My best buddy injured her leg (Happy Update)

PJ, I’m very sorry to hear about her injury. As a present/ past partner of four labs, yes they are big physically active creatures.

We haven’t experienced that particular injury. But we’ve been through a series of bone and cancer leg issues. 

In the end, you’ll want to go with the best judgement of the vet as I’m sure you are planning.

i looked at the longer term in each case and realized that I needed to have certainty that she’d be up on her feet again and active in any way I could help.

Recovery in our case took a really long time. Like many months. 

No pet experience with her issues, just on me.  Was a long process to get back to somewhat normal.

Hope she heals well without surgry.

Sorry to hear that - poor hurt pup.  We have a Pomeranian/Bichon mix - they call it a PomeChon, I call her a BichAranian :)

In one of her mad moments yesterday she jumped off the sofa and hurt her front left 'knee'.  She's hobbling around.  Doesn't sound as severe as your pups issues.

I have a black lab 11yrs old and she done a swan dive off the bed and injured her front shoulder and leg vet gave same prescription you got .The only thing I did was lightly excrise her on a lease so she wouldn' stiffen up.She recovered pretty quickly for being 11yrs old. Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback gents. I've had dogs for most of my 62 years and have never experienced this issue. It looks like it doesn't hurt her but simply bothers her when she walks and skips here and there. If that ligament was torn, IMO she wouldn't be walking now and then on that leg as she does.

Again, thanks for the feedback.

Hi, Ernie -

Our lab is 6 years, very lean and in good shape, but sometimes seems like she's trying to set a record for some athletic action. She often "tweaks" a joint, looks like it's tender to use, but we restrict her for a few days and it's all better. Hopefully that's all yours is experiencing. Best wishes all is OK, our pups are precious, aren't they???

Patrick

Hi Patrick, great hearing from you!

My Holly is 5 and is a rescue so she is very special and loving, precious indeed. It hurts me to see her limp over to me with her favorite toy and not be able to play with her. 

I do believe that strict activity confinement is paramount to let the ligament heal. I have been watching several You Tube pieces about the same issue and it takes several months for recevery. 

Sorry to hear that. Our 11-yr old black Lab, JJ has had TPLO surgery on both of his knees to fix what is the equivalent to a torn ACL in humans. Very expensive whe he had the surgery about 9-yrs ago.  Approx. $3,500 for each ”knee”.  The surgery requires sawing part of the bone and repositioning the joint to a different angle which is more stable than his original knee.  He’s great now but also suffers from arthritis in his front leg that limits his daily walks to about 20 minutes.  With him being 11, hes a great companion when I’m building.

Best of luck to you and your buddy.

David K.

PJ, Truly sorry to hear the news, I hope she is not in any pain and comfortable while she gets better.

I have my best friend curled up on my bed at the moment with her tounge sticking out fast asleep.

All the very best from both of us.

Damian

Ah !

 Mine wasn't as big . If you can imagine a Chihuahua with a peg leg !

 My little guy jumped wrong off my lap and Broke his front leg 

 He made it through  But he was also very funny while in a cast . My Jack Russell got very hard to handle after she broke her right rear leg in the middle of the thigh .

 She just surprisingly got mean during her healing ! Talk about $  , Oh Boy . My present pal has a hip problem that the doc said was genetic . He takes three bounces before he can get up on the couch ! Vet said let him do that , it will strengthen the muscles keeping him mobile . he seems to think it's a game , but Boy does he grunt like an old man when he gets up !

David Kaneshiro

Sorry to hear that. Our 11-yr old black Lab, JJ has had TPLO surgery on both of his knees to fix what is the equivalent to a torn ACL in humans. Very expensive whe he had the surgery about 9-yrs ago.  Approx. $3,500 for each ”knee”.  The surgery requires sawing part of the bone and repositioning the joint to a different angle which is more stable than his original knee.  He’s great now but also suffers from arthritis in his front leg that limits his daily walks to about 20 minutes.  With him being 11, hes a great companion when I’m building.

Best of luck to you and your buddy.

David K.

platicjunkie...here's hoping that your pooch is able to recover without the surgery that David refers to, the TPLO.  We had two Goldens and due to their rambunctiousness, one required one TPLO usrgery and the other TPLO on both rear knees.  I think we've paid for the renovfations to the vet clinic we go to.

Both Bronson and Shelby were quite young whe they had their surgeries and they lived great lives (both made it to age 15) without any evidence of any arthritis, post surgery.

Best of luck to you and pooch.

I’m sorry to hear of such an issue with your fur baby.  They are so precious. I wish a quick recovery with no surgeries.  Our fur babies are Ohana, family.

Your friend, Toshi

Try to avoid the surgury if you can.  Our Beagle blew out her knee and tore the ligaments.  Had to have two surguries. The healing required hours of watching her to make sure she wouldn't rip her stitches out or get an infection.  Its was like having an infant all over again.  

Being a Beagle, she was to smart to wear a cone, so it was a long two months for the recovery.  

Thanks guys. I'm trying very hard not to have the surgery done, I don't want to put her thru that. The complete rest approach seems to be helping since she seems to be limping less and using the bad led a bit more when I take her out to potty then back to her cage and her comfy padded bed.

Hey PJ, I don't have any helpful advice, but wanted to say I am sorry to hear your girl is having a hard time.  I am a cat guy, and have been accused of being a "helicopter owner" because I freak out any time one of my pets is having a problem.  I know how hard it is to watch when your best friend is have a hard time.   

