

What we do:
*Rimadyl 2x a day
*Canine Cortaflex (a liquid form of MSM, glucosamine, and chondroitin on which the maker offers a money-back guarantee) 2x a day
*fish oil 1 x daily
*massage (we do this, to keep blood supply to the joint so it heals and to keep him relaxed)
*orthopedic foam beds and a twin mattress on the floor, on which he has dibs
*bedding has to be smooth and wrinkle-free so he doesn't catch his feet or legs in it and sprain his good legs or reinjure the knee
*no stairs
*no rugs that slide or bunch
*no wrestling with younger mastiffs
*leash walks to control how much he runs and plays (which he wants to do now)
*make sure he stays at his ideal weight to reduce joint stress

If you have access to a holistic vet, or one trained in acupuncture, chiropractic and acupuncture could be a big help in the healing. We did not go this route because our mastiff responded so well to the treatment plan we worked out.

The Canine Cortaflex made a huge difference. You are supposed to use a loading dosage (double the maintenance dose) for just a week, but I did it for several months. Within 2 weeks Thor could get up and down easily and walked without limping. After six weeks he was ready to play with the younger mastiffs. We watched him carefully and about six weeks ago cut back the Rimadyl dosage. He's fine, wants to run and play, is ready to come up and down the stairs (which we do not permit) and has no problems getting up or lying down.

I observe him carefully and can tell by the degree of extra movement in the knee how he is feeling and how much play, walking, etc. he can tolerate.

Five months after diagnosis, our mastiff is doing well without surgery.

Good luck, and give Hank a big hug from me!

Cruciate ligament injury Hank needs some prayers

Comments (6)

glaserberl

mazer415

Related Discussions

joepyeweed

cheryl_p

User

anita22

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US