ACL repair - your experiences

[harleychik66]

Here's a couple links with owners who had the traditional and how they feel/felt about it.

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/vet...m-outlook.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/vet...cl-repair.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/vet...p-anymore.html

There are more but I hope this will help.

[Cody'smom]

Originally Posted by sciflyer25

Okay, scheduled the surgery with the vet. The procedure is the more traditional DeAngelis suture in a figure 8 on the outside of the joint. This will be done after cleaning out the intracapsular space.
Apparently this method is supposed to help the joint form fibrous scar tissue around the joint/suture to help with long term stabilization. The actual suture eventually loosens and fails, but holds up long enough when following strict post-op directions and gradual rehab.
Now that I have been more specific about what will be done, anyone have success with this method?
Thanks again for the feedback,

Jim

Yes, we have had excellent results with this procedure! I had two dogs blow their ACL in the past year and, after tons of research, went with this procedure. I could not be sold on the TPLO or TTA. Both my dogs recovered very well. The first few weeks of post op are critical. Follow post op directions to the letter. We kept ours in our utility room and leash walked to the yard for potty breaks only. After two weeks we got the ok to start leash walking 10 minutes at a time and working up. I have been extremely pleased with the results. Good luck to you and your dog!

[sciflyer25]

Bella had her surgery, we are day 2 post op, and she has just been resting on her bed. She sleeps with the E-collar on, but when we are with her, we leave it off. The incision is held with 14 staples, and it looks to be a little more swollen today. We only take her out to potty. Is ice a good idea for the swelling, and at what point would passive ROM exercises be ok?

[harleychik66]

If I remember right, our vet didn't recommend any exercises until the staples came out.

Swelling, we were lucky and never experienced any. I would say an ice pack should be fine, but check with your vet first. I wouldn't put it directly on the incision, but to the side of it.

[sciflyer25]

Thanks for the replies/advice. Bella does have some swelling around the incision - nothing that I am too worried about yet, but she will not let me ice it. She lays on both sides of her body equally, although she has yet to fully straighten her leg out. Our instructions say that by day 3, it is ok if she places a small amount of weight on her affected leg while on leash for potty time. The problem is that we just got 16+ inches of snow, and it is very slippery outside - I actually shovelled my front lawn so she has an area to go, but I think she is spooked by the snow piles, and the fact that we cannot walk her down the street. Today is day 4, and she has not done a poop yet.

[Cody'smom]

Cody did that to me too with not pooping for about 3 days after his surgery. The anesthesia can slow down their digestive tract so it can take a few days for things to get going again. He also wouldn't let me ice his leg either, he was just to "ouchy" about it so we left it alone. Hang in there, the first week is the hardest. It gets a lot eaiser once they are allowed to do a little more walking.

[harleychik66]

Originally Posted by sciflyer25

She lays on both sides of her body equally, although she has yet to fully straighten her leg out. Our instructions say that by day 3, it is ok if she places a small amount of weight on her affected leg while on leash for potty time..

This is amazing! Lou would not lay to his surgery side till almost 4 or 5 months out from repair.

Originally Posted by sciflyer25

The problem is that we just got 16+ inches of snow, and it is very slippery outside - I actually shovelled my front lawn so she has an area to go, but I think she is spooked by the snow piles, and the fact that we cannot walk her down the street. Today is day 4, and she has not done a poop yet.

Just like Cody's mom said don't be too concerned about a poop just yet. Lou had surgery on a Monday and didn't poop till Friday night. The surgery, anesthesia as well as the pain meds really can make their system wonky for a while.

Keep in touch with your vet on this. I was a bit worried too and on Friday the vet said try a slow 5 minute walk. Sure enough about 3 minutes in he pooped. I was so happy and relieved.

Lou toe touched immediately, so I'm sure when potties she will use that leg a bit for balance. Lou did and the vet said completely normal.

Sounds like everything is going fairly well though. I'm so glad to hear it. Give Bella a butt rub from us, and tell her good girl.

[sciflyer25]

Just wanted to update, and have a few questions.

Bella is 7 weeks post-op, and doing as well as she could . She is walking well on her leg although she still has a small limp. Her joint is stable on exam.
Her leg is atrophied still. We will begin hydrotherapy soon.
My question is will the swimming really help? My vet (not the one who did the surgery, but one who does have much experience with torn CCL's) said that the swimming may help, but not too much in his opinion.
He also said that she can start going up and down the stairs on leash. Everything I have read says no stairs for up to 4 months. I have not let her use the stairs yet - am still sleeping on the air mattress downstairs with her.
He said that the most important time is 4-6 weeks post-op, and limiting activity during that time is the most important thing. We have done just that, but is it too soon for her to use stairs?

Thanks for any feedback

Jim

[DogMama]

Whether non-surgical alternative is an option for you depends on the degree of the injury, which you didn't indicate.

From my own experience, I'd say surgery in a young dog is the best thing to do.

We've been through this with Jasmine twice. Yes, unfortunately stairs are out of the question. We had a similar problem (bedroom upstairs and living room in the basement). We solved it by moving all our activities to the main floor and I slept with her on the main floor also. It was not the most convenient solution, but I would not leave her alone, particularly in such a vulnerable state.

Following with the rehab as prescribed is extremely important for successful recovery and not using stairs is part of that.

For going in and out of the house (where there are couple stairs) we made a simple ramp which worked out very well. Toweling is also an option, but Jasmine did not like that, and the ramp is safer and allows the dog some dignity. She took to it right away.

Avoiding any slippery surfaces is also important, at least in early stages. We plastered the main floor with rugs.

Little things, such as raised feeding and drinking bowls are little things that help. Comfortable stable bed.

[harleychik66]

Our vet didn't want Lou doing stairs until about 5-6 months out and even then he said limit the amount of times he does stairs. 7 weeks seems way to soon to be doing stairs.

As far as swimming....I am a HUGE proponent of swimming. We started Lou swimming the week the staples came out and he has been going every week since ( over a year now). His leg was so atrophied you could literally feel your fingers between his leg. It was baaaad. There is no way we could have gotten muscle tone back as fast as we did had it not been for the swimming. With the limited amount of exercise they are allowed post op it's so hard to work that muscle.

I realize this is just my opinion, but wow I never thought swimming would make that much of a difference. I was so wrong. It is such a wonderful workout for him and he enjoys it so much. I highly highly recommend it.