ziplex Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 My little old springer has busted her ligament it seems, came home from work yesterday and the Mrs said she was holding her right rear leg up. As soon as she came hobbling over I was fairly sure she'd busted it again. To say i'm gutted would be a gross understatement as I am staring at a long recovery period for her and the major worry of having her aneathiatised, (she's been put under many times now as she's been damn unlucky) :look: . The leg seems unstable and she's unable to extend it or put any weight on it atall, carbon copy of last time approx 3/4 years ago, exept I was walking her then and she cryed out whilst turning then held it up. I maybe wrong but the vet is going to confirm later today. Like I said i'm not a happy chappy at the moment but she is an old warrior and i'm confident she'll get over it, just seems so unfair as she's a little diamond and appears not of done anything out of the ordinary, did notice she bunny hopped up the stairs night before last and thought that was a little strange,....perhaps it was on it's way then? Anyhow............fingers crossed all, hopefully I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Definitely fingers crossed, hopefully its just a strain, or a pull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Definitely fingers crossed, hopefully its just a strain, or a pull. Thanks Cranfield, the Vet was a little unsure after much pulling, kneading and a gentle 'pi*s off' from her ladyship, Lotty can be a little stuck up . She is booked in for an x ray early next week to confirm. I was told to give her some opiat based painkillers which they ran out of, none in safe or anywhere in building so 100mg paracetamol every twelve hours instead! The knee felt 'reasonably stable' but muscle tension can mask this so there is a small ammount of hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darebear Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 hold on.... i thought paracetamol was dangerous for dogs? one of our tribe has ruptured both cruciate ligaments in the past, and i cant recommend the tplo surgery enough. walking sound after about 6-8 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 hold on.... i thought paracetamol was dangerous for dogs? one of our tribe has ruptured both cruciate ligaments in the past, and i cant recommend the tplo surgery enough. walking sound after about 6-8 weeks. Thought so too, (re paracetamol), the vet stated 'safe dosage' was 200mg every twelve hours.............but suggested 100mg. The dog has had her cruciate ruptured in the past and I assume she recieved the 'tplo' surgery then?......is there more than one type of op'? First time it was done it 'pulled out' after a week and it had to be redone, and I was sooo careful not to let her jump up or go near stairs etc etc. If I remember right she took a while to be back to herself and it was more like 10-12 weeks, even had an infection set in the wound!, when the vet gave it a good squeeze the puss near on hit the opposite wall.....like I said she 'aint had the best of luck, her Petplan account is impressive stuff . Out of interest the 'knot' on her leg has always been very prominent....is yours noticeable? Reference to paracetamol, a mate of a shooting pal gives his ageing cocker Ibuprofen, and reckons within an hour she's up and firing on all cylinders.........again I assumed this type of drug was not recommended and have no idea if he's doing the right thing, having said that two of mine have Metacam every day and essentially they are both anti-inflamatories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darebear Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 interesting re: paracetamol. i'm gonna ask my vet. could be useful. re: the tplo surgery. it stands for tibial plateau levelling osteopathy. http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/tplo.htm is pretty informative. older surgical methods of treating this weren't as effective however are still used today. thankfully my vet is a whiz at this procedure. he's an osteopath whom receives referrals from all over the country. scaffy and i have 4 newfoundlands. moose is the one with the cruciate problems, and no i cant even feel where the plates are in his legs. all i know is that he is sound and thankfully shows no signs of any lameness or arthritis. interesting point here, moose's mother had tplo on both her cruciates. vet reckons research is starting to suggest there is a genetic link. my old girl is on metacam as and when she needs it. it's magic medicine that stuff. and yeah, you wanna compare petplan accounts? ha ha try having one dysplastic old girl, another with horrendous skin allergies, and one with cruciate problems. the 4th may be healthy but god damn i want to castrate that sod at times. he is downstairs currently howling to some in-season bitch in the neighbourhood. grrrrrrr. dogs. who'd have em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Good site that darebear, i'm positive she didn't recieve that type of surgey, i'll ask if things have 'advanced' at my vets since she last suffered, it makes me even more convinced it's ruptured again after reading this tho' . Petplan has been a godsend to us over the