My dog has had TWO surgeries for the same torn ligament, 8 months later he is holding up that leg again, HELP?
I could really use some vet advice or any advice from someone who has had experience with this. My dog has actually had three surgeries for torn ligaments. One on his left leg, which turned out fine, and TWO on his right leg. After the FIRST surgery on his problem (right) leg, after 3 weeks he tore 2 inner stitches out, then he had the 2nd (re-do) surgery. The surgeon put an extra inner stitch in (for extra support) during the second surgery. We were very careful with him and kept him kenneled for the prescribed amount of time, and he seemed OK, even though it seemed that the recooperation time took longer that time. Seven months later, he started limping on that leg again, so we had him x-rayed. The vet said his stitches were still intact and looking good and that perhaps he had some arthiritus. He has now been taking rhemidil
I am scared of using rimadyl for my dog's torn cruciate ligament...any alternatives?
There's a website "rimadyl kills" and if you google rimadyl or previcox kills there are loads of stories of dead dogs. It sounds like VIOXX, but worst because it's still on the market. The vet prescribed tramadol which I guess is safer to give and helps for the pain, but what about a safer antinflammatory? I hward good stuff about turmeric and bromelain, any body using it for inflammation?
What do you call a tearing of a ligament?
i think its called a sprain or....a tearing of a ligament
How do I entertain my dog if his ligament is torn, and he can’t run nor walk?
Lots of training!So dogs have energy which can be used up physically, or mentally. You need to wear him out by taxing his brain.This is also vital when you have a puppy…… lots of energy but when you’re only supposed to walk them 5 minutes for every month they’re alive up until a year old, you have to become creative!Teach him left and right, put a treat in a hand and when you give him the treat, at the same time say the corresponding left or right (bare in mind your left might be his right!) teach paw if you haven’t already, teach him to sniff out stuff. Bark on command, teach him wait, teach him names of his toys, anything that doesn’t include movement. Dogs have the IQ of a 3yr old child which shows how intelligent they really are!
Could a torn ACL ligament truly be misdiagnosed for what really is a pulled muscle?
The ACL is a tricky thing. It is not a misdiagnosis because you didnt do the diagnostic yet he did an exam which told him there was a problem with the drawer movement that is typical to a tear. Tears in this ligament are common. If it is not a full tear then the doctor did the right thing by giving medication. If you are very careful and rest the legs ALOT, only leash walk, no jumping and such, there is a chance that the tear can heal on its own. If it can heal on its own its best because the ligament will actually be stronger because of the scar tissue. If you allow the dog to continue to run and jump and such you will be risking the dog getting a full tear. A full tear requires surgery. . . plain and simple. Once you get the Xray (diagnostic) you will see exactly what is torn and what is not. If the cruciate is torn your dog will not be able to weight-bear & be in agonizing pain. I have one dog that has had both her crutiates done surgically(large breed) due to full tears and one dog who has had 2 partials that have healed on their own.
Can your tear knee ligament and still walk with very minor pain?
if it is one of the cruciate ligaments (posterior or anterior) that has torn then you may well be able to walk with little pain. in this case it sounds like the anterior cruciate ligament has been damaged. if it has torn completely then the knee will feel very unstable and will tend to give way. also, there will be swelling that appears quickly and mobility will be restricted. basically, if you fully tear the anterior cruciate ligament you will know about it. if you have nothing like the above symptoms then it is most likely just a mild sprain or it is either the medial or lateral ligament that has some damage (on the sides of the knee) and this is nothing like as serious. posterior ligament injuries are unusual without some heavy impact onto the front of the knee and are harder to damage as they are thicker. if either of the cruciates has torn you would probably have felt it and there may well have been an audible popping sound. in your case i would say it is most likely that you have sprained the anterior cruciate ligament and should see a doctor about it just in case there is some minor tearing. you will be given rehabilitation exercises to do which are advisable if there is some significant damage as not treating the problem may lead to more long-term knee problems. with a complete tear in the anterior cruciate ligament you would almost certainly be unable to walk without pain. as well as this, the knee would probably give way a lot (in a similar way to that you described when you initially got the injury). this problem can occur with mild tears and sprains too, but it is not as common and will only last a week or so before rapidly improving.
My St Bernard has torn ligaments in both knees, and I can't afford the surgery. Is there anything to help?
My friends own a St Bernard, and because their father passed away two years ago, they are financially tight. There is a surgery to repair the torn ligaments, but the vet seemed to indicate that sometimes it doesn't work. Is this a usual problem in St Bernards, and is there a recognized probability of success? Also, as the surgery is about two grand per knee, and though friends may be able to provide some money, that may not be entirely feasible. Is there any form of financial aid available? I know there's no such thing as a free surgery, but foundations, organizations, clinics-- is there anything set up to alleviate some of the cost for those who can't really afford it? Thanks
My ligament was partially torn but I could do everything (daily activities ex,climbing stairs and walking except running) ,it rarely hurt, I don't mind if I couldn't back to do sports. should I consider surgery?
My ligament was partially torn but I could do everything (daily activities ex,climbing stairs and walking except running) ,it rarely hurt, I don't mind if I couldn't back to do sports. should I consider surgery?Have you seen a doctor? You should. While you are at it, get a second opinion. While it isn’t the same, I tore my left rotator cuff several years ago as a result of being rearended. The first doctor was seeing dollar signs, and a few friends in health professions insisted that I get a second opinion. My range of motion was still excellent, and I would have just gotten about 5% more range of motion. I decided not to get the surgery after all. I realize that a torn ligament is not the same as a rotator cuff, but it is a good idea to get at least 2 opinions. Remember that each case is different.I wish you the best.
Should i put my dog down because a torn ACL?
I'm sorry you're going through this. And I'm sorry for you dog too. I totally understand financial issues with vet emergencies. I'm a fully functioning adult, and I still had to borrow over $1500 from my parents for an illness that nearly ended my border collie. I'd only trust yelp so far. People usually only take time to write reviews if they're angry or disgusted. I bet a lot of people had positive experiences, just like your friend. I'd visit this vet yourself, ask for a little tour, and explain your situation. A lot of places will also set up a payment plan with you, if you work it out in advance. The Humane Society is a good resource for help and ideas. She is old, so you need to decide if the surgery would extend her QUALITY of life, not just the time. Make sure she's LIVING her life, not just existing. You may decide, that financially a good idea or not, that maybe this is an injury she can't recover from. Good luck. I do not envy your situation.
How do you care for dogs with injured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL)?
First off, a visit to the vet. They will be able to determine the extent of the injury and whether the dog will need surgery or therapy. They can also prescribe pain meds or anti-inflammatories (such as Carprofen) for the dog. Lots of rest, very limited exercise/playtime, and try to make his normal routine easy on the leg (no stairs or steps, no slick surfaces). Hope this helps!