Possible torn ACL :(

[Angelgirl]

Belly has been penned in the kitchen for almost 2 weeks now. She is still limping and on Rimadyl for inflammation.She puts her weight on it and I've seen her run on it, but still limping... Her vet said we would need Xrays to be sure but she would have to be sedated and if it was torn they would operate right away since she was sedated already. Do they really need sedated for an X ray? We wait until thursday to see if she's better , if not, we go to the specialist

 

[2BullyMama]

So sorry this is still an issue.... but, yes they sedate for xrays so the pup is motionless and they can get the leg in the position they need for the xray to be accurate

 

[bullmama]

O I am so sorry it has not improved [MENTION=1652]Angelgirl[/MENTION], give Belly a kiss from us. I have never had one but seen so many on EBN that I know it is a long healing process. I will tag some who have been through it for more help. BIG HUGS

 

[Angelgirl]

Thanks [MENTION=2]desertskybulldogs[/MENTION] I'll give the big love bug a kiss for you

 

[izstigspunks]

Some clinics don't sedate, but some do. Here, they only do to get one of their hips, but not their knees. Here are a couple of members who've recently gone through a torn acl injury.

[MENTION=390]cali~jenn[/MENTION]
[MENTION=2415]AdventuresWithOliver[/MENTION]

Here's also a post that details the recovery. It's a very good read for those that are looking into it.

http://www.englishbulldognews.com/forums/your-bulldogs-health/15831-olivers-tta-surgery.html

Hope everything goes well.

 

[AubreysMom]

Poor Belly! I'm sorry its not getting better. I haven't had experience with this, but I sure hope she gets better soon, surgery or not.

 

[Angelgirl]

Thanks for the link [MENTION=1209]savemejeebus[/MENTION] ! Great info on what we may have to go through...hoping not though *fingers crossed*


Thanks [MENTION=2894]2BullyMama[/MENTION] and [MENTION=3654]AubreysMom[/MENTION]

 

[AdventuresWithOliver]

Hi! I'm so sorry to hear about Belly's limp. Oliver was the same way. His torn ACL was diagnosed without X-rays. Most surgeons can just feel the leg and determine if it's torn. Oliver had TTA surgery on 5/21 and we just had our final check-up last week. He is now allowed off-leash and can resume most of his activities aside from playing at the park. We're still not allowing him to go crazy and run, which is never much of a problem with Oliver. (he's super lazy)

I saw that someone gave you the link to our thread detailing Oliver's surgery and the recovery. (It feels like it takes forever!) If you have any questions please do not hesitate to shoot me a message. I'd be happy to give you my email address to. This was our first time going through it (and hopefully the last) and it was a little overwhelming. If I can help ease your mind in any way, I'd be happy to give you more of our experience.

 

[Angelgirl]

Thank you so much [MENTION=2415]AdventuresWithOliver[/MENTION] ! He is adorable by the way! Gosh that seems like such a long recovery time!! We got Bob Dylan because Belly was so lonely without another dog to play with (we have a Boston who is 14 and won't give her the time of day) Now her and Bob are both miserable since they can't play together. He lays by the gate to try and play with her. I guess we'll call the regular vet this week to set up an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon and see what he says. Did Oliver walk on his leg sometimes prior to the diagnosis? So glad I got insurance for her!

This is Belly and Mr.Bob

 

[cali~jenn]

Omg I just wrote an essay and lost it....... Ugh....... OK Let me think again.... When cutty had xrays they did not sedate. But it wasn't the bully Vet who after, was the one to do the surgery. Make sure when you have xrays done they look at both knees. Apparently most the time if one is bad, the other already went and nobody knew which made them favor this leg making injury easier. Thankfully Cutty's other leg looks ok. When he injured his he didn't walk on it for a day or 2. I saw improvement and thought nothing of it more than a regular sprain. Only thing that made me realize in the end was he was favoring that same leg. When standing he would lift it or when eating also. This was my tell something wasn't right. Otherwise i really wouldn't have known. He wanted to play and run and wrestle like normal. Bullies r crazy and hide their pain like mad. He had his surgery 2 weeks after Oliver and this Friday I am hoping he will get cleared for some freedom. This has been the hardest 6 weeks for both of us and i honestly am just hoping he didn't redamage it with his craziness.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[AdventuresWithOliver]

[MENTION=1652]Angelgirl[/MENTION] - Yup, Oliver would sometimes be fine on his leg and then limp at other times. Oliver's torn ACL was caused by Patella Luxation. The thing with a torn ACL (I've learned SO much through all of this!) is that dogs will compensate quickly. It's key to get it repaired as soon as possible because scar tissue will form to compensate for the torn ligament. You don't want that, as the scar tissue can lead to severe arthritis. We were fortunate enough to have insurance on Oliver as well and the bill was just over $2,600 and his insurance covered 80% of that. (We had already met the deductible for the term)

The recovery is 6-8 weeks. Oliver got the okay for being off-leash at 6 weeks but can't resume playing at the dog park for a while. He still has a VERY minor limp but we were told that can last for an additional month or two. We opted to have physical therapy after surgery mainly because we heard how much of a difference it can make in recovery. That wasn't covered by insurance but was worth what we paid. He was in physical therapy for 4 weeks of the 6 week recovery. I feel the therapy, specifically the cold laser therapy, helped Oliver heal much quicker than expected. He had therapy one hour per week, so in total just 4 sessions. We then received tons of exercises to do at home.

My fingers are crossed that maybe Belly is just dealing with some inflammation and won't need surgery. Sending positive vibes your way! PS: - your pups are VERY cute!

 

[Angelgirl]

[MENTION=390]cali~jenn[/MENTION] I'm so sorry you are going through this also! That's what I'm worried about with Belly..she's a crazy nut..we both work 2nd shift..it's going to be so hard to watch her. I'm going to see about getting on 1st shift temporarily so there is always someone home with her..Good to know about getting them both Xrayed!

[MENTION=2415]AdventuresWithOliver[/MENTION] good lord! $2,600 We have a friend that had 3 ACL surgeries on his dog and now has scar tissue..after all that, his dog still limps. Calling her vet tomorrow when she's in the office to see about getting an appointment with the specialist. Luckily there is one that works out of the emergency clinic in town. Thank you all for the advice and well wishes! When I hear something, I'll let you know!

 

[cali~jenn]

[MENTION=390]cali~jenn[/MENTION] I'm so sorry you are going through this also! That's what I'm worried about with Belly..she's a crazy nut..we both work 2nd shift..it's going to be so hard to watch her. I'm going to see about getting on 1st shift temporarily so there is always someone home with her..Good to know about getting them both Xrayed!

And I AM home all day with him. ugh..... SO cant wait to hear that he is ok on friday at the 6 week mark. I hope to never have to go thru anything like this ever in my life. And to think it could have been a bigger surgery which would have been harder. ugh..... Oh and Cutty's was only 1600 ish for the surgery but then had already spent a good 300 on xrays. The first place was going to charge over 2400 so I was happy to have to pay less than that for a better dr.

 

[Angelgirl]

My friends cost $1200, but it wasn't done right and had to be done again...and then the other leg... ugh.. Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst...

 

[Angelgirl]

[MENTION=390]cali~jenn[/MENTION] just wanted to add I hope you get good news Friday! Let me know how it goes!