years, I imagine the likes of me and thee are the 'risk factors' and I often flinch at the bills/claim statements that have dropped though the door over the years but the policies are paid so..... When I was up the vets last week with Lotts a young couple were writing a cheque for £500 odd, (dental problem for a staffy), it just doesn't make sense and I assume these people are the 'risk takers' living in the hope that their pet will be treatment free, are their such animals? Anyhow, thanks for the site info', much appreciated..............Moose?, damn fine name for a Newfoundland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 The old girl had her x rays done and although the joint is a little unstable that is not the cause for her pain. Seems that the joint has become quite arthritic and a small fragment of bone has chipped off which is floating around and will hopefully disolve in time. When she was brought out into the waiting room I think she had a rush of adrenalin and came charging over using her dodgy leg as normal, as soon as we were home though the exitement has gone and she's one sad, very tired looking and miserable old pup! She should be using it again within a week or two but it could be up to six weeks so they reckon. So, bad news with the onset of arthritis but atleast she shouldn't need surgery as I first feared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darebear Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 glad to hear it. hope she's up to her old tricks again soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Probably the best news you could have hoped for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Sounds better than the other option, We had one that chipped a bone in her back leg just healed on its own, As far as the arthritis is concerned Rimadyl works marvels on arthritic dogs once its a proper problem and to a point they're almost too well on it. There is also some evidence though its not been released that it has been known to improve the actual arthritis as well. (that comes from someone I know who works for Pfizer animal health and they make Rimadyl) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Thanks guys, I admit the thought of her having surgery again filled me with dread and for that I should to be thankful.....I am. I was warned she would almost certainly become arthritic in that joint years ago when it first ruptured and time waits for no person or hound it seems. She has been on Seraquin for a long time now to stave off arthritis problems and that seems to be highly regarded generally, she'll continue with that for the forseeable future. She's a tough old bird, and i'm a bit soft on her so perhaps worry too much! I had to laugh last night tho', I was wincing every time she moved what with her still being a little dopey on aneasthetic and hobbling around in obvious discomfort, I opened the door to the garden and she flew down the path after this damn cat that keeps loitering!, she didn't hang about even doped up and on three legs , she's proud of her garden and cats are most definately not welcome, lame or not! For the next few weeks or so i'm going to have to make sure the little bleeder's gone before opening the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Another visit to the vet tomorrow, the old girl is still lame and limping heavily on that leg. She has been on Opiat based drugs but all that seemed to do was make her dopey, (expected). They now feel it may be neccessary to perform a bone tap as there may be an infection set in , if so it is treated with steroids as this type of infection is resistant to anti-biotics?. Goes over my head a little but hopefully if a bone tap is done it'll sort her out, she's still happy even though she's been rested and not been out hardly atall, little diamond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Fingers crossed from all of us Zipplex LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darebear Posted December 3, 2006 Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 yup. give her a hug from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted December 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 yup. give her a hug from me. will do............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted January 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 :look: , blimey..........October 20th was the first posting on this problem and after much rest,painkillers,x rays,bone taps and more x rays followed by yet more rest the old girl is still lame. As it turned out she hadn't busted her ligament as first thought, hadn't suffered with a chipped bone as thought second, but is suffering from a trapped nerve. She has been on steroids for quite a spell but to no avail. As of this Monday gone she has been put back on her metacam, (couldn't be taken in conjunction with steroids). I just wanted some input from anyone who has had a dog with a trapped nerve, after all the **** she's gone through and patiently waiting for the lameness to subside, it 'aint gone.....it was suggested it will take up to twelve weeks to right itself. Beyond that now so any thoughts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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