But, you are a good pet owner, and will do right by her, and it sounds like she is getting better.  Prayers for a full recovery.

You Know ;

 We seem tp forget here . A dog , Cat or bird , even fish .When they've been part of the family for some time .Like four legged ones . It's hard to see them uncomfortable . Besides the antics they go through to get the " Cone of Reprimand " off is too funny .

 I call the cone that because of how my cat reacted when she got one for a  "Sorry " her human stepped on her paw , breaking the bones in it . She didn't purr or talk to me for the whole time she had the cone on .

 One day about a week before the final vet visit . She jumped up on the lap , she had managed to wriggle out of the cone . Yup ! she had the cone around her middle!!

  Love your little Or big ,  furry child and remember they give Love , Unconditionally and ask really nothing except a pat and food , water and a warm, safe place to sleep . 

A small update about Holly's leg. In 5 days it will be a month that she injured it but I must say that the complete rest recipe seems to be working.

I have her crated for most of the day giving her plenty of rest and being let out for short bathroom periods and meals. She is barely limping if that, a skip now and then when she walks.

This is the time not to be careless because any jumping or running will set her recovery back. From what I have been reading, each day of rest will help build up the muscle scar tissue till she is fully recovered but being aware that a re injury can occur so extra care is needed to avoid that.

I'm sorry I missed this earlier, pj.  But glad to hear Holly is doing better.  When pets are ailing, it really stresses us out with worry and concern.  Hope she recovers completely.

Thanks check. Some people say they are just animals. To me they are family members that give unconditional loyalty and love.

You're absolutely right, pj.  My Jack Russell, named Sergeant Saunders, is nine years old, and a constant companion.  I can easily understand your connection with Holly!

checkmateking02

You're absolutely right, pj.  My Jack Russell, named Sergeant Saunders, is nine years old, and a constant companion.  I can easily understand your connection with Holly!

 

That is so cool! Do you ever call him Chip? LOL

My shadow is my 13 year old blind Bichon named Coco. Even though shes totally blind, she still manages to follow me through the house. She sleeps either next to me by the bedor under it.

Glad to read PJ that your girl is doing better. Lots of rest and LOTS of love help our furry kids weather most storms that come. I would do anything for my dog, he may not get played with as often as he would like but I would do everything in my power to keep the big oaf around. So long as his quality of life isn't diminished, he has no fear of being........not in this house. Sorry rambled really glad to hear your pup is well on the mend. Thanks for the update.

PJ, Great news.

Wishing you both the very best and hoping Holly is up and about very soon.

Ernie,

It's great too hear that Holly is doing better. Before you know it she will be chasing her toys and digging up the backyard. And I totally agree with you, their not animals...but 100% family members. Wishing her a continued speedy recovery. 

Thanks fellas! Here she is!

Last black lab rescue Eliza had a torn ACL when we got her.  The vet said it wasn't a candidate for surgery, especially since it didn't seem to be debilitating.

Every now and then she'd get excited and try and romp around, but I could see that it would bother her and she'd slow down.

She was a senior, gray muzzle and face so it was OK that she wasn't a young pup.

Unfortuntely she died of pancreatitis a few months ago.

Jay Bones

Last black lab rescue Eliza had a torn ACL when we got her.  The vet said it wasn't a candidate for surgery, especially since it didn't seem to be debilitating.

Every now and then she'd get excited and try and romp around, but I could see that it would bother her and she'd slow down.

She was a senior, gray muzzle and face so it was OK that she wasn't a young pup.

Unfortuntely she died of pancreatitis a few months ago.

 

PJ great to see her up and about, Merry Christmas to you both.

Jay really sorry to hear the bad news, our girl is getting on a bit but hoping we get another 5-8  years together before she or i go.

Thanks Damian and Merry Christmas to you also,

JB

Thanks for sharing your story and sorry about your loss. She was lucky to be adopted by you and lived out a happy life.

Years ago we adopted a Black Lab mix from the Humane Society and lost him to a stomach tumor about 7 years ago. Buddy was very special and he is still missed by all my family till this day.

Well seems like Miss Holly is doing MUCH better! She has a light skip now and then but now is not the time to put my guard down cuz she can re injure her leg very easy. She still needs a few more months of restricted activity so that scar tissue builds up and strengthens.

Well here's an update about Miss Holly . She originally tore her left ACL back around mid Nov. 2017 and slowly recovered under the conservative approach treatment. That is plenty of rest, not allowed to run or jump, take short walks on a leash, take joint supplement and fish oil along with loosing weight. She got to weigh 97 lbs and currently I have her down to a slim 70 lbs. Doc says she is at her ideal weight which takes it easy on those injured knees, letting the scar tissue grow and build around the knee helping to stabilize the joint area. The alternative was surgery at $4,000 a knee and an even bumpier recovery period not to mention the pain she would have been in the beginning recovery stages.  

In the process of recovering from her left tear, the right ACL went out back in mid 2018 and was limping on that leg for a while. This is common since she had been favoring her left leg and using the right as main support. Again, the conservative treatment continued. 

I'm happy to report she is not limping at all and walks and runs normally. I don't let her run hard, just very lightly. Our walks are easy going and relaxing so she can do some light exercise. She likes to stand up on both hind legs to hug me, something she was unable to do while recovering. I’m so happy to see her walking normal again and being able to run and play with her toys.