Help ruptured ACL

[Sandra1965]

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I have a 4 year old small rescue dog, 10kg.
Has anyone had success with recovery without surgery

 

[excuseme]

I have just quickly "Googled" this and it appears that it is an extremely painful injury and can take a long painful time for the injury to repair. Other injuries can result in the long term without adequate medical advice and treatment.
Poor doggie
I would speak with your vet about treatment.

.

 

[JudyN]

@Hemlock has had success without surgery - I'm sure she'll be along soon with advice, but I'm tagging her just in case.

 

[JoanneF]

If you need the other perspective, we have had a very successful result with surgery.

 

[Sandra1965]

If you need the other perspective, we have had a very successful result with surgery.

 

[Sandra1965]

I

 

[Sandra1965]

As my dog only weighs 10kg , I am just trying to weigh up all options before surgery. 5 weeks in she can put her foot on the floor and is walking well, keeping her quiet as much as possible , don’t relish the idea of up to 8 weeks in the crate

 

[JoanneF]

My dog was 8 kilos.

Whichever option you choose, surgery or not, strict crate rest is crucial to recovery.

 

[Sandra1965]

That’s what is going through my mind , no one has ever suggested crate rest for 8 weeks , the vets are saying operation then 8 weeks in the crate.
I can see an improvement in Jess but wonder if she just had several weeks in the crate and we were very strict would this be enough to stabilise the joint x

 

[Hemlock]

Each case is different, and I am not a vet, so I am NOT giving veterinary advice.

My vet and I worked together to heal my large dog without surgery. Because she was such a sensible dog we didn't use a crate at all, but she was kept in such a way that she didn't have to move about except to go out on a lead for short garden excursions to empty herself. She had well-padded beds to lie on. She was treated homeopathically (a very good homeopathic vet) and with massage (I'm a qualified physiotherapist and it's legal to treat your own dog) and after the first few weeks, also with acupuncture (vet qualified in this as well). It was a long, long haul, but we gradually built up to 10 minutes lead walking six times a day, then under vet's instruction lengthened the walking.

She was never quite sound, but managed another 7 years (she was 7 when she had the injury) of full-on exercise once the vet. gave us the okay. The injury certainly didn't stop her doing anything she had done before.

 

[Sandra1965]

Thank you for your comments, did your dog have a partial tear or had it gone completely.
My dog is like a pocket rocket so have been using this time to keep her calmer, this is something I need to think about carefully and just wonder how long I can wait before deciding if the operation is the best choice. I don’t want to do more damage long term by waiting,

 

[Hemlock]

We didn't actually scan the injury because it would have meant an anaesthetic, and she was a type that frequently dies under anaesthesia ( she did in fact do this when a different vet. different practice ignored my warning, anaesthetised her and killed her). But the leg was hanging so I suspect a full or almost full rupture.

The lovely vet. who treated her initially had moved away by then, hence using another practice.

 

[Sandra1965]

I am so very sorry to hear what happened to your dog that must have been awful , and I really appreciate your comments.

 

[Mayblossom]

Hi Sandra, our Springer was conservatively managed when she damaged her cruciate, the vet said she’s need an op to repair it and probably need the other one doing too. Molly was a very anxious girl we decided not to put her through an op at that time and see if we could manage it ourselves. As she was a little overweight we put her on a diet , then researched harnesses etc for knee support. We ordered a harness from Muttknee braces in America, had to send all Mollys measurements to ensure a good fit . Harness arrived within 10 days, was surprised by how lightweight it was but we’d give it a try. Long story short ….totally recovered with no lameness in 8 weeks, just walked her on lead for 10 mins twice a day, stopped her jumping on sofas etc , hardly used her crate , slept in it at night which she was happy doing.Her other leg was fine too. Also lost a few kilos which helped ! Molls was quite happy wearing the brace which supported both knees and worked for us . Saved putting her through a lot of trauma.

 

[Sandra1965]

Thank you Mayblossom , good to get different opinions from people, was Molly’s a partial tear or completely ruptured x

 

[Mayblossom]

Only partial so that’s why we took the decision not to have the op.Molly never had any issues again x