So Riley has a bad knee, and i dont know what to do. He tore his patellar ligament in April. It is a Very uncommon injury, and a very major one! He was in a full leg brace for 10 weeks. That has been off for a while now.
I dont know what to do in terms of long term healing. We have been going to an ortho specialist. There is no surgery to be done on the leg for this. They have basically wanted Riley to stay in a bubble to protect the knee. No running, no jumping, no stairs, no getting on couch/furniture, no jumping in car, has to be crated, no tile/slippery floors, only 15 minute walks a few times a day, no tug, no play, no other dogs. Does anyone realize how difficult these restrictions are?! I can actually understand all of these. It is just impossible to have to follow for about half a year now!
My dog cannot live like this. He is 8 1/2 years old. We were very active before the injury and did walks, hiking, tracking, playing, parks, etc. To go from that to 15 minute walks is depressing for us both.
I have been breaking the rules and letting him run, play, and longer walks. I have decided that Quality is more important then Quantity now.
I want him to be happy. The problem is that if he is allowed to do more and tears the ligament more or luxates his patellar bone further then he will have to have the leg amputated. I would do that if it came to it and he was still happy. It would make me sick to know that I caused it though by letting him do more. Also, he will never be the same in that leg again. He will always have a limp and problems. I would do the restriction if he was younger and would heal fully. He is older and we will never be able to do the same things again though.
Do you think i am being stupid/selfish by letting him do more and risking it? Like today as an example. I took him to an offleash park to walk the trails. Running in and of itself does not bother his leg. He can/will do that fine without limping. He had a great time. We unexpectidly ran into another dog though. Both were offleash and wanted to play. I didnt want him to, but he played for a few minutes. Well, the twisting on the knee really hurt him. He came over to me 3 legged. He is using it better now, but is still very sore in the leg. I feel horrible. I "talk a big talk" to myself about letting him be happy and dealing with the consiquences later (like amputation), but when something like this happens i hate myself. Amputation is so major and final, and could of possibably been avoided. Although he will live with the risk of amputation the rest of his life from his injury no matter how nicely his knee heals with restriction.
The doctor did say this is such a major injury and will take a year minimum to heal as well as it is going to. We are barely half way there. I know i am rushing things, but a year of restriction is a Long time.
Im really sorry for the ramble, and thankyou to those of you who read this far!!! I guess i needed to vent. Thanks.
I dont know what to do in terms of long term healing. We have been going to an ortho specialist. There is no surgery to be done on the leg for this. They have basically wanted Riley to stay in a bubble to protect the knee. No running, no jumping, no stairs, no getting on couch/furniture, no jumping in car, has to be crated, no tile/slippery floors, only 15 minute walks a few times a day, no tug, no play, no other dogs. Does anyone realize how difficult these restrictions are?! I can actually understand all of these. It is just impossible to have to follow for about half a year now!
My dog cannot live like this. He is 8 1/2 years old. We were very active before the injury and did walks, hiking, tracking, playing, parks, etc. To go from that to 15 minute walks is depressing for us both.
I have been breaking the rules and letting him run, play, and longer walks. I have decided that Quality is more important then Quantity now.
I want him to be happy. The problem is that if he is allowed to do more and tears the ligament more or luxates his patellar bone further then he will have to have the leg amputated. I would do that if it came to it and he was still happy. It would make me sick to know that I caused it though by letting him do more. Also, he will never be the same in that leg again. He will always have a limp and problems. I would do the restriction if he was younger and would heal fully. He is older and we will never be able to do the same things again though.
Do you think i am being stupid/selfish by letting him do more and risking it? Like today as an example. I took him to an offleash park to walk the trails. Running in and of itself does not bother his leg. He can/will do that fine without limping. He had a great time. We unexpectidly ran into another dog though. Both were offleash and wanted to play. I didnt want him to, but he played for a few minutes. Well, the twisting on the knee really hurt him. He came over to me 3 legged. He is using it better now, but is still very sore in the leg. I feel horrible. I "talk a big talk" to myself about letting him be happy and dealing with the consiquences later (like amputation), but when something like this happens i hate myself. Amputation is so major and final, and could of possibably been avoided. Although he will live with the risk of amputation the rest of his life from his injury no matter how nicely his knee heals with restriction.
The doctor did say this is such a major injury and will take a year minimum to heal as well as it is going to. We are barely half way there. I know i am rushing things, but a year of restriction is a Long time.
Im really sorry for the ramble, and thankyou to those of you who read this far!!! I guess i needed to vent. Thanks.
