ACL Surgery questions

[zekebo]

:confused: I'm looking for anybody who's dog has gone through an ACL Surgery. My dogs was Tuesday and I don't really know how she should be acting and how she shouldn't. Thanks.

[bubbatd]

Wish I could help !!! Hopefully some one will !!!

[AusCatDogs_4Ever]

This might help!

http://auscatldogtalk.iforumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=60&mforum=auscatldogtalk

[Barb04]

My dog had ACL surgery over 5 years ago and is doing really well. After the surgery, I had to keep her confined so she wouldn't jump up to reinjure the leg. I bought a large crate to keep her in. I kept her company by watching t.v. in the same room. Did the doctor give you a list of what you should & shouldn't do?

[zekebo]

He said only to give her the meds and carry her everywhere outside. The surgery was on her left rear and I worry about the right leg. It's now 6 days and she's touching the leg down sometimes with no pressure. I worry because somedays she eats good and somedays she won't eat at all. If I put her in a crate I think she'd think I hate her and hop away from home. She already thinks I did this to her from being abused before we got her. She's a strange dog sometimes. Another thing that I thought of to worry about is--before she did this she was limping and although xrays showed nothing and meds did nothing to help they said it was her back or hips or they just didn't know. I find hope in all I keep reading about how well dogs do after the surgery and I sure hope that was her problem all the time. Thanks so much everybody for your help and hope.

[papillon806]

My parents dog had ACL surgury on both of his legs. The left one was the first one that recieved surgery, and he was pretty lethargic the first couple of days. After about a week he started to put a little weight on his leg, but we never carried him in and out and he did fine "hobbling" along, lol. But I think that putting the weight on the other leg was what caused the need for ACL surgery on the right one (he needed this about 7 months after the right leg). The only trouble we had was getting him to maintain his weight (he gained alot of weight) and he kept knawing at the staples (my parents refused to put an E-collar on). But even with that, all went well and he is happy and healthy. I'm not sure how old your pup is, but their dog is 11 now, so he gets a daily regimen of glucosamine for his joints to prevent any hip issues from the stresses of the surgery.

[lpollockandrsn]

It is very important to keep her confined after the surgery. She should be very quiet and don't ask her to use her leg if you can help her avoid it. She may not feel like eating much for a few days. Over the course of the next couple of weeks she will probably learn quickly how to compensate for it and gradually use it again.

[zekebo]

Today is a week since the surgery and I'm knocking on wood. I talked to the Vet yesterday and he seems to think everything is in line with the timeline, her eating, the ups and downs and so on. She touches the toes down lightly when she doesn't know she does it but I still have to carry her up and down steps to go out. Thats ok as long as it helps the good leg. She is a touch overweight and can be a load on me and the good leg. She is not happy about going out but the Vet also said she needs to learn she can walk on three legs and I need to make her try. She's eating more but still thinks I did this to her so she still doesn't trust what I give her to eat. Strange dog she is! Time to get her out I guess--Thanks to everyone who responded, you've been a great help.