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 Expert
Posts: 1432
      Location: Never in one place long | My vet thinks my blue heeler tore his ACL, he has been gimping around for over month now, he thought maybe it'd get better on it's own, we put him on steroids... seems to have improved a LITTLE bit but not much, this dog is VERY hyper and almost impossible to keep him quiet. I'm worried if I do go ahead with the surgery, he'll just tear it again because he's so rowdy. We try to keep him calm but it's nearly impossible. have anyone had luck with this type of surgery? Should I do it? I dont' know what my other options are.... | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
    Location: Loma Linda, CA | I've been the surgery tech for tons of ACL repairs all with great results prior to switching to emergency medicine.
If you're guy hasn't healed enough on his own I say go for it! It really helps a lot! Same with the patellar luxation repairs on the little dogs (bad rear knees essentially). I've seen dogs that had a hard time walking without being in pain becoming spry and hoppy rabbits :P
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 The One
Posts: 7997
          Location: South Georgia | I have a jack russell terrier that tore his CCL (what it is called in dogs) and absolutely could not bear weight. He couldnt even put his foot down. We weighed the pros and cons of the surgery, but even after surgery, they have to be restricted for months to recover. I did some research and I found compelling information that suggested that restricive movement therapy has a pretty high success rate, especially so with the smaller breeds. The vet said there was pretty severe "drawer" motion in the joint, so it was a bad one. So, I bought a X-pen and placed it on the carpet of my living room. He had a dog bed, a dish of water, and his food in there. He stayed in that X-pen for at least two months. We took him out on a leash to use the restroom. At first, we had to hold him up with a sling so he could "walk around the yard," but then gradually he was able to bear a little more weight. Eventually, he walked on his own. I also read that Cosequin DS plus MSM tablets are shown to be highly effective, so I put him on that as well. So, overall, 3 months in the X-pen, hand-walking, prescription Rimadyl, and cosequin, and he is 80% back to how he was. He still has trouble jumping on things like he used to, and he cannot go upstairs by himself, but if you saw him in public you wouldn't know.
A year after the first CCL happened, the other side did it as well. I did the same thing again, but it didnt take a full 3 months that time. He is now 12 years old and happy as can be. And I saved THOUSANDS in surgery bills by doing restrictive movement therapy instead. | |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
       Location: In The Snow, AZ | My old Bull Mastiff had 3 ACL surgeries. When he was 8 months old he tore the first one. Had surgery. Too much stress and activity on the opposing knee caused his 2nd tear. Another surgery. A year later he reinjured/tore the first one as well as tore his Miniscus. Another surgery. Within 6 months tore it again. Couldn't afford another surgery. Vet said to put him down, that he'd be miserable and aggressive due to extreme pain. He healed on his own and was happy until he passed from cancer at the age of ten. He was not a hyper dog. He was bred with good knees and hips in mind. Luck of the draw, I guess. Good luck in whatever you choose. I would highly recommend putting him on MSM tho. It worked wonders for my baby after his last tear. | |
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| 1 of my Irish Wolfhounds tore hers at almost 8 yrs of age. Had surgery to stabilize it & stem cell therapy. She broke the "wire" (more like fishing line) used in the surgery getting out of the vehicle when we got home. Had that redone with heavier "wire". That held (limited activity for a while, but no crating, etc) & she is still going on walks, up & down stairs & occasionally playing with puppies today. She'll be 11 in January, which is pretty ancient for a wolfhound.
Note: 8 yr old Irish Wolfhounds (OK, wolfhounds in general) are not the most rambunctious of creatures (unless there is something to be chased, of course.) ; )
Edited by stnyb 2014-12-17 12:56 PM
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
     Location: In a happy place | My little Pooh Bear tore his completely in two. Dr. Mabry at the vet hospital in Gatesville promised me the surgery would fix it. It was a great experience. Pooh never even limped again. I would do it again if need be. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
      
| We did it on one of our livestock gaurd dogs after she popped it while protecting our ewes (we had to dart her to actually catch her). She was 3 leggin' and gimpy. She came out of surgery and we put her in a 8x8 ft kennel with 8 ft side walls. She healed just fine and was back to work in a very short time with no issues. She is still going strong 3 years later. I wouldn't hesitate to do it for a dog. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
      Location: Never in one place long | Well this is reassuring! For those of you that had the surgery, how long till recovery and the dog could go back to a normal routine? Is this something that should be done ASAP or does time not matter? Obviously I need to do it fairly soon but over the holidays I know I won't be able to get him in. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
      Location: Never in one place long | horsegirl - 2014-12-17 12:24 PM
I have a jack russell terrier that tore his CCL (what it is called in dogs) and absolutely could not bear weight. He couldnt even put his foot down. We weighed the pros and cons of the surgery, but even after surgery, they have to be restricted for months to recover. I did some research and I found compelling information that suggested that restricive movement therapy has a pretty high success rate, especially so with the smaller breeds. The vet said there was pretty severe "drawer" motion in the joint, so it was a bad one. So, I bought a X-pen and placed it on the carpet of my living room. He had a dog bed, a dish of water, and his food in there. He stayed in that X-pen for at least two months. We took him out on a leash to use the restroom. At first, we had to hold him up with a sling so he could "walk around the yard," but then gradually he was able to bear a little more weight. Eventually, he walked on his own. I also read that Cosequin DS plus MSM tablets are shown to be highly effective, so I put him on that as well. So, overall, 3 months in the X-pen, hand-walking, prescription Rimadyl, and cosequin, and he is 80% back to how he was. He still has trouble jumping on things like he used to, and he cannot go upstairs by himself, but if you saw him in public you wouldn't know.
