Love_Lissa Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Three weeks ago, after a huge night on the town, I got home to find my Dalmation, Zues, holding up a hind leg and wimpering in pain. After about 10 mins and a paniced call to the vet, he settled down and was not limpering or in any pain. The next morning I took him to the vet, and she said that he had damaged his stifle, but she didn't think it was too bad and just put him on weekly injections for the next 4 weeks. All was going well, till I again went out last Thurs night and arrived home to find he had done the same thing, proving that it isn't healing as it should. He has one more injection on Saturday and if his leg hasn't dramatically improved, he will need x-rays to determin if an operation is required. I am so worried about him. I don't mind paying for the operation, however am worried about how well he will recover, as he is such an active and silly dog. I have him on joint guard and am attempting to keep him as quiet as possible. I would love any advice or suggestions. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poodle wrangler Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Dogs are silly and don't listen when you ask them to stay quiet :D . After desexing the vet pamphlet said "no jumping" for a week and here is my fool dog bouncing straight up in the air a few days afterwards. Your dally's injury is more severe by the sound of it, though. Confining your dog in some way is really the only way to keep him quiet while you're not there. Is it possible for you to buy a crate for him to use when you're out for only a few hours? Not practical to use if you're out for many hours, of course. Crates are designed to be used as a den, not a cage. Your dog needs to be trained to use it and enjoy being there. An XL crate would be big enough for a dally and about $140-150 new. It would likely come in useful for post-op recovery if an op is needed. Can you otherwise confine him to a smaller area to minimise the risk of injury? One of my breeder's dogs injured himself and he had to be crated for a few months. She absolutely hated to do it (active breed), and asked the vet who said if she didn't the dog's leg would never heal properly. So, she did it. Sounds like you'll need those XRays - to confirm a diagnosis. One thing at a time .. Best wishes for you and the dally . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love_Lissa Posted July 9, 2007 Author Share Posted July 9, 2007 Thanks for the advice. I unfortunately work full time so it would be very difficult to crate him, but if its needed if he has the operation I'm sure I will find a way. Bouncing is Zeus' favorite past time. At the moment he is confined to my large backyard which is driving him silly, cause he is really missing his daily walks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shmoo Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Sounds like he might have a Luxating Patellar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Thanks for the advice. I unfortunately work full time so it would be very difficult to crate him, but if its needed if he has the operation I'm sure I will find a way.Bouncing is Zeus' favorite past time. At the moment he is confined to my large backyard which is driving him silly, cause he is really missing his daily walks. Can you put him on a lower energy diet for the time being ? Also mental stimulation like a well stuffed kong a good big bone to chew on might help. Also some sedentary traing like teaching him to speak, or shake paws might help. Good luck with his leg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love_Lissa Posted July 9, 2007 Author Share Posted July 9, 2007 I've never heard of a "Luxating Patellar". Any chance you could elaberate? Thanks Janba - He is on a very low energy diet already, the next step would be to not feed him at all! Would hate to see him on anything to stimulate him. Will try to kong though. Great idea. Unfortunately bones encourage him to dig, which would put more strain on his legs! I am luckerly blessed that he doesn't know that he is able to bark, and actually scares himself when one slips out! This sure would be a good time to refresh the basics of dog training with him though! He just puts so much enthusiasm into everything he does... he has the most violent "drop" I have ever seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shmoo Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 (edited) here is a googled answer to Luxating Patellar http://www.wolfweb.com.au/acd/luxpatella.htm and here http://aaczar.bigbutton.com.au/Patella.html Edited July 9, 2007 by shmoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flaves Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Crates are designed to be used as a den, not a cage. Your dog needs to be trained to use it and enjoy being there. An XL crate would be big enough for a dally and about $140-150 new. It would likely come in useful for post-op recovery if an op is needed. I got a 42" crate for $98.00 off ebay. the 48" was $145.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love_Lissa Posted July 9, 2007 Author Share Posted July 9, 2007 Thanks for that Shmoo. In the second artical they talk about Medial Patellar Luxation, which sounds exactly like what is happening to Zeus. Doesn't really sound too promosing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shmoo Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Its manageable Lissa. I'm surprised your vet didn't mention it to you and check to see if it was the case. Your vet might want to take some x-rays with the leg at different angles to see what the Patella is doing when his leg is moving. I would try that, and take it from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love_Lissa Posted July 9, 2007 Author Share Posted July 9, 2007 She mentioned the symptoms to me, just not the acutal name, which made it difficult to research. Looks like x-rays will be taken sometime soon, so atleast I will then know the extent of the damage. Will keep you all posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shmoo Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Great! I hope it turns out well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Lissa, being a large breed dog I feel it would be more likely to be a torn or partially torn cruciate ligament. Has your vet done the drawer test on your dog? We usually refer to ligament damage as an ACL rupture but the correct term is Cranial Crucial Ligament. (CCL) Along with ligament damage there is often damage to the meniscus. (A google will bring the info up for you). Is the course of injections you the dog is having at the moment Cartrophen? Unfortunately xrays will not show if a ligament is torn, hence the drawer test is necessary for diagnosis and is usually done by your vet and who will usually referred you to an orthopaedic specialist. Xrays will indeed show if it is a luxating patella but that can usually be diagnosed without xray and is usually a problem with small breed dogs. Please let us know how you get on and best of luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyhldher Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Oh Lissa - hope it all turns out well. I don't have any useful advice (unlike all others here!) but did find that Horlicks worked really well in calming bouncy Dallies down. Bush Flower Essences - Rescue Remedy, or Black-Eyed Susan, or Crowea, can help as well. Good healing thoughts finding their way to Zeus; and hope you're not stressing. Share the Rescue Remedy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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