Cruciate Ligament Advice

[tanya]

Hi, Charles Kuntz here. I am a specialist here in Melbourne. I want to start by saying that there are several specialists in Melbourne, but in a 9.5 Kg dog, many general practitioners are happy to do cruciates on small dogs. The recommendation to wait an see is based on a study by Vasseur, et al which showed that in dogs weighing less than 15 Kg, many will do well with conservative management- permanently. The ligament usually doesn't heal itself. Scar tissue forms around the joint in response to the instability. Arthritis may develop, but the clinical outcome is still often successful In small dogs, often this scar tissue is adequate. In large dogs, it is often not enough and something else has to be done.

What is usually recommended is to wait 6-8 weeks and if the outcome is less than optimal, surgery is then recommended. This is in contrast to large dogs where surgery is recommended immediately.

Please let me know if you have other questions.

Charles

Hi, I am only new to this forum but i also have a dog whith ligament damage. he is a big staffy, bout 20kilos, and he is now nearly 12 months. he injured himself when he was 6 months. i had exrays etc and they suspected the ligaments in the shoulder were torn. they told me i had to leave him in his crate, and only take him out on the lead and only walking and see how he goes. they also said, hopefully he would have grown out of it by the time he is 12 months. if not they will refer me to a specialist.

he is still sore now but only has a slight limp. he sees the chiropractor every 5 weeks and the last time he said his shoulder was very badly rolled.

do you think that this is going to be an on going complaint or will his shoulder eventually settle down???

hoping that you can help me...

regards

tanya

[PepitoVFR]

Tanya, doesnt look like Charles is monitoring this thread any more.

Good luck with your big staffy

[MissMonaro]

I've just had a bitch do an injury to herself. Well its been about 4 weeks now....and she didnt do it - I suspect in play time one of the others grabbed her leg and she has twisted whilst foot was in mouth.

She actually has a fractured toe and ligament / tendon damage in hock.

First vet wanted to operate.....2nd opinion was "see a specialist"......so we went and saw an orthopedic specialist and he has told us to "wait and see" at this stage.

Weight is going to be an issue very shortly.....even now......cos she is 6 weeks pregnant.

Her leg and foot is bandaged and helps to stabilise it. She is crated at night and in a small run during the day

We have had the leg bandaged and the vet said that it was good......but not great. So still waiting.

If surgery has to be done, then it wont be until after the babies as it is risky to do it now.

She gets around okay and sometimes she does hop. She pulled the bandage off last week (as I am pretty sure it is irritating her by the lack of hair and rub marks on her leg).

But she may never be able to go back and play with the other dogs, well esp the leg grabbers thats for sure.

[PepitoVFR]

Here is a quick update on the progress of Katie after her operation :rolleyes:

[Charles Kuntz]

Hi, Charles here. Regarding your staffie with a ligament tear, these are uncommon in dogs less than a couple of years of age. How was this diagnosed? If it is in-fact a ligament tear, they can respond to conservative management, but arthroscopic surgery may be required. I would also consider elbow issues, hypertrophic osteodystrophy (abnormal growth plates), and panosteitis (inflammation of the inside of the bone) in younger dogs. It is hard for me to give any advice without having seen your dog since there are so many different diseases of dog front legs, some of which are quite subtle, even with the dog on-hand. Let me know if I can of further assistance.

Charles