Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:46 am Post subject: Cruciate ligament surgery - experiences
Hi,
Lomond's leg has now gone completely so he is facing full surgery next wednesday. Has anyone had experience of this, he will be having a metal plate screwed in for stability as this is what they recommend in the heavier breeds. I know what is involved with this op, it's was just experiences of recovery time and any tips anyone might have.
Thanks
My Beauceron (42kg) had the operation done this Wednesday- pick her up today!!. According to the surgeon, she will have a soft cast on for 3 weeks. Every week a small part of the cast is cut away. At the end of 3 weeks the cast is completely removed and so are the stitches. For the first week, she has to be kept very calm, ie away from my other dogs. She can be walked 2-3 times a day ON A LEAD only, and for about 10 minutes max. The walking on a lead is for the next 3 months...... I haven't told her yet!!
That's about it. I will speak to the surgeon today when I collect her, and will update next week.
Cindy one of our many foster dog had to have a Cruciate ligament operation. She was only a light weight so didnt need a pin.
The hardest thing i found was keeping the plaster dry, and keeping her quiet. We did have alot of other dogs around at the time and Cindy was also quite hypo at the best of times. She healed really well, within a few days she was trying to bear weight on the leg. After about 10 day we let her in the garden without her lead on. After about 3-4 weeks she had short strolls down the round increasing the walk time back up too normal within a few weeks.
She is now in her forever home and doing great, no one would know she ever had a problem.
I don't think my dog could have had the same operation. Certianly no pins nor casts were involved yet my vet described it as the same injury the footballer Paul Gascoigne had (it happened at the same time in the early 1990s).
I don't think my dog could have had the same operation. Certianly no pins nor casts were involved yet my vet described it as the same injury the footballer Paul Gascoigne had (it happened at the same time in the early 1990s).
There are varying levels of surgery depending on the level of damage. Fortunately for Phibie it wasn't a total ruptured. Some dogs and footballers completely snap the ligament. When then happens they cannot walk at all.
As for Phibie, picked up her Friday. She was still a little groggy from the operation (2 days prior). She has a massive "soft"cast on. It is there purely to stop the knee buckling, not to support the leg/knee. She is allowed 3 pee/poo walks a day. She is also taking anti-inflamatories for 6 days. Every Saturday I have to take her back to the vets so that they can remove a part of the cast. After 3 weeks the cast and stitches come off. The operation has about a 95% success rate, and the dog normally regains 90% of the full movement range.
Thanks for all the information, appreciate it!
Feel quite sick as I've to take him into the hospital tomorrow poor thing. I know it has to be done but at least if it's on a human they understand the words, 'don't do too much' etc. etc. DH has been building a ramp for the front door so he can get into the garden without (hopefully) to much trouble!
I know it easy for me to say, but try not and worry to much, dogs are very strong creatures. Have you got a crate to put Lomond in whwn he comes home, he will need one. Here is a picture of Cindy ( our foster dog) after her op
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f379/denise070/P1010026.jpg
We don't have a crate as we've never needed it. Lomond is now 8 1/2 so thankfully past the jumping everywhere stage. He's quite a laid back lab so hopefully it'll be okay and I've only one teenager in the house so again no young children. Thought I'd limit his access round the house to the family room where he sleeps and the kitchen only. Someone had suggested giving him Arnica before the op to speed with the healing but I don't know
Cindy (Westie) had this op a couple of months back, she`s 9yo and sailed thru, altho she does have arthritis and now a problem with her other leg!, the vet told me that when one goes the other usualy follows afterwards, I thought it had happened on her first day of off lead exercise after the op , but luckily not.
She`s on lead only walks now, or off lead as long aas she`s not with CJ cos thats when she does the damage chasing after his ball
Dogs are very resilient creatures and don`t realise the enormity of what they`ve been thru like we do, the hardest part will be trying to stop him being a loon after a few days!!
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so he is facing full surgery next wednesday. Has anyone had experience of this, he will be having a metal plate screwed in for stability as this is what they recommend in the heavier breeds. I know what is involved with this op, it's was just experiences of recovery time and any tips anyone might have.
, but luckily not.
