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Limping and TTA surgeries

6K views 49 replies 13 participants last post by  Wenderwoman 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
My dog has been favoring her left hind leg off and on for about a year. I have taken her to the vet and each time she has given her Rimadyl. I first took her in because it seemed the left hind leg was thinner than the right leg. She wasn't favoring it at this point but I just thought it was odd. At that point, we didn't do anything. Many months later, she was favoring it enough that I brought her in and they gave her carpofren (Rimadyl). This helped but her leg still appeared thinner than the other. About 3 weeks ago, she was favoring it again to the point that she was avoiding putting weight on it at all. So I brought her in again and she gave us carpofren (Rimadyl) again. She has been taking it for 10 days and it got better for a couple days but yesterday she was avoiding putting weight on it altogether again.

First, I'd like suggestions on what to ask for. She had an xray about 2 years ago at the beginning of all this and her hips were fine.

Second, what are the best medicines to give her? I have read some concerning things about Rimadyl. Should I simply try chondroitin and joint supplements? I do give her fish oil.

I am very concerned because she is not putting weight on the leg and because I'm afraid she is in pain.
 
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#2 ·
I would get a second opinion, see a different vet. Yours is just treating a symptom, and clearly there is an underlying problem causing the limping. The loss of muscle indicates that she is not using it fully and the muscles are atrophying. This could be a knee problem also. But if your current vet is not even trying to find out why she's limping, it's time for another vet. I would recommend you see an orthopedic vet.

Not putting weight on it is definitely a sign of pain.
 
#4 ·
Thanks, she's a good vet but I think I'm at that point where I'm just too worried. We put in a call this morning and I'm still waiting to hear back. It's unusual for her to take so long to respond. I just can't stand the idea that she is in pain. Argh.

Does anyone have any recommendations for an orthopedic specialist in the Chicago area?
 
#5 ·
................ She had an xray about 2 years ago at the beginning of all this and her hips were fine.

Second, what are the best medicines to give her? I have read some concerning things about Rimadyl. Should I simply try chondroitin and joint supplements? I do give her fish oil.

I am very concerned because she is not putting weight on the leg and because I'm afraid she is in pain.
I am sorry to read that your girl is having this problem. The leg being thinner is likely due to her not using it, thus the muscle loss.

When she had the xray, did they also xray her leg/stifle or just the hip?

When she stands, are you seeing if she is putting full weight on it or just "toe touching"? When she sits, does the leg she is limping on extend out from her body, sort of like a frog's leg? Does she put any weight on that leg at all? Does she hop?

Has your vet examined your girl's stifle? ( drawer test or other).
 
#7 ·
I think the previous x-ray just looked at the hips. My vet called yesterday and set up an appointment for us with an orthopedic next Wednesday so, hopefully he will get what he needs. I really don't know if the vet looked at the stifle but I will make sure to ask about this with the orthopedic. I also want them to look at the foot. At this point, they believe it is a ligament tear.

She is toe touching mostly now but I've seen her avoid putting any weight on it at all. The last couple days she has also had a lot of trouble getting up so it seems to be getting more painful. :( She doesn't really hop, she just uses the other leg.
 
#6 ·
I was going to post about my last dog and her limp and what worked for her - but I agree - you need more than just a painkiller. I hope you get some answers soon.
 
#9 ·
It is great you are taking a deeper look, bc atrophy isnt something to treat with Rimadyl ( which is basically doggy Advil). There are so many complex and simple things that can go wrong, and it would have been nice to see your vet look for a soft tissue injury or a joint issue, and xray the long bones. I really hope everything is okay. For chronic pain, Gabapentin can really enhance rimadyl.
 
#10 ·
I just wanted to give a follow up on this.

My girl saw the orthopedic yesterday and he definitely confirmed that it is a ligament tear and requires surgery. Thank goodness for insurance. I'll be happy to see my girl running around like her old self again soon. She's such a trooper though and never whines. I sure love my girl.
 
#12 ·
I am glad you found out what the problem is. Several years ago my then 16 month old golden retriever started limping on back leg and it scared the filling out of me. Just 4 years before I had lost my 12.5 year old Irish Setter to bone cancer--first symptom was limping on back leg. But with KaycCee it was luxating patella. Surgery fixed it. Then 14 months later at ;age 2 1/2 the other knee went and this time there was ligament damaged that had to be repaired along with the patella. But she never had any more trouble with either knee. I lost her at 3 months short of 9 years old. Good luck for your precious girl.
 
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#14 ·
So, she still favors her hind leg and she is still scheduled for surgery on Thursday but I've noticed that the muscle mass on her leg is increasing since she's been on the pain medicine. Should I postpone the surgery or is that simply because of the pain medicine?
 
