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My dog has a torn ACL -- anyone have experience with this?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

This has been a difficult pet year. First one of our horses Valentino died (stroke). Then CocoLion passed of advanced stage lung cancer. Now it's Maggie, my photo bombing black Lab. When I got back from SF on Sunday she was limping, just toe touching the rear left leg. We took her to the vet and they diagnosed her as having a torn ACL. They recommend surgery ($3200). She is 7.5 years old. I did some research and ACL operations don't always guarantee success. Right now we are keeping her on very restricted activity so she can heal. We are going to give her 8 weeks to see if she makes any improvement. If we still decide to do it, we might take her to LA where my sister's vet charges $1000 less.

Does anyone have any advice or experiences to share? Thanks.

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24 replies

Latest reply was from Marley

shedev

Veteran

I'm really sorry to hear about all your pet problems.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Not personally but a corworker's dog had both ACL's fixed a year or two ago and made a good recovery and my friend's daughter's puggle had the same thing last year and he also recovered. The puggle was only about 2-3 years old.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Shedev. I'm terribly attached...

JAileen

Veteran

So sorry. I don't have experience with that. But labs are the best. Ours died of cancer. BTW, that's my favorite outfit of yours.

catgirl

Veteran

Waaah! Poor puppy. My climbing partner is a vet so I've heard about this - I know it results in good recovery so if the life expectancy is otherwise good it's a matter of affording it. Which I know is hard.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

My Sophie - 35 pound collie/lab mix - has torn both ACLs, the first one when she was 14, the second one six months later just after she'd turned 15. Apparently it's incredibly common for dogs who tear one to tear the other relatively soon afterwards.

With the first tear, our vet recommended waiting a month, then making a decision. (He said if she was a young, athletic dog, he'd recommend surgery right away.) After a month, she was about 90% back to baseline as an elderly dog with bad arthritis. So, no surgery.

The price he gave was a bit under $1000. I remember he did say there were a couple different procedures, and the one he was recommending for Sophie was the simplest. Your dog is bigger and more active, so maybe she needs a more complicated one?

Vildy

Veteran

We hadn't realized there might be an option of waiting and she was a young dog so we had it fixed,. Cost about $1000 around 25 years ago. Happened the same week hubby lost his job and we had to charge it. They didn't want her licking open the incision so I slept in the basement with her - so she could go out to the bathroom without climbing any stairs. She made a terrific and fast recovery and went on to live until 12 or 13 - giant breed Newfoundland.

Aida

Veteran

Aw that's too bad Denise, sorry to hear it's been such a rough year on the critter front! We had a kitty (she was maybe 1 or 2 at the time) who jumped off our third story deck and totally destroyed one of her back legs, and her owner at the time (a good friend of ours) paid quite a load to have nearly her entire leg rebuilt. It was a tough decision for him to make, but in her case they may have had to put her down otherwise. When he gave her to us to care for later on we were grateful because she was such a bundle of energy and joy. I hope Maggie improves, what a stressful thing for an older sweet pup to be going through

Isis

Veteran

Yikes. I don't know anything about ACL's but I do know how much of a family a sweet dog can be. Here's hoping Maggie improves quickly.....

Adelfa

Veteran

My good friend has a toy poodle who needed this surgery. He was a rescue so she didn't know how old he was, but he was about 8. He got better and has lived many years since.

rachylou

Veteran

Our trainer's dog had the surgery. He recovered pretty well, but it was an arduous process and very expensive. She had braces made for him and they didn't work out. She also took him for acupuncture. He's out of competition permanently.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I just typed in a long response to your comments and lost it in a "bad request timeout" kind of death spiral.

So -- let me keep it short and sweet. Thank you very much for sharing your experiences, whether first hand or from friends. It seems people have good experiences with this procedure. It was also interesting to read about different prices paid for the procedure.

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Louise

Veteran

I don't have any advice just sending healing thoughts to you and Maggie it's awful when our fur babies are ill x

crutcher

Veteran

Cocolion, I have just had knee surgery and can so sympathize with poor Maggie...One thing that I am doing is an ice machine...I wonder could you somehow ice for Maggie?...Thinking about how to do that...
When my little Maltese developed orthopedic problems...a luxating patella..and was rec/for surgery, his breeder suggested a round of glucosamine HCL complete...I tried it and Tobs has been fine knee wise since...
Please know that Toby and I send Maggie our good thoughts...A bum knee is just not fun...

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Denise, you probably know all this already, but here's a description of the different procedures:

http://www.saintfrancis.org/20.....-tibial-tu

The one my vet recommended (which costs less than $1000) was ECLS. Since Maggie is a big dog, this might not be ideal for her.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm sooooo sorry, Denise. I hate seeing our pets in distress. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. Poor sweet, Maggie.

