URGENT!!! 5 yr old Bandit may need ACL surgery? Need impute asap!!!!!!!

Brittanylynne1421

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Sep 7, 2012
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Bandit
My first born (only a face a mother can love am I right?) went to the vet last year for limping. After Xrays and a specialist seeing him they determined he had arthritis in his back legs, and a partial tear in his back right ACL. Yesterday he was fine (active like always!) and then I was loading the kids up to drop them off at preschool and my poor Bandit was walking sideways and stumbling. I was so worried he had a stroke or something! I gave him a half a Rimadyl, and not change. So I took him to the vet yesterday evening, and she said his ACL feels completely torn. She suggusted I take him back to the specialist I saw last year and decide a plan of action. No Xrays were taken.

I gave him a Tramodal last night, and a half a rimadyl this morning. He's now walking fine, running, and playing (not has rough as usual). Obviously if he needs the surgery, he will get it.. but now I'm questioning the fact that the Vet said his ACL is completely torn.. obviously its not normal for him to be walking sideways, gimping, and so weak like he was yesterday, however, is it just the pain meds? He didn't have any pain meds first thing this morning and was walking almost 90% better. Could his ACL really be torn, and the medicine is helping, and the fact that he laid around all day yesterday which caused him to feel better today?

Obviously I'm keeping his appointment with the specialist on 9/13, but can a dog really be in bad condition one day from a torn ACL and then the next day improve significantly? In your experience would he still be a canidate for surgery?

THANKS
 

Gunny B

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Jul 19, 2012
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Drugs mask the pain and they will continue to run and play as long as they can't feel the pain. I would suggest keeping him contained and low key until the vet appointment for fear that without the pain he could do more damage.
 

lexterwayne

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Aug 13, 2010
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Our baby has 2 torn acls and is on pain meds and be will run a play like he doesn't hurt at all. Of course his play times are very limited. :( I would definately keep the appointment
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
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I would get a second opinion, or may be a third in your case.

Nitschke had two ACL surgeries. Both were the same knee as the 1st correction failed and torn again three months after surgery. However, until the first procedure, he would appear OK at times and I'd question if there was a tear, but there was.

The other thing we did with Nitschke was stem cell threapy... this turned him into a puppy at the age of 6 was amazing.
 

JeannieCO

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Mar 11, 2011
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Rimadyl is a very powerful anti inflammatory and is more than likely masking Bandit's pain. My Pitbull Ace (may he RIP) was on it for years. He had two torn ACLs (CCL for dogs) and required the TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) surgery for both rear legs. It's time to get Bandit back to a specialist asap. If it's partially torn they should be able to do surgery on it without having to have a TPLO done (which is very invasive but a fantastic surgery with near bionic results). Ace tore his other CCL 1.5 years after the first (it's a 50/50 chance the other one will tear when they fully tear the ligament).

My personal opinion having experienced two fully torn CCLs is that if Bandit's is 100% turn he will not be able to walk on his leg, it's physically impossible as that ligament holds the joints together. I could be wrong but don't think I am.

Please keep us updated on Bandit! So glad you found us too. :)
 
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Brittanylynne1421

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At this point my husband and I are debating TTA vs TPLO surgery... Everything I've read is so contradicting of the last article!! TOTALLY LOST! I'm a Nursing student.. so its not like I can't read medical terminology! Haha!

In everyone's opinion which is better TTA or TPLO? Bandit is almost 5 (November 11!) Enjoys sleeping, but enjoys his tennis balls, jolly balls, Bobo's, and chasing cats! We have to limit his play because after so long we know hes tired, but doesn't want to give it up (OCD about Balls I guess? haha). So hes a very active dog. Only weighs 50lbs, and his vet (a bulldog specialist, and has 4 bulldogs herself, people come from all over to see her!) said "He is the healthiest, fittest, most muscular bulldog I have ever seen". He has great airways, beautiful muscle tone (even with the torn acl), and loves to exercise!

So TTA vs TPLO? Pros, Cons? Whats best to get my baby back to his ball chasing self!

[MENTION=2894]2BullyMama[/MENTION]..[MENTION=2014]JeannieCO[/MENTION]..[MENTION=1041]lexterwayne[/MENTION]..[MENTION=2738]Gunny[/MENTION]b
 
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JeannieCO

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Boy I don't know much about the TTA shy of what I just read for a couple of minutes. It seems to be less intrusive, the tibia cut is different than the TPLO. I personally would trust what my specialist says as I feel they would have the best knowledged for what's best for each dog. Here's a little excerpt I read.

[h=2]“…What is the best procedure to do for a CCL rupture?”[/h]That question can only be answered on an individual basis, as each patient is a unique situation and many factors of the patient’s anatomy and lifestyle come into play when making a decision.For most of my patients that are big and active, I do recommend a TTA. If a patient is older, but still very active, I will still recommend a TTA. Some veterinarians will recommend a TPLO and that is fine, as neither are superior in regards to outcome -both procedures are highly successful.
The TTA
• The procedure itself is easier to perform, and highly reproducible, meaning we get consistently good results. I want all of my patients that have a TTA surgery to do well!
• TTA patients begin using the leg more quickly than patients having a TPLO procedure, because with the TTA procedure, the tibia is cut only in a non-weight bearing area: The femur sits on top of the uncut portion of the tibia, not through a line cut across the shaft of the tibia, as in the TPLO procedure.
• This means that the chances of a catastrophic mistake or post-surgical injury are much less with the TTA.
 