#15 ·
While pain medicine will make the leg feel more comfortable, it won't fix the problem. Her ligaments are still damaged and need repair. When Pilgrim needed surgery for his cruciate ligament injury, our ortho vet told us that the longer you leave it, the more the muscles in that leg are affected, making recovery more difficult.
Good luck with your girl's surgery.
 
#20 ·
Yes, a dog with a cruciate tear or rupture will lose muscle mass in the affected leg as the dog will shift the weight on the healthy leg/stifle.

That said, if one chooses CM ( conservative management), once the stifle stabilizes and scar tissue holds the stifle in place, the lost muscle mass can be regained with return to routine, non weight bearing exercise ( Ie swimming) as in Brisby's case. Laser therapy and acupuncture is also a recommended protocol. I would assume this would be the same if surgery is the chosen method of treatment.
 
#16 ·
I agree, get th3e surgery. Many a pro football player had shoulders, knees, etc ruined because in the old days ( and maybe still) he was given pain meds and did not feel the pain as his joints were being damaged even more. Same could happen with a dog--pain meds ocver the warning pain and the damage is even worse. Good luck with you fur kid.
 
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#17 ·
Thank you. I guess I was hoping I wouldn't have to put her through it. Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with recovery in a multiple dog household?

My plan is to keep her completely separated the first week and then have her separated by a gate the second and following weeks. She will definitely be taken out only on a leash until the doctor gives the okay. I'm not sure how long she will need to be separated outside from the other dogs. Does anyone know? 6 weeks?

I'm really nervous about this.
 
#18 ·
When Pilgrim had his TPLO, our other golden Lily was a real pain, wanting to play with her best friend as usual. We were warned to keep Pilgrim on the lead the whole time they were together, to stop any movement not allowed on his recovery instructions, for the whole twelve weeks. We were all heartily sick of the arrangement by the time it was safe to let him loose. Having to take Pilgrim for his leisurely five-minute stroll, followed by Lily's exuberant half-hour gallop took a lot of time out of the day. But he healed exceptionally well.
If you're interested, the instructions in this handout is very close to the instructions I was given for for Pilgrim. http://edmontonveterinary.com/clien...O_Home_Recovery_Program__final_july_13_12.pdf
 
#19 ·
When Pilgrim had his TPLO, our other golden Lily was a real pain, wanting to play with her best friend as usual. We were warned to keep Pilgrim on the lead the whole time they were together, to stop any movement not allowed on his recovery instructions, for the whole twelve weeks. We were all heartily sick of the arrangement by the time it was safe to let him loose. Having to take Pilgrim for his leisurely five-minute stroll, followed by Lily's exuberant half-hour gallop took a lot of time out of the day. But he healed exceptionally well.
If you're interested, the instructions in this handout is very close to the instructions I was given for for Pilgrim. http://edmontonveterinary.com/clien...O_Home_Recovery_Program__final_july_13_12.pdf
I am taking the first week off so that she can be completely separated from the other dogs. So, for 10 days it will be just her and I. After that, we will confine her to a room. I have another 4 year old and a 1 year old. They both love to play with her. Thank you for the instructions. That was very helpful.
 
#21 ·
Wenderwoman, you're welcome.
Yaichti's Mom, although I can see conservative management working for a dog with a small tear, I cannot see it being totally effective for a severe tear where there is instability. Surely it depends on the dog - and on the extent of injury? (I'm no vet. All I can say with certainty is what worked for Pilgrim.)
 
#22 ·
I appreciate all opinions and know that there are many ways to deal with things.

I was kind of hopeful when I saw that she was building muscle mass on the bad leg but I'm pretty sure surgery is best. Mostly because we've been managing it for over a year and knowing how active my girl is and how she plays, sometimes hard, with the other dogs, I think a final fix is the best option. And, greatly because, if we don't fix it, she will surely hurt her other leg because of the way she plays with the other dogs. The other leg can only compensate so much and she because of the situation with the other dogs, I think she has a big risk of hurting the other leg the longer it goes. As it is, she came in covered in mud one day and I'm sure it's because she fell.

I'm pretty nervous.
 
#23 ·
Well, my girl is having her surgery today. Any advice would be appreciated. We are a multiple dog household too so any advice on managing the dogs would be especially helpful. Please send positive thoughts and prayers. I'm super worried.
 
#24 ·
I can't offer any advice, but good thoughts are being sent out for your girl... I hope her surgery goes well and she heals quickly....
 
#26 ·
Hi pilgrim, thank you for checking on her. She is doing very well. She was toe touching right away which is really good except that she is ready to get back to life as usual. So, we will have our hands full moderating her activity and sticking to the rehab schedule. She saw the doctor today for follow up and he is very happy with her rotation already. She is a fantastic patient and has a high threshold for pain. Like I said it is great for recovery but a challenge with rehab. She's ready to go.

