URGENT!!! Suspected ACL Injury

[betterxthanxnew]

I hope so! I am trying to remain hopeful. But, I also don't want to get my hopes up too high
I will definitely keep you posted! Thanks for checking in, I appreciate all of the support so much.

 

[rjisaterp]

Wait to see the specialist and hope for the best. My Jewel went through this escapade last year. I am so glad we had the TPLO because she has a better quality of life.

I know it is agonizing to see your baby in pain because my wife and I were experiencing this with our girl.

I will send positive vibes and prayers to your family and hope for the best and that her injury is minor.

 

[betterxthanxnew]

[MENTION=11639]rjisaterp[/MENTION] How long did you wait to have Jewel's surgery after her injury? And did you notice her walking on both legs in the mean time at all (still limping)? I'm just wondering if that is common with an ACL.

 

[madie4589]

glad to hear she is in such good spirits!!

Fill up a kong with wet dog food and freeze it. that always keeps frank occupied for a good 20-30 min

 

[rjisaterp]

[MENTION=11639]rjisaterp[/MENTION] How long did you wait to have Jewel's surgery after her injury? And did you notice her walking on both legs in the mean time at all (still limping)? I'm just wondering if that is common with an ACL.

We went through a round of rest and limited activity about 3-4 weeks. She seemed much better over this course. Then one day she started running and after her outside time and her taking a nap, she got up and had that freaking limp.

We too have banfield and we are quite impressed with Dr Myers. She explains everything to us...essentially a true doctor with a great bedside manner.

We had had the xray early on which did not show a fracture...so we did the soft tissue injury routine as mentioned above. The last resort was to sedate Jewel and and Dr Meyers told us she had a positive Drawer Sign. We were referred to an ortho vet who confirmed torn acl.

Surgery was done in August with her follow up in October. She was cleared and we had the DC bully meet up where she had a good time running and meeting other bullies and their parents from the forum.

It was a long 12 weeks.

 

[betterxthanxnew]

[MENTION=11639]rjisaterp[/MENTION], Thank you for explaining. The ER doctor did the drawer movement when we brought her in and he said it was positive as well. I am assuming that most definitely always means torn acl I wish Friday would hurry up so we can get to our appt with the Ortho specialist.
How do they confirm the diagnosis? I know it doesn't show on an x-ray. Do they do an MRI or ultrasound? Or they confirm with the drawer movement as well...

 

[rjisaterp]

The Ortho vet will essentially confirm through physical exam. An MRI is extremely expensive.

Where are you located?

Now let me inform you that your puppy will bevunder anesthesia. The vet may suggest additional procedures while being under. We did with Jewel...shortened palate and we had her corkscrew tail fixed. Just to give you a heads up its like the acl isn't enough.

 

[betterxthanxnew]

[MENTION=11639]rjisaterp[/MENTION], I'm in Virginia Beach.
Effie is so young, and she literally had her spay the day before this injury happened. We haven't noticed, and our vet hasn't voiced any other concerns for her right now. So I'm not sure that there would be anything else to have done at the same time? She's only 5.5 months old. It does make sense to do that though- if you're aware of other procedures that need to be done.
I've read that they are sometimes sedated for a more thorough exam. The office didn't say anything about fasting her when I made the appt, but perhaps I should do that just in case they decide to sedate. I hate her having to go back under so soon

 

[rjisaterp]

[MENTION=11639]rjisaterp[/MENTION], I'm in Virginia Beach.
Effie is so young, and she literally had her spay the day before this injury happened. We haven't noticed, and our vet hasn't voiced any other concerns for her right now. So I'm not sure that there would be anything else to have done at the same time? She's only 5.5 months old. It does make sense to do that though- if you're aware of other procedures that need to be done.
I've read that they are sometimes sedated for a more thorough exam. The office didn't say anything about fasting her when I made the appt, but perhaps I should do that just in case they decide to sedate. I hate her having to go back under so soon

Come to think of it...Jewel was not to have any food for about6-8 hours before and no water an hot before. Not exactly sure as it is not on a post note.

Yes Effie is very young. Jewel was just over a year old when she was hurt.

Tincture of Time is the best medicine. All will work out. Keep us posted.

BTW...just north of you. I live half way between Baltimore and DC.

 

[mybrindlegirl]

How is sweet little Effie?
I'm so sorry she did have her jumping-accident and got injured
I never heard of a baby of such young age having ACL so I still hope somehow with all my heart that it is something different (like a pulled muscle)...
Sending your sweet baby much love and many positive thoughts

 

[Manydogs]

@betterxthanxnew How is little Effie doing? Checking in to see how she is feeling.......

 

[betterxthanxnew]

Well, we went to our normal vet and she also suspected an ACL tear, but she said it may just be partial. Friday morning we went to the Ortho Vet and she did x rays and told us that it's not an ACL tear at all. She said there is no drawer sign. She told us that because ACL injury is so common a lot of general vets tend to automatically jump to that conclusion. The xrays showed no fluid on her knee either which confirmed it's not an ACL tear. The xrays show what looks like a chip on her growth plate. They sedated her and put on a splint. The vet is recommending 4 weeks if cage rest. So that's what we're doing right now. She said there is a surgery available for this. But because of Effie's age and the small size of the chip she doesn't want to jump to surgery. She prefers to try conservative management first. Effie looks absolutely pitiful in her splint and she's having a very difficult time walking with it on. It breaks my heart. She can't stand the cage rest either. She's just crying and crying as I type this. When she's calm I let her lay on the couch with me. But when she's trying to be active I have to use her crate. She normally does really well in her crate but she can't stand to be in there when we are home. We've been given Xanax and a mild tranquilizer med. But nothing seems to settle her down she's just a puppy after all.
I am very relieved it's not an ACL tear. But I am concerned about the growth plate chip I really hope that this works for her.

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[dolphin]

Thats really really good to hear it isn't an ACL tear!! Hopefully you can keep her a little calm so she can heal. Im so happy for you!

 

[Donnam]

I'm so glad it isn't her ACL, Tasha! But I'm disappointed that it's serious enough that she's supposed to rest for 4 weeks in the crate. That totally sucks--poor Effie and poor you! I'm not sure I understand what a "chip in the growth plate" is. Does that mean a little piece of the bone chipped off or what? And will it repair itself, hopefully, with the splint and rest? Where is the growth plate? Sorry for so many questions--just trying to picture in my mind...
Maybe she will get more used to being in the crate while you are home. I'm sending positive thoughts your way and hope this does the trick for sweet Effie!

 

[betterxthanxnew]

[MENTION=13140]Donnam[/MENTION], the discharge instructions she gave me state it's a "salter harris growth plate fracture II" It also says that "the fracture is not currently displaced, but does involve the growth plate and bone, with a chip fracture."
From what I've read online the salter harris type II is a growth plate in the knee. The way the doctor made it sound is that with the splint and proper cage rest it should heal itself properly. They will redo the xrays at 4 weeks and check progress. There's a surgery that can be done involving placing a pin, but she's hoping we can avoid that.

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