Crucial Ligament -suspected In Bc

[Angel3]

Thanks guys for all your comments & advice. It's always good to hear what others think & have your opinions. I hear you all & thank you. "Only I know my own kid (dog)" & I know how he is responding atm. He's a very loving member of my family he's my "kid". I am observing him very closely & surely complete rest with just short toilet trips with slow & caution can't be bad for him.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Angel3

[temperamentfirst]

The above link shows a Cruciate Brace Fitted sent to me by www.dogsinmotion.com.au

Hi all me & my precious boy BC really need all the help & right advice we can get right now. My vet suspected Cruciate Ligament damage last wed. 25th July 2012.

...........

Could you please give me your opinion & views about this as I am trying my best currently on getting my precious boy better asap.

Thanks Guys in advance

I don't know why you posted as you are not interested in any advice or opinion that happens to be against the brace.

If one of my dogs was in this state, I would not be content with metacam and rest, I would investigate fully.

If you really care about your dog, at the very least do an X-ray and ultrasound. If the cruciate has totally come away from the bone, surgery ASAP will make a huge difference. The brace will not solve that problem. Do you actually understand the anatomy of that joint? There are some excellent specialist orthopedic surgeons, and they are worth the expense.

Like others, I have to wonder if you have a connection with dogsinmotion as you are so determined not to listen to the advice of people who have been there, done that!

[Salukifan]

I am observing him very closely & surely complete rest with just short toilet trips with slow & caution can't be bad for him.

Actually it CAN be bad for injured animals.

Things are healing - possibly out of alignment. Without surgery or a brace and physical therapy, you may be looking at long term compromise of the joint.

Muscles are wasting due to inactivity.

I hate to keep harping on this but how many serious structural injuries have you seen solved with simply rest?? If you'd ruptured your ACL would you be content to limp around on one leg and hope it was getting better?

At the very least you need to know what the injury is because right now you don't even know that.

Conservative approaches can be damaging for the longer term in an active dog. No ACL places additional strain on remaining hock supports and it can lead to further injury,

See a decent vet as soon as you can. You need to know what options you have AND their consequences before you decide how to handle this.

If it were my dog, I'd be opting for repair. I'd certainly not be opting to do nothing.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Haredown Whippets

[Staff'n'Toller]

HW:

NSAIDs -- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- are a type of pain reliever. At prescription doses, these drugs also reduce inflammation. Inflammation is the body's response to irritation or injury and is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. NSAIDs are used to treat a variety of conditions that cause pain and inflammation, including arthritis and tendinitis. NSAIDs are also used to treat pain from injury or other causes of long-term pain.

http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/anti-inflammatory-drugs

An analgesic (also known as a painkiller) is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain (achieve analgesia). The word analgesic derives from Greek an- ("without") and algos ("pain").

Analgesic drugs act in various ways on the peripheral and central nervous systems; they include paracetamol (para-acetylaminophenol, also known in the US as acetaminophen), the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the salicylates, and opioid drugs such as morphine and opium. They are distinct from anesthetics, which reversibly eliminate sensation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analgesic

If NSAID's weren't pain killers, dogs would be having surgery and treatment around the world with no pain relief...

Edited July 30, 2012 by Staff'n'Toller

[Salukifan]

HW:

NSAIDs -- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- are a type of pain reliever. At prescription doses, these drugs also reduce inflammation. Inflammation is the body's response to irritation or injury and is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. NSAIDs are used to treat a variety of conditions that cause pain and inflammation, including arthritis and tendinitis. NSAIDs are also used to treat pain from injury or other causes of long-term pain.

http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/anti-inflammatory-drugs

An analgesic (also known as a painkiller) is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain (achieve analgesia). The word analgesic derives from Greek an- ("without") and algos ("pain").

Analgesic drugs act in various ways on the peripheral and central nervous systems; they include paracetamol (para-acetylaminophenol, also known in the US as acetaminophen), the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the salicylates, and opioid drugs such as morphine and opium. They are distinct from anesthetics, which reversibly eliminate sensation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analgesic

If NSAID's weren't pain killers, dogs would be having surgery and treatment around the world with no pain relief...

[Angel3]

I,m sick of people JUDGING........& CRITICISING, .. My Vet knows & has looked at him & told me he will see him in a week. Look forget it I have NOTHING TO PROVE.

How the hell do some of you Critics know EXACTLY what the EXACT situation IS??????????

I am asking for OPTIONS LIfe is very hard, ENOUGH already. How in the hell you do that to people when you don't even know I have taken advice from SOME!!!!!! HUH?????

PLEASE I DON'T NEED EXTRA STRESS FOR ME & MY BOY. I am so sick of repeating myself. If you want to join this post then READ THE WHOLE DAM POST enough said.So sick of wasting my time typing this even,

I am on here to help my boy. & if you don't know & realize my loving Bond I have with my K9'S SHUT THE HELL UP

Sure there will be NEGATIVE VIEWS, POSITIVE VIEWS, The Pros the cons, Many Variables for K9's thats why I,m Looking for Options, But hey come on there is no need to 'Get off Track" & be Nasty about it. Vets say rest for a week, vets say don't do this or do that. there will & always will be, way up whats best. At the end of the day you have to take some & leave the rest. that's the whole purpose of "Looking for Options" Now what was the subject??????