A year after the first CCL happened, the other side did it as well. I did the same thing again, but it didnt take a full 3 months that time. He is now 12 years old and happy as can be. And I saved THOUSANDS in surgery bills by doing restrictive movement therapy instead.
I was thinking this might work too, he's just AWFUL hard to restrict, he jumps, hops and throws himself all over the place! and when I make him stay in a kennel to take the other dogs for a walk, he goes CRAZY jumping and running in his little kennel. He's a naughty dog! | |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
        
| Hubby's Heeler tore her ACL (what the vet AND the vet college called it) protecting her pups (she was chasing another dog and ran in to the porch). Back then the surgery was around $700. Last I heard it is now around $3500. Anyways, we had to give her some Ace for awhile to keep her quiet and she had a complete recovery.
I currently have a male Red Heeler with TWO bad knees. He has bad LCL on one leg, which I had shockwaved (which seemed to help) and then my regular vet tells me he completely tore the ACL on the other leg. Poor guy. He is 11, has diabetes and since BOTH rear legs need surgery, he is not a candidate for surgery, in my eyes. Do one leg and he has to get around one the other bad leg until the first surgery heals. So we have done shockwave on both legs, he gets carried up and down stairs when he gets really sore. But he gets around awfully well for an old crippled dog and seems very happy. On his mostly good days he lopes around, plays and gets up and down the stairs on the porch and jumps on the couch and bed. But he was never a high energy Heeler in the first place.
If you have the money and the resources to keep your dog quiet, go for it, and good luck! They did warn me with hubby's dog, that she may damage the other rear leg while recovering from the first. | |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
     Location: In a happy place | Well with the name "Pooh Bear" I am sure you can imagine how spoiled my boy was. He hurt his jumping off of the Kawasaki Mule to chase a rabbit. He screamed immediately upon hitting the ground. Had him at the vets the next morning. It took me a day to decide to do it as he had never spent a night away from me. That is another story as to when he came home. Decided to do it and it was done the next week. Hope this helped. He was sound for the next six years that he lived. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2154
    Location: USA | My half lab-half mastiff, tore his ACL summer of 2013. We bought a kennel and kept him inside for 6 months. We then put a separation fence up in our backyard to keep him from playing with the other two dogs but yet, give him room to move around. Per my vet, it takes 6 months to develop scar tissue in it's place and they will always have a limp. Me, being the paranoid person that I am, I would let him in with the other dogs during the day and then put him up at night. I started out once a week and then increased the days each time. I was testing his leg. We took the separation fence down finally after almost a year. He moves great, only has a limp when he's been running/playing real hard. If he limps real bad, I give him a baby asprin and the next day, he seems fine. My dad, who is a trainer, did this same thing with a dog he had that tore his ACL.
It all depends on the dog and the owner. Good luck with yours, whatever route you take. | |
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 Miss Positive
Posts: 3554
     Location: Crowder, OK | I have an 12 lb toy Aussie that is my world! She tore hers last October jumping out of the trailer to fast. I had surgery on her & she's not missed a lick! Rehab is the key. Keeping them from jumping & being to active is the hardest. Its expensive but so worth it! | |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
    Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | I am on the fence about this one. Our larger dog, Tex had to have the surgery about 4 years ago. Although we were very careful with him, the healing process was a long one and we noticed a behavior change in him. He also started to have skin issues he had never had before. Many trip back and forth to the vet... Then he came around for a while and got along OK but never really his old self. Unfortunately he declined again about a year ago, mostly in a major behavior change. We sadly had to put him down this summer because he became to aggressive. I never had any proof one was related to the other but I suspected his body MAY have had some sort of reaction to the metal in his leg. I just know he was never is old, super sweet self following the surgery. We are just average working people, so I could afford to spend thousands to get it completely worked out. I would have to really think about if I would have another dog get the surgery but I also realize each case is different. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1384
       Location: Kansas | I am speaking in general terms, not tecnical. For many years when a dog tore their ACL the only surgery was the fishing line repair. Cost ranged from $600 - $1200. Then a new procedure was developed which involved installing a plate at the joint with much better results. Cost range from about $2800 - $3500. Vets recommend the plate for dogs over 50 lbs (maybe 25 lbs?)or angles over ? (I can't remeber the degrees) 3 yrs ago my 9 yr old dog tore his ACL. I was told if one goes, usually the other leg will also go, it did 4 months later, ALthogh I love him dearly and he is so important to be I just could not justify the expense of surgery on 2 legs. I chose not to do the surgery and let it heal on it's own following the guidlines of rehab.. He completely recovered, is sound and can run and play. I am thrilled with how he is moving. As a precaution I give him a Dusoquin tablet daily and an Adequen injection monthly | |
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