Angelgirl

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Belly just had TTA surgery 6 weeks ago. The hardest part is having to confine her to the kitchen all this time.She did great through the surgery although not fond of the cone of shame. She would limp around the yard one day and look fine the next. It went on for weeks since the vet wasn't sure so she sent us to an orthopedic surgeon who said it was a definite tear and since she was young yet and active recommended surgery.We also had laser treatments and adaquan shots for 6 weeks (2 times a week) it is supposed to help them heal faster and help prevent arthritis issues down the road. All I can say is ...I'm so glad I got health insurance for her!
If you opt for surgery, there are plenty of us on here that have gone through it and can answer your questions along the way!
 

cali~jenn

..........
Mar 28, 2010
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419
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Cutty, Miila and Mugsy the pug :)
Well I only know what we have been thru. Cutty first injured his leg that I noticed and immediately couldn't walk. In fact I had him totally resting for a good 2 days before I saw any change. I was thinking it was just a sprain cuz after this he improved greatly. I tried to keep him resting buy he played and walked 99% normal aside from lifting his leg when eating or otherwise standing still. He would lift his leg while eating and after some time I knew it was something more. He had a partial tear and had the tta surgery. If you have a good dr his opinion should be what matters, but I would get. Second opinion at least to be sure. My 2nd opinion was willing to look at his X-rays online so I didn't hae to make the our plus drive. One thing he specified was he wanted to see the other knee also. Something the first vet didn't X-ray. I guess the other knee often is already damaged when they tear an acl so knowing for sure before hand is a good thing o be prepared for. Cutty was 52 pounds before injuring his knee and then dropped to under 50 with the injury. He is almost on 4 months since his surgery and doing Awesome. I have to say tho the lock down for us was horrid, honestly and those first 6 weeks were not fun. Good luck to you and please if you have any questions pm or just ask. There are many of us who have been thru diff stages of surgery.
 
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Brittanylynne1421

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Bandit
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We are located in Northern Illinois (About 40 miles west of Chicago!).. I talked to my cousin who works at the surgery center.. and he said that the TPLO and TTA are very similar in the results. And the TPLO is pretty much the only procedure they do there for ACL tears. They have 1 doc who does the TTA but has only performed a few of them.

Yesterday he didn't have any medicine and he actually chased a boy down the street on his bike (yeah.... haha). But he ran like a champ. We KNOW he has a partial tear at the least, but now I'm really doubting he has a full tear because hes not limping, can run up and down the stairs, and obviously chase little boys down the street on their bikes haha. But then this morning he was playing with our son and he moved funny and yelped, but that was the end of it, he didn't limp or anything... So i dont know.
 

cali~jenn

..........
Mar 28, 2010
0
419
Southern California
Bulldog(s) Names
Cutty, Miila and Mugsy the pug :)
We are located in Northern Illinois (About 40 miles west of Chicago!).. I talked to my cousin who works at the surgery center.. and he said that the TPLO and TTA are very similar in the results. And the TPLO is pretty much the only procedure they do there for ACL tears. They have 1 doc who does the TTA but has only performed a few of them.

Yesterday he didn't have any medicine and he actually chased a boy down the street on his bike (yeah.... haha). But he ran like a champ. We KNOW he has a partial tear at the least, but now I'm really doubting he has a full tear because hes not limping, can run up and down the stairs, and obviously chase little boys down the street on their bikes haha. But then this morning he was playing with our son and he moved funny and yelped, but that was the end of it, he didn't limp or anything... So i dont know.

I wouldnt let him run tho cuz by doing this he will end up with a full tear.
 

kazzy220

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Jul 31, 2010
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Maggie (My Angel Baby 5/31/2012). Daddy (2 years). Linus (1year). Bella (4 years)
You've had great advice from people who know so much more about this than me. So I can't help except maybe suggest he be kept as quiet as possible until that next vet appointment.
 

gracoliv

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Jan 3, 2012
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Dogs who can recover without surgery will show that they are re-stabilizing the joint beginning within 8 weeks of carefully restricting activity. That is the best treatment choice. Restrict activity for 8 weeks and see how he/she does. If no improvement, a custom made brace to hold bones in proper alignement while the body builds the permanent fibrous scar tissue stabilization. If neither of these work (restriction including brace) then conventional stabilizing surgery would be appropriate. The surgeries, particularily TPLO are pretty horrendous and you will need to restrict movement for weeks after the surgery anyway... always try for non-surgerical remedies when possible; I was recommended tplo but chose the wait and see and my dog was back to perfect form in 3 weeks... its been a year since the incident... she is great.
 

TheLost

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My Frankie had a torn ACL long before i adopted him (it was never repaired). As he got older he had hip problems due to favoring one leg more then the other (you couldn't tell by looking.. but he was putting stress on his hips). I would recommend, what ever you decide, make sure you are keeping an eye on the big picture. Diet, weight and supplements will help reduce any long term after-effects.
 

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