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Cruciate Ligament Surgery And Saving The Other Leg


curly
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In a large breed dog with a stuffed cruciate ligament (undergoing surgery today), does anyone have any really good ideas for strengthening the other leg to preserve it? I mean, given that most dogs rupture the ligament on the other leg after doing the first.

I've read up on the care and rehab needed, and of course the vet will monitor everything. I'm thinking swimming (when she's ready) would help. What else to really strengthen that good leg? I'm hoping she'll start bearing weight on the sore leg asap to take some of the pressure off the good one.

Also, has anyone had experience with new treatments, such as stem cell therapy? I looked into it for an injured horse a while ago, but not for dogs (yet).

Any advise much appreciated!

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Swimming is only really good for fitness. As far a rehab and rebuilding muscle is concerned underwater treadmill is much better. Hopefully the vet will give you good follow up instructions. Might also be worth finding a physio/chiro to assist during the rehab side.

There are plenty of other things you can do further down the track including balance disc work however probably well advised to seek a professional to make sure your not about to do more harm then good.

My old girl is about 16 weeks post op for a cruciate repair - she just had a traditional lateral suture repair and is now in the process of rebuilding muscle and the standard protocol involves increasing duration leash walks. You can also add in things like stepping on and off a gutter and hill work to help rebuild muscle.

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Thanks Ness, some good ideas there! I didn't think of a treadmill. We're not too far from a few greyhound tracks, so there should be rehab facilities around. I'm hoping to keep that good leg nice and strong. Of course, it'll be a while before she can do much anyway.

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Hi curly. It would be good to get a referral to Dogs in Motion. Specialis animal physiotherapist - underwater treadmill and all sorts of other therapies. She is now located in Highett at the Southern Animal referral Centre. I haven't seen her personally, but have been to the pool at Doveton where she used to be - and she comes highly recommended by other DOLers

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LOL Tassie beat me to the post. Hopefully some others will see this thread and give you some recommendations. All the best for a hassle and stress free recovery.

Edited by ness
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I am 16 weeks out from TPLO surgery with my girl. I was determined to save the other one despite the surgeon saying it was almost certain she would need it on the other side.

Last week while out walking I decided to let her off lead (first time since surgery, outside the confines of our yard) for a swim in a dam as it was hot, she saw a bunny and now we are booked in to do the other leg next week :(

So please learn from my mistake.

On the upside, the fixed leg held up well, so the surgery is worth it! Not that I recommend letting your dog chase bunnies flat out to test it (bunny got away, as they always do)

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Korbin - NOOOO!!!! Aren't dogs wonderful? I'd like to to think the good leg can be saved, but...

She had to postpone her operation. She refused to pee while at the vet and with a full bladder and a new UTI, has to wait.

(she's not actually mine, BTW, I just bred her, groom her, keep an eye on her, babysit when needed, and fully intend to do whatever physio the owner can't manage).

I popped up to see her today, she looks quite happy. The injury doesn't seem as bad as I feared, she can weight bear a little. She came flying out to me yelling 'Mummy!', wasn't impressed when I wouldn't let the bouncing continue!

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Bugger Korbin. I have just found out I will have to keep Ness under loose restrictions until she is 6 months post surgery - so still have another 2 months to go. I thought she would be well and truely out of the woods at this stage. At least the surgeon who did her repair is fairly certain the other leg will be ok but then she is 13 and a bit so somewhat less agile then she was in her younger days.

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My darling Rottie had her first TPLO at 18 months old. The surgeon predicted the other leg would go in about a year.

We did hydrotherapy and physio but the surgeon was correct. The other leg went a year later almost to the day. At 2 1/2yo she had her second TPLO.

The first one was an extremely successful surgery. The second one not quite as successful. She didn't have the ease of movement she had on the first leg despite more hydrotherapy and physio.

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We were doing hill work to strengthen her legs, I have to drive out to bush to find a half decent hill.

I hope that my experience is different to yours, cavNrott, the first surgery went so well. She is currently crated and on lead again, even for toilet breaks as I don't want to aggravate her 'good' leg.

And yep, ness, I think this time I will go a lot slower with recovery.

I feel so bad for her, I hate taking her to have surgery!

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I have read (I think it might have been through one of Dr Jean Dodds' articles, but don't quote me) that there can be a plausible link between cruciate tears/ruptures and thyroid issues. Maybe check her website and search there, as if there is an underlying cause for cruciate weakness, the best first step would be to address that (i.e. *feed* the ligament for strength and build on that).

Edited by Erny
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