Thread: Anybody had their dog blow an ACL joint?

My son's dog has just had it's first waterfowl season in 2017, and went really well. It has since blown it's ACL joint, which has cost $3.5k to repair. There has been a long period of confinement, and is just into rehab walking/swimming (the dog - not my son recovering from the cost).

Has anyone had this happen to their dog, and has it had any long term problems? Any tips? (and "shoot it" before the operation is not a tip)

I've been lucky in that respect, what breed is it if I may ask?

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Lab

Have a daughter who spent that sort of money on her dog for ACL. Followed all the vets instructions etc, dog 18 months later still limps if gets any serious exercise. Have had pig dogs with ACL problems. They came right over a period of time with no operations. Don't think you get the perfect result whatever avenue you take

my last gsp had both done at different times, both ops came right and he was as good as gold. both ops did not cost $3500 together, was 5 or 6 years ago though.

Normally one goes not longer after the first ones bill is paid off, shop around for a few quotes and follow the rehab to the letter.

Originally Posted by kawhia

Normally one goes not longer after the first ones bill is paid off, shop around for a few quotes and follow the rehab to the letter.

Yes - the rehab has been long and slow.

My dog did his as a pup. Had the repair done and not been an issue since. He's now about 8yo, and hunts hard all day. Over the last year + hes less keen on jumping up into the back of the truck if im parked on an angle and the jumps too big, so i just lift him in. No effect at all on him out on the hill, he's still bounching along after a full day hunting and i cover alot of ground.

My understanding is that smaller dogs do better post op, bigger dogs can more often run into complications, repeats on the other side etc...

Had oneof my border Ollie's do his 3-4yrs ago, couldn't afford the surgery so left it. He limps a bit and holds it up when he is really tired but doesn't stop him doing a 2hr walk each night and chasing possums around. Usually limps worse when he is cold and stiff (bit like us all as we get old)

Kawhia is on the money, about a third or more dogs do the cruciiate ligament in the other leg too- it’s partly a conformational problem. TherE are several different treatments, at 3.5 k did you get a TTA? If so good return to function is anticipated but this discussion should be one had with the vet/surgeon who knows all case details.
Very common injury.

Originally Posted by ethos

Kawhia is on the money, about a third or more dogs do the cruciiate ligament in the other leg too- it’s partly a conformational problem. TherE are several different treatments, at 3.5 k did you get a TTA? If so good return to function is anticipated but this discussion should be one had with the vet/surgeon who knows all case details.
Very common injury.

so congenital in some lines breeds??

Congenital in that dogs with poor conformation can pass it on, in my experience large breed dogs with bad hindlimb shape-often evidenced by outward turned back feet are at higher risk of cruciate ligament injury- it creates uneven loading on the ligament and may lead to fraying. I’m not sure I’d identify a particular breed but large breed working dogs.
Another known risk factor is vigorous excercise.

Thanks for the advice @ethos
During my hip recovery process – I walked long distances every day to try to get the leg muscles used to the new bone and muscle setup - my eight year old Mindie dog was always by my side - but a couple of months ago she started to limp and the Vet decided she was showing signs of losing her cruciate ligament on a rear knee
We backed off her exercise and used a support device over the leg and it slowly recovered so she could bear weight and not limp – but a short burst of enthusiasm across the lawn finally tore it apart along with some cartilage that is now clicking
Xray’s last week show the CCL problem in detail and they have gone to the experts in Auckland for their choice of repair components – the bone cut and advancement process to allow for a wedge looks grim – but seems to be a practical way forward.
We couldn’t bear to put her to sleep so next Friday she is booked in for TTA surgery in Tauranga with Dr Max Clout and the 12 week long recovery process begins.
She will never be a bush dog again and I will limit her pavement walking.

Some dogs are prone to it though EBs. Seen more labs and GSPs do it than anything else

Have recently (New Years Eve) had to have my nine year old ESS, Buzz put down after one of his cruciate ligaments went during a days shooting. Unfortunately the ligament in his other leg was found to be stretched and thought to be unlikely to take the pressure while the injured leg recovered if operated on. The cost of a cruciate ligament operation here in the UK is around £2000. I’ve also been told that arthritis often follows after this op. I had recently noticed the signs of discomfort in his back legs, stiffness, reluctance to jump up into the back of the Land Rover and back legs out to one side when sitting.
Buzz was a hard going dog who lived to work, phenomenal drive and game finding ability. At the end of a days shooting he would refuse to get out of the Land Rover to go home, he just wanted to get on to another drive. We are out picking up or beating three or four days a week through the shooting season and the dogs cover a huge amount of ground often in heavy cover.
This has been my first experience of this problem fortunately but it is not unknown amongst working shooting dogs here, both labs and spaniels. In my experience working dogs seldom make a full time return to the shooting field after the op.