This is the good week as far as caring for her because I am off and we can keep her separated from the other dogs. Next week I go back to work and we will have to have them altogether. That will really be a test. Because then, for a few months yet, it will be a long road managing 3 young dogs that want to play.

She's through the first 3 days. Which was a lot of rest and making sure to ice and do the passive rotation exercises twice a day. Before the exercise, we apply a heating pad for 15 min., do 15-20 rotations and then apply an ice pack for 15 min. For the next 3 days we don't need to apply the additional ice packs but need to continue the packs and rotation exercises. Starting Monday, we can begin reintroducing her normal activity at a drastically reduced pace. We will SLOWLY build up her strength in the leg. In all, it will take about 3 months but it's important to go slow so that we don't put too much stress on the good leg causing her to blow that knee as well.

But, it is going well and she's getting spoiled.

Thank you again for asking. I was really worried and nervous.
 
#27 ·
I'm glad she's done so well! I'd be a little concerned about having them all together - she will probably still want to rest a bit and won't get much chance with the others wanting to play. But she is on the road to healing, and that's the important bit. By the way, what is her name? I keep calling her "She" or "Your girl" but a name gives them so much more individuality!
 
#28 ·
I'm glad she did well with the surgery. The recovery will be tough for sure, keeping her quiet. It might be worth bringing back her crate for when you go back to work, to make sure she stays quiet.
 
#29 ·
I thought it was time for another update. This whole thing is quite nerve wracking for me. My Arwen is doing well. This is now day 10 and she is putting full weight on the leg at times. The incision looks completely healed and we hope to get her stitches out tomorrow. The most harrowing incident so far happened at the vet’s office. She slipped on their slippery floor. The whole thing was a bit crazy. When we came in there was this other bleeding dog and it just kept barking at her/us. The dog was bleeding on its foot but acting perfectly normal so I don’t think it was hurt badly but it was bleeding through its bandage and smearing blood everywhere. Arwen was already a nervous wreck and I think all the barking finally got the best of her and she tried to make a run for the door and slipped. I had a sling and I think I caught her before she completely splayed. After waiting for 45 min. the vet finally came out and said they couldn’t take her now and asked us to come back. I’m sure because of the bleeding dog. I agreed to come back that afternoon. It didn’t register until I got home and then I just started crying, afraid that she reinjured the knee and ruined the surgery. Fortunately, I composed myself by the next visit and the vet said the knee seemed fine. Still, I worry that it was damaged and I hope it heals properly. She is still putting weight on it and she seems to be improving each day. On a good note, the reason we were at the vet’s was for her laser treatment. She will have 6 of them. She will get her 4th tomorrow. I can’t really say for sure but now, at day 10, she has no bruising and I really do think it is from the treatments. In addition, my feeling and hope is that she maybe just strained a muscle when she slipped. As she was already limping, it was hard to say if she was limping more the next day or not, but to me it seemed she was a little. She was definitely a little more resistant to her PROM exercises, which, of course, just worried me more. However, she had her laser treatment the next day and she seemed MUCH better the following morning. So, I really think the laser treatments are helping.

We are finally putting all of the dogs together again. It went pretty well. When I say together, I just mean under the same roof. They are still in separate rooms, separated by gates. We let them be in the same room only for a short time and they all behaved. I am still going to be very cautious and they will be separated by a gate for the most part for the next 3 months.

We are also finally able to go on short, 5-10 minute walks. It’s still not enough to release all the pent up energy but it is something.

Thanks everyone who is keeping her in your thoughts.

 
#31 ·
Thanks Pilgrim. I'm just going to update here and there in case someone else is looking for information on the recovery process. It has now been three weeks since her surgery. She's still being a very good patient. She has now had her stitches out and has finished up the laser treatments. The incision has healed nicely with no signs of infection so no more worries about that. We are also done with the PROM exercises. She is also done with most of her medications. She began taking Carpofren (pain), Tramadol (pain), Gabapentin (pain) and an Cefpodoxime (antibiotic). She has finished all but the Carpofren that she is taking twice a day.

We are now just working on rehabilitation. The rehabilitation at this point is just making sure to walk her 2 to 3 times a day for 5-10 minutes and doing 10 repetitions of sitting and standing exercises. I think I expected a steady increase in improvement but find that it's a little more unpredictable than that. But, overall, she is improving. I think some days, she just gets a little too excited and does something to make it a little more painful or sore and she feels it. I was concerned with the movement of the leg because sometimes it seems like it is bow legged or that it is turning strangely but the vet says this is just how it looks when a dog is trying to tip toe or toe touch. Sure enough, sometimes I look and the leg looks perfectly normal. So, it is just her adjusting to the leg as it heals and through the different amounts of pain she may be having. Overall, the fact that she is putting weight on the leg is very good. I see some dogs take weeks before they even try.

So, things are going well.
 
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