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momanimallover Mar 13, 2009

I found out today why Dakota has been limping off and on for the past couple of months She would favour her back right leg in spurts and then would be good for a couple weeks but this morning she was limping right away which usually this was only happening a bit at night. She has a Cruciate Ligament. I guess it can heal on it's own but sometimes not. The vet asked if she ever slipped on ice well.....YA!!! always, she's crazy. How can you control a pup that has to run and be nutty??!! anyways, I just knew she was going to do some injury to herself one of these days. Does anyone here have a dog that has/had or had this problem??

TamiL Mar 13, 2009

Hi, my Tiffani tore her acl last year on the left back leg, I knew when she tore it, she came in from outside and was holding it up , she toe touched and was ok off and on for after 3 weeks with some doggy aspirin and the recommended Rymidal .....but she had to have surgery because it was not getting any better at all, was a long process but she did get better, no stairs, no jumping, no running for 6 weeks.................NOW just last week can you believe she has a slight problem with the other back leg, they say at least 50% of dogs will tear the acl in the other leg......because more stress is put on the good leg when the other leg goes bad........Well now I have her on Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Dogs and no stairs, no running out side ad no jumping. I want to see how she is in 3 weeks.....I just don't want to jump into surgery unless we have too!  So far the Glucosamine is doing pretty good........maybe you should try your dog on it, just make sure it has the Chondroitin in it.
You can not heal a torn acl the surgery just helps support the leg...............the wait and see game is to see if scar tissue will help with the tear and strengthen the leg, that is why the dog has to behave with very little exercise.
And then you may end up having to have the surgery anyway..............I feel for ya, it is a mess and I'm afraid we are going through it again.
:hug:

momanimallover Mar 13, 2009

geesh Tami, to go through it yet again we have stairs but there blocked off so that's a good thing, but  when she would visit her buddy Brutis they have stairs leading up to their deck and of course they were just whipping up and down them and when she's at home she hardly ever slows down, she does this dance thing were she jumps and hops in a circle and digs at the same time! and this is shortly after an hour of off leash running around at the park. She has way to much energy. I make her lay back down for awhile in the kitchen in the morning for a couple of hours and then around 6 to 8 at night and at 10:30pm she is sleeping for the night. Her pain tolerance is high too, she didn't even wimper when he was feeling her knee joints. I hope it will only be the one leg and that she never has any other joint problems :pray: I wish you the best of luck with your dog and I will try those supplements, I used them with my other dog when she was a senior and it really helped her until it was too far gone

Little Bear Guy Mar 13, 2009

Brenda I agree with Tami,  pick up some Glucosamine my sister has her dog on it as well, as she was having some joint problems and it has made a huge difference.  It certainly can't hurt and my sister puts it on her dogs food and she just loves it. 

Good luck 

Shane

momanimallover Mar 13, 2009

thanks I most certainly will. Today she seems even more sore I think from the vet moving the leg around so much

eteddys Mar 13, 2009

I've not had a dog w/ a torn ligament, but my lab broke his foot.  The vet did nothing and said it would probably heal.  It did!  We just tried to keep him as quiet as we could for the first 3 weeks.  We bought a doggy play pen that both dogs could fit in.  That way he couldn't walk around much and we wouldn't have the whine fest of the 2 dogs being separated.  After that, we let him do his own thing, just took all of his toys away.  We x-rayed a few months later and it healed with the exception of a chip that will never re-attach.  If your dog won't go in a kennel, try one of the play pens.  My dogs hate kennels but were content in there since it is open on the top and they could be together. 

Hugs,
Alison

TamiL Mar 13, 2009

thanks I most certainly will. Today she seems even more sore I think from the vet moving the leg around so much

Yes she will be more sore because of the vet doing that.  :hug:

momanimallover Mar 13, 2009

thanks Alison and Tami She's been alot more slower outside today which is a good thing. We have been trying to keep her in the house more to and ignoring her more so she just lays down and doesn't try to jump around