Thread: Anybody had their dog blow an ACL joint?

Congenital in that dogs with poor conformation can pass it on, in my experience large breed dogs with bad hindlimb shape-often evidenced by outward turned back feet are at higher risk of cruciate ligament injury- it creates uneven loading on the ligament and may lead to fraying. I’m not sure I’d identify a particular breed but large breed working dogs.
Another known risk factor is vigorous excercise.

Thanks for the advice @ethos
During my hip recovery process – I walked long distances every day to try to get the leg muscles used to the new bone and muscle setup - my eight year old Mindie dog was always by my side - but a couple of months ago she started to limp and the Vet decided she was showing signs of losing her cruciate ligament on a rear knee
We backed off her exercise and used a support device over the leg and it slowly recovered so she could bear weight and not limp – but a short burst of enthusiasm across the lawn finally tore it apart along with some cartilage that is now clicking
Xray’s last week show the CCL problem in detail and they have gone to the experts in Auckland for their choice of repair components – the bone cut and advancement process to allow for a wedge looks grim – but seems to be a practical way forward.
We couldn’t bear to put her to sleep so next Friday she is booked in for TTA surgery in Tauranga with Dr Max Clout and the 12 week long recovery process begins.
She will never be a bush dog again and I will limit her pavement walking.

Good luck with your dogs TTA surgery @time out. My dog Holly (almost 9 year old GSP/Lab) had it done the first week of February and is largely back to her old self again now. She sits with her leg a bit out to the side now, but other than that and the TTA bump on her knee you wouldn't know she had surgery. The bank balance on the other hand....

The drugs she was on to begin with were fairly hectic, and she was spaced out for a day or two. In the end we got the fentanyl patch she had on removed, and she was prescribed some milder pain meds and she perked up much faster. Biggest issue early on was lack of appetite which then let to toileting issues (or lack thereof). She didn't want a bar of her old food so, we got creative in food choices so she could take meds with something in her stomach. With being on meds, make sure you think about things she'll be able to eat easily (we used cooked chicken and rice and make it into balls to get her eating more regularly). One day I put the meds in a piece of bread and peanut butter. The peanut butter stuck to the top of her mouth and she really struggled to dislodge it given her dozy state of mind. Though she was going to choke for a bit.

Oh, If you don't have one already, have a look for those inflatable neck collars. We have previously used the cone of shame, but Holly would bump and knock things over or take one of us out at the knees when using it. Trying to keep her on her feet and stable, meant we went with the inflatable neck collar. She could sleep with it on no worries and didn't know anything over while in rehab.

I've had a couple of dogs that had ACL's done. I'm sure the vet has already mentioned it to you Time Out, but there is a good chance the dog will do the other ACL after you have the first one done. Had a Rottie bitch who I got one done on, and 6 months later the other one needed doing. They throw a lot of weight onto the "good" one while they are recovering etc...and before the first one is fixed so be prepared for the possibility. From memory it cost me about 3K for one but that was a few years ago now so no doubt more spendy now.

Kimber they make flexible collars now although I haven't used one yet and am not sure if a determined dog can move it out of the way to have a chew at the stiches/wound site. The do bang into a bit of stuff with the big plastic cone of shame on

Cost for Holly's surgery, meds, xrays/scans, check ups and hydro therapy ran to about 7k.

Ouch

My old mans heading dog did his once and was good for a few years and then did the same one again and the vet said the best option was to amputate as it was too far gone to fix. He knew it would be miserable with 3 legs so he had him put down. Poor bugger, I've never seen his as upset as after he put down his mate. Hopefully Boy is rooting some townies cavoodle in their driveway in dog heaven as often as he did in this world .

Once of our departed pointers did his @7 year of age. We had it fixed .....Ouch and he made it till 11. Was very active but his other side never went.
Sadly his kidneys failed in the end and rather rapidly. Was a good boy too.

I just have to rest mine and be really careful with distances she covers per day.

One week has passed since the operation
She stayed with the vet clinic overnight – picked her up 2pm next day and she was able to take some weight on it but pain meds were doing the job
We carried her rear weight in a sling whenever she went out to the toilet – but she had to walk around to do her thing – pee three times a day and poo once
Back to the vet to check the wound today – still a bit swollen but no infection – the fentanyl ear patch has been removed
Just had her out to the toilet and no sling – she is walking like normal
We are all sick of the plastic cone – but the vet has insisted it is the safest until the wound settles and the stitches break down as they can be itchy
We have been lucky that the weather has been fine
Still a long way to get out of confinement

Poor girl. Give her a rub from me.

Good to hear she is doing ok Time Out
One thing to look out for as she recovers, is make sure you don't let her run around too much early on. As they feel better they can go for a hoon around and bingo munted leg again. It's good to get a balance of her pain meds so she still feels it's a little bit sore, and is reluctant to go for a big run around causing damage as it heals.
Around week 3 with my girl it got very frustrating trying to keep her in check so she didn't undo the dollars spent. I went to a longline for a bit on walks so she didn't take off after a rabbit or something

That's her in the front of my Avatar. She got hypothyroidism as well which added to the Maintenace. Had to give her 13 pills a day for about half her life. Bought 3000 at a time from the chemist since they are the same as for humans and cheaper than from the vets.

I carried my "lad" out the front door after his ACL repair, put him in the wheelbarrow and wheeled him down the drive to the back yard to do his business.

Going back up the drive way was a bit tough pointers are not that little, The things we do for our dogs eh!