Edited July 30, 2012 by Angel3

[ness]

Fingers crossed for your boy Angel3. As with anything surgery carries complications, conservative management carries complications - don't let people criticize your decision you only want what is best for your dog.

Here is a link to the yahoo group I was talking about - plenty of success stories of dogs fully recovered using conservative management as with anything there are dogs who did end up needing surgery down the track because it didn't work out but also those that did.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ConservativeManagement/?yguid=253757634

Edited July 30, 2012 by ness

[Angel3]

Fingers crossed for your boy Angel3. As with anything surgery carries complications, conservative management carries complications - don't let people criticize your decision you only want what is best for your dog.

Here is a link to the yahoo group I was talking about - plenty of success stories of dogs fully recovered using conservative management as with anything there are dogs who did end up needing surgery down the track because it didn't work out but also those that did.

http://pets.groups.y...yguid=253757634

Thank You Kindly Ness, Yes people do try to sway you to what 'They' want you to do. But yes I do only want the best for my boy. I will look into the link.:)

[Salukifan]

You want me to "shut the hell up"? Well, you got your wish. Permanently. You're under no obligation to take advice here but abuse isn't really called for. People are genuinely trying to be helpful and you accuse us of wasting your time. Charming.

*backs quietly out of thread*

Good luck with your boy. I have no idea why you asked for options when its clear you have no intention of doing anything other than your original plan.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Haredown Whippets

[Angel3]

Fingers crossed for your boy Angel3. As with anything surgery carries complications, conservative management carries complications - don't let people criticize your decision you only want what is best for your dog.

Here is a link to the yahoo group I was talking about - plenty of success stories of dogs fully recovered using conservative management as with anything there are dogs who did end up needing surgery down the track because it didn't work out but also those that did.

http://pets.groups.y...yguid=253757634

I just want to send you a big thank you for pointing me in a positive direction.Great Option to look into.

[ness]

No problem Angel3. I would certainly still seek out an opinion of an ortho specialist once you have all the information though. Not all specialists are quick to resort to surgery as the solution. I know with Kenz's issues her specialist has always been happy to try the conservative options first.

Edited July 31, 2012 by ness

[Quickasyoucan]

Just to add something my boy who is now 9.5 had a TPLO under a very experienced surgeon at Sydney Uni nearly 2 years ago. I too read some scare stories on the internet about dogs having complications (note to self when having an illness/injury google is not your friend) and tried conservative management first.

In retrospect it did nothing but prolong the agony (pardon the pun) as it was clear that despite rest and physiotherapy and anti-inflammatories my boy was not improving and was still in pain. I might add he would have good days when I convinced myself he was getting better but the general trajectory was not improvement. I am also pretty sure that long-term use of anti-inflammatories can do more harm than good.

The actual operation and recovery were nothing as dramatic as the internet might lead you to believe. Pretty much from day 1 he was weight bearing and the pain was gone! I only wish I had overcome my fears and had the operation sooner.

My boy is 100% active now and pain free.

I might add I have 2 other friends both with rotties one of which has had a TPLO and one of which has had a TTA in one leg and just had a TPLO on a second leg. Same story, no drama, and pain free (except to the hip pocket!).

This is not to criticise but surgery is definitely not always the worst option and our first priority needs to be to have our dogs pain free.

[Angel3]

Just to add something my boy who is now 9.5 had a TPLO under a very experienced surgeon at Sydney Uni nearly 2 years ago. I too read some scare stories on the internet about dogs having complications (note to self when having an illness/injury google is not your friend) and tried conservative management first.

In retrospect it did nothing but prolong the agony (pardon the pun) as it was clear that despite rest and physiotherapy and anti-inflammatories my boy was not improving and was still in pain. I might add he would have good days when I convinced myself he was getting better but the general trajectory was not improvement. I am also pretty sure that long-term use of anti-inflammatories can do more harm than good.

The actual operation and recovery were nothing as dramatic as the internet might lead you to believe. Pretty much from day 1 he was weight bearing and the pain was gone! I only wish I had overcome my fears and had the operation sooner.

My boy is 100% active now and pain free.

I might add I have 2 other friends both with rotties one of which has had a TPLO and one of which has had a TTA in one leg and just had a TPLO on a second leg. Same story, no drama, and pain free (except to the hip pocket!).

This is not to criticise but surgery is definitely not always the worst option and our first priority needs to be to have our dogs pain free.

Thanks Quickasyoucan I know anti-inflammatories are no good long term.It's early days for my boy. Thanks for your great Input. Iknow the internet can be scary too. It's great to hear the good & the bad, It's a real way it up for me. It's a bit tricky sticky situation also that makes it even harder for me. Finding a "GOOD" human to attend to your loved one is also a big issue.

Thanks Again :)