Bailey the GSD torn ACL

[monkeys23]

I've never heard of that! Of course I don't really travel in vet circles either lol. Glad its good news!

[Sparrow]

I've heard of this, but I don't get it! Did they not check for the drawer sign? It's pretty unmistakable. I was there while my sedated dog was in my vets hands, having her knees manipulated, and he showed me. That's what told him what it was - not X-rays (though he did X-ray as well, of course.)

He is notoriously amazing with his hands, though, and can feel out pups in a dam before anyone, and was able to tell me a YEAR after Zoe's TPLO that her other knee wasn't torn even without sedation just by feeling around and saying "this isn't what the other one felt like when it tore."

The way they hold the leg is pretty telling, as opposed to lameness from other causes. I thought Zoe's hips were getting bad when she tore hers, until I read that holding the foot up how she was is very specific to a CCL tear, and doesn't typically happen with bad hips. They generally lift it straight up to take the weight off when standing.

That's good to hear, though. The recovery is a nightmare.

[MisssAshby]

Originally Posted by JacksonsMom

Thanks for all the tips and advice!

Fortunately, my uncle dropped her off for surgery on Tuesday, and they shaved her whole leg and I guess took more x-rays before the surgery .....he doesn't really see a tear in the ACL! Apparantly, it's Panosteitis (basically growing pains) so anti-inflammatories it is. Recheck in a month and keep her on the low for the next month.

Anyone ever heard of a vet mistaking an ACL tear? Is that common?

It is standard to take films before surgery, but films alone can not be used to diagnose a torn ACL. General protocol is to sedate them, take films and at that time they check for a positive drawer sign. You can check for a positive drawer sign while they are awake, but it's more difficult since they still have control so to speak. Films can show the vet symptoms that are common with a tear (fluid), but if a vet is basing a decision on films alone I personally would be getting a second opinion. Was the vet who was doing her surgery a certified orthopedic surgeon?

She falls in the age range that Pano can still happen, but I would think if it was Pano she would show on/off signs of getting better. IME, Pano lameness is more of a stiff/sore type of lameness. When a dog has a torn ACL, they are in extreme amounts of pain, and refuse to use that leg, period.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by MisssAshby

When a dog has a torn ACL, they are in extreme amounts of pain, and refuse to use that leg, period.

Zoe only had mild ongoing lameness when her tear was partial. More like moderate after exercise (before I knew what was going on and rested her.) She would hold it up slightly while standing at rest, but there didn't seem to be a lot of pain.

She tore it all the way while we were awaiting her consult, and after that her lameness was very significant, though she still put weight on it while walking. There was a pronounced limp, with her leg held up when not walking.

So it depends on the degree of the tear, but I agree about getting another opinion either way. I had to drive Zoe three hours to a specialist, but I've heard of "regular" vets doing these as well, which I'd stay away from, personally.