Does Your Dog Really Need To Go Under The Knife?

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

I've just read this thread in horror at the OP's experience and so-called advice from a vet (who really should know what they're talking about?). Ruby's booked in for Tues (see sep thread) and my vet doesn't necessarily advocate crate-rest post-op. He thinks a few days to a week crated is fine but longer? No way. The dog needs to be using the limb (gently) in order to begin the recovery phase. On-lead walks, swimming, and gentle slope walks are ideal from about 2 wks post-op (depending on the dog of course). Ruby's a staffy x and aged 9 yrs...a very active girl who I have to manage closely once she has the surgery.

If Ruby started wanting to leap 2 metres into the air with a damaged cruciate ligament, there is NO WAY I would allow her to do so. That's bloody foolish at best and negligent at worst. ;)

[Esty79]

I've just read this thread in horror at the OP's experience and so-called advice from a vet (who really should know what they're talking about?). Ruby's booked in for Tues (see sep thread) and my vet doesn't necessarily advocate crate-rest post-op. He thinks a few days to a week crated is fine but longer? No way. The dog needs to be using the limb (gently) in order to begin the recovery phase. On-lead walks, swimming, and gentle slope walks are ideal from about 2 wks post-op (depending on the dog of course). Ruby's a staffy x and aged 9 yrs...a very active girl who I have to manage closely once she has the surgery.

If Ruby started wanting to leap 2 metres into the air with a damaged cruciate ligament, there is NO WAY I would allow her to do so. That's bloody foolish at best and negligent at worst. ;)

Well I take offence to your comment Bettee is far far from Neglected!!

Bettee kept getting out of my yard while I was at work and for the life of me I could not work out how so I spent lots of $$$ on a security surveillance system so I could see for myself. After watching the day’s footage back I saw that she was jumping the 2 meter fence. I purchase a boundary electric collar thing to use on her to stop her from going anywhere near the fence but after feeling what it did, I always try things myself before I put them on her, I couldn’t bring myself to putting it on her, so that is at the tip now. I also found out at a later date from watching more footage that my delightful neighbours where throwing things at her and taunting her. They even tried baiting her with Rat baits!! No wonder she wanted out of the yard.

After discovering these things I started to lock her inside the house while I was at work or away from the house to protect her from the neighbours.

I was living in Kalgoorlie at this time but have since moved back to Perth and to a different address and she is much happier in her new yard and she hasn’t jumped since.

Please don’t be so quick to judge. I have done what is best for my dog and she is really well cared for. You my not agree with alternative medical treatment that I have used for her and that is your right but please don’t try and suggest that I have ever done anything to her that has ever made her unhappy or uncomfortable.

Bettee has a few other medical issues that were also a reason why she had to be confined but I don’t want to go into those with you but she was in an accident as a very young pup so Bettee's recovery may have had to take longer than other dogs.

Surgery my be your option but is defiantly not mine and I am very happy with the way things have turned out.

Kind Regards,

Esty79

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Where did I say you *neglected* your dog???

What I said was "negligent" which is a different word with a different meaning. Negligent means that you allow something to occur despite knowing that it's wrong. Your dog has damaged knee joints and you allowed it to jump heights of 2 metres. That's not right. Any escaping behaviour should be managed as soon as the owner knows the dog is getting out, that's part of the responsibility of having a dog. You could have put the dog in a run. You could have put the dog inside the house (and you say you eventually did this but why did it take so long?).

So now you are saying the six months of crating isn't because of the cruciate injury? ;)

Gee, you're very hard to follow. Why not post what is factual instead of alarmist?

[Kelly_Louise]

Your original post did indicate that a dog would need to be confined for 6 months due to the cruciate injury. I, along with others that have chosen to go down the surgery route, did not want you to mislead people. While it's great you've given an alternative and had some success with it, doesn't mean it will work for everyone or suit each dog's circumstance. Many people have had fantastic results with surgery, particularly on larger dogs. Some have tried alternate methods and had success also. It should be more about what best suits the dog and circumstance, rather than what we think in our opinion should be the right way.

I'm glad you have stopped your dog from jumping... with any kind of scar tissue build up, muscle strengthen solution it renders the knee still fairly unstable and allows the injury to re-occur if not careful, as there hasn't really been any change other than the muscles have been built up to help support the knee.

The simple answer to your threads question though is yes, sometimes for best quality of life our dogs do need to go under the knife. Not always best either, but sometimes it is.

[Esty79]

Where did I say you *neglected* your dog???

What I said was "negligent" which is a different word with a different meaning. Negligent means that you allow something to occur despite knowing that it's wrong. Your dog has damaged knee joints and you allowed it to jump heights of 2 metres. That's not right. Any escaping behaviour should be managed as soon as the owner knows the dog is getting out, that's part of the responsibility of having a dog. You could have put the dog in a run. You could have put the dog inside the house (and you say you eventually did this but why did it take so long?).

So now you are saying the six months of crating isn't because of the cruciate injury?

Gee, you're very hard to follow. Why not post what is factual instead of alarmist?

I'm sorry but you don't know the full story. I did all I could to stop her from getting out as soon as I worked out how she was getting out but nothing I tried seemed to work so that is when I locked her inside the house. As everyone has pointed out, confining a Dog is a hard option to take and as she had been confined before I was very reluctatant to do it again.

I put Bettee’s story on the site, and I dicided not to share all the details of her situation as I didn’t see it’s important plus if I told you everything about her Medical history I would be here for ever and I just don’t have the time for that.

I was simply highlighting to everyone out there that there is an alternative to Surgery if they don’t like the idea of putting their beloved pet under. The types of treatment and time for recovery is going to vary for each individual and it’s up to the owners to decide what they think is going to be best for their pet. I was not saying that surgery is any better or worse or that doing it my way was going to be the best way for everyone. It’s just another option. I also do not profess to know everything about this alternative treatment as I’m not a Professional in this are. I was just telling one story of what happened to me and mine.

It was all a horrible experience for both Bettee and I and I did what I thought was right for my dog’s situation at the time.

[Kelly_Louise]

It was all a horrible experience for both Bettee and I and I did what I thought was right for my dog's situation at the time.

That's all anyone can really do... in these situations it's always best to have a specialist opinion and get as much information on all the different options, success rates and compatibility with each dog to find the best solution.

[Esty79]

Your original post did indicate that a dog would need to be confined for 6 months due to the cruciate injury. I, along with others that have chosen to go down the surgery route, did not want you to mislead people. While it's great you've given an alternative and had some success with it, doesn't mean it will work for everyone or suit each dog's circumstance. Many people have had fantastic results with surgery, particularly on larger dogs. Some have tried alternate methods and had success also. It should be more about what best suits the dog and circumstance, rather than what we think in our opinion should be the right way.

I'm glad you have stopped your dog from jumping... with any kind of scar tissue build up, muscle strengthen solution it renders the knee still fairly unstable and allows the injury to re-occur if not careful, as there hasn't really been any change other than the muscles have been built up to help support the knee.

The simple answer to your threads question though is yes, sometimes for best quality of life our dogs do need to go under the knife. Not always best either, but sometimes it is.

Thank you!!

[Esty79]

It was all a horrible experience for both Bettee and I and I did what I thought was right for my dog's situation at the time.

That's all anyone can really do... in these situations it's always best to have a specialist opinion and get as much information on all the different options, success rates and compatibility with each dog to find the best solution.

I did look into all of the option but living in Kal made my options a little limited as it was a 6 hour drive to the nearest specialist and I had had a bad experience with vets in the past who wanted to amputate Bettee's leg!