sproggie14 Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 Can any fugees advise? In laws dog (small terrier cross about 9 years old) has been diagnosed today with a torn cruciate ligament. Vets offered them a slot for the op next Tuesday but in laws are supposed to be out for the day with us the day after so has been put back a week to two weeks yesterday. Vets were, IMO, a little slow to offer a slot even to x-ray (took best part of a week). Not having had any experience of this sort of injury I just wondered whether waiting 3 weeks from injury to op is the right thing? She is on metacam apparently but will this be enough to keep her comfy or should we suggest to in laws that it really ought to be done sooner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAD Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 Kyla had a partially torn cruciate op last April. If it was me and I knew she had a torn cruciate I would want the op asap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpole Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 my friends dog has just undergone twelve months and three cruciate ops (as 1st one failed) he has been on metacam/rimadyl for most of that time with no real problems. just lots of crate rest and no jumping around like a loon he had his last op on monday and was walking with foot down the next day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barb Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 Holly had to wait over a week for her op. She had to be kept as quiet as possible, short walks on the lead, no jumping on laps or chairs and no going up and down stairs. It is not easy to keep them quiet but it must be done. The same after the op, Holly was confined to a crate except for toilet walks. She is fine now and rushing around like the loon she always was. Hope the little lady gets on well Barbara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 The longer the dog uses the leg before operating, the more arthritic changes will take place in the joint, which will lead to arthritis problems later on. Have they not been told to restrict her moving to prevent damage to the joint? I would prefer an op sooner than later. Is there a problem with them having a day out while the operation is done and then collecting the dog in the evening? Or perhaps the dog could stay in the vets overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted July 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 Thanks guys, my instinct said ASAP but just wanted to check Dave is on the phone to them now cancelling our day out and telling them to get it done next week (soonest vet can do apparently). Poor little girl, we're both so upset for her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 Think you made a good decision to bring it forward - the long the knee is damaged, the more likely that arthritic changes will occur, or so my vet told me. Best of luck - cruciate repair is a very stressful time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lainey Posted July 1, 2009 Report Share Posted July 1, 2009 My Rio tore her cruciate about 6 weeks ago- we went to the vets next morning (she did it late evening) and he said yes it was cruciate and he couldnt fit her in that day due to lots of surgery bookings but to bring her back the morning after when they would do the xrays then if all was ok operate at the same time so as not to put her out twice. She is now sound and happy as larry. Torn ligaments are extremely painful and should only be postponed when it is best for the dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Gracie has one gone and the other partly gone but at her age and with her being small, my vet thought it would be better not to operate but to keep her on painkillers instead. Gracie also has arthritis in all 4 legs and feet, both shoulders and spine and also has a compressed disc in her spine. My vet thought that as she would need so much crate rest after both operations, she may not live through it. That was 2 years ago. She is on Metacam which keeps her pain free most of the time unless she does something silly and also goes to hydro every week which keeps her muscles toned up so they support the back legs and knees. Gracie is now 17 and things she is still a puppy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprogsbloke Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 I have spoken to my Mum this morning and they have rescheduled the op for Tuesday as they sadly cannot fit her in any sooner. Thank you all for your advise and please keep everything crossed that Zoe's op goes well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pingu Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 in smaller dogs the risks are less from what i know (of arthritis risk increasing significantly if op deferred) our cruciate experience: Ellie. Both legs - TPLO in both now fit as a fiddle Misty. Left leg - TPLO - now jumping over the baby gates as if they dont exist Benny - Left Leg - TTIA - hasnt healed as well as misty or ellie but he is a much bigger and leggier dog TTIA is meant to have lower occurrences of arthritis in later life in smaller dogs I know vets reckon the ligament replacement op is fine due to the lower stresses placed on it than in bigger dogs but personally I feel the TPLO\TTIA is much more solid In all cases our dogs were walking the next day. restricted exercise for 6 weeks followed by a gradual increase but no crate rest required. no going up and down stairs on\off furniture though. Interesting ly the specialist we used recommended NOT to use hydrotherapy for 6 months after the op as this would increase the risk of arthritis in later life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Gracie hasn't had her ligaments operated on, she was over 15 years old and both needed doing, even if they had operated on her legs, it may have put a big strain on the compressed disc in her spine. The vet at this time is now in Australia and there is a new Consultant who works differently. The hydro that Gracie has is the treadmill not the pool so the walking speed can be adjusted and the dog doesn't extend the legs the same as in the pool. For some things the treadmill is better, for some the pool but most it doesn't matter which you use. After Merlin's operation on his spine, the extension he would do if he was in a pool could have done him harm but the treadmill was ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Gracie hasn't had her ligaments operated on, she was over 15 years old and both needed doing, even if they had operated on her legs, it may have put a big strain on the compressed disc in her spine. The vet at this time is now in Australia and there is a new Consultant who works differently. The hydro that Gracie has is the treadmill not the pool so the walking speed can be adjusted and the dog doesn't extend the legs the same as in the pool. For some things the treadmill is better, for some the pool but most it doesn't matter which you use. After Merlin's operation on his spine, the extension he would do if he was in a pool could have done him harm but the treadmill was ideal. I think is why you need to go to pool run by someone who knows what they are doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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