Please help :(

[Angels_Sin]

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I have a 5 year old rescue dog who was abused as a puppy. Her front left ankle was broken at some point and her owners never took her to the vet to have it re-set so her paw now points out to the side and she limps on it from time to time - she's not in pain it seems, its just uncomfortable and she cant put much weight on it.

Yesterday she started limping on her back left leg, should wouldn't even put it down and seemed to be in pain. We took her to the vets this morning and were told she has a torn ligament in her knee. They're keeping her in for today to give her an x-ray so we'll hopefully have more information tonight.

So, now obviously I've hit Google and I'm terrified. It seems that this would be a very slow recovery, which means her having to try and support herself on her other 3 legs, one of which is already weak (and she's not a small dog). I also heard that once one goes, the chances are, the other will go too? Has anyone been through this? Any advice and information would be massively appreciated. Right now I'm feeling like we may have to put her to sleep, but that could be an overreaction due to reading such horror stories on the internet just now!

Thank you so much,

Hannah.

 

[goldenbear2013]

Hi Hannah,

Torn ligaments do take time to heal which means less exercise. The vet may refer her for hydrotherapy as its the best form of exercise when your dog is recovering.

Now with her front foot, you say she isn't in pain but how do you know this? She could of just learnt to live with the pain as that's pretty much all she has ever known.

You need to press the question of getting her front foot fixed as well. They would probably break it, straighten it out and pin it back together depending on how bad her foot is, as the muscles would of either shrunk or stretched over time. Plus there is a whole other world of anatomy that comes in to play that is way out of my league!

Try not too Google everything (I do it too so pot calling kettle black!!!) as it is frightening what comes up! Vets advice is the best advice.

If your vet doesn't think there is anything that they can do, then have you tried getting referred to Fitzpatricks in Surrey? Their team is amazing and I reckon they could help you, if you're own vet cant.

The things that that team can do, i'm sure your baby girl would make a full recovery.

I'm no vet and I obviously don't know your dog, but I don't think that putting her to sleep will be something you need to consider (I hope!).

Let us know how she gets on!

I have everything crossed for you!

Sophie x