Jasmine tore both her ACL's. She had surgery twice and very successfully. The full recovery period is 3 months, but Jasmine was running and jumping back onto furniture with three legs after a week - the feisty little terrier that she was. (Her little hind leg was bandaged up for months). The worst part was the pain in the first few days - so we kept her very quiet (crated) and drugged (morphine patch). We also carried her everywhere - which was very easy to do with a little Yorkie, but a little harder with a lab. You will need to work that one out with the Vet. I am sure they have clever solutions.

Both times we went the expensive route with a specialized surgeon (not the local Vet) - cost was about $3500 per op, so that sounds right.

PM me if you have further questions. I'm wishing you and Maggie strength and much love. xo

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Denise, I'm sorry for all the pet troubles! I know how hard that is.

I have no experience with or advice about torn ACLs, but our Rocky (a husky/shephard mix) ruptured three disks in his spine when he was about 13. We elected to have him undergo surgery and therapy to regain his ability to walk, which was a risk and probably cost us enough that we could have taken two really, really nice European vacations. But I remember thinking at the time that it would be worth it if it got us another year with him. Well, he recovered beautifully and was with us for three years after that. He eventually developed a cancerous tumor on his leg and we gave him a peaceful goodbye.

So, long story, but the point is, Rocky's surgeon told us before we made the decision that he would have maybe a 60/40 chance of walking again if he had the surgery -- a long way from a sure thing. He was otherwise an active, hearty dog for his age, and I had just lost my mom (a decision to remove life support) so I couldn't even bear to decide anything that didn't give Rocky a chance for some more time. We spent a small fortune, yes, but I would make the same choice again today.

Do what is best for your Maggie and for you. I'll be sending good thoughts!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Crutcher thanks for that recommendation of Glucosamine supplements! I have read that small dogs, because they bear less weight, have a much greater chance at recovery from this injury without surgery, than large breeds.

Maggie's limp is bad again today, after seemingly improving a few days ago. So maybe we shouldn't wait too long.

Angie and Janet thanks for sharing your stories. Angie so you also used a specialized surgeon, that must be why my vet's quote is so much higher than other's I've heard about.

I am fully prepared that Maggie will tear her other ACL -- so I'm thinking already about two operations not one.

LACeleste

Veteran

I am really sorry to read about this CL and wishing you the best. Keeping your Maggie in my thoughts.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The sooner Maggie has surgery - the better. Absolutely. And yes. Jasmine tore her other ACL less than a year after the first one. Doggies are really resilient so I'm cheering Maggie on from the sidelines. She will feel better faster with you by her side. xo

claire

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. We also have a black lab and she's so crazy, I have always anticipated something like this. So far, so good (knock wood). But, my sister's fur baby has had both knees done, the first ACL then a year layer the second ACL, both with very good success, and her pup is now ten and roaring around with no sign of anything, although she tries to keep her from jumping too much, that kind of thing.

One thing our vet suggested to my sister while she was waiting for surgery was to start a supplement called Recovery Complex to help things along. I don't think it was available in the States, she picked it up here when she was home visiting as I think it might be a local product, but apparently it's pretty amazing. If you look into it and you're interested, let me know, I'd be happy to send it to you if you want to try it. Good luck, it's so stressful when our fur babies aren't feeling good

HiggsMistress

Bummer! So sorry to hear about your Maggie. My chocolate lab (Puffin) tore his ACL when he was 9 years old and the vet recommended a TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) surgery which was about $1000 5 years ago. He did well with his recovery but the vet did caution there was a 50% chance of tearing the other knee, which did not happen. The vet also recommended we give him glucosamine and chondroitin tablets and doses of salmon oil with his meals.

It is tough with a larger dog. We had to confine him inside his exercise pen in the sunroom so he could rest, not hurt himself or get into trouble with his brother. He also had a cone on his head so he could not tear his stitches off. The worst was carrying him outside to do his business until he was able to gain some mobility.

There's a great lab forum with breeders and lab parents that I visit from time to time. They currently have a sticky on their general health section on CCL's that may answer questions on surgery and recovery you may have. And you can always register to ask questions on Maggie's condition.

http://www.lab-retriever.net/b.....ial-crucia

Hope this helps. Good luck

kellygirl

Veteran

That's such a drag, Denise. I'm so sorry. I know what a pain those tendons can be and I've read that contralateral tendon ruptures are quite common Hugs and healing thoughts to you and Maggie!

Marley

Veteran

Hey Denise - any update on Maggie? I've been thinking about her - hoping she's doing OK!
XOXO - Marley