Has Anybody Dealt With Acl Surgery With A Greyhound?

[Guest hvacman250]

Rocket is an 8 month old greyhound puppy

 

Background: Friday 7/3 Rocket was running in the yard and let out the mega GSOD. Wife picked him up and brought him to the porch. He wouldnt put weight on it, so we rested him until first thing Monday morning hoping it wasnt major.

 

Vets findings with Xrays and manipulation of the joint under sedation: totally destoyed cruciate ligament (left rear leg), torn colateral ligaments, fragmented tibial crest. One ACL specialist said he would prefer not to do it because of how bad it was. Another ACL specialist has agreed to do it Weds (7/15) This vet has only seen the Xrays, but will assess him day of surgery and hopefully proceed with surgery.

 

My question: if his knee is THAT bad, what will his future hold? How prone to reinjury will he be? Should amputation be considered?

Thinking of amputation makes me sick to my stomach, but I dont want to put him thru surgery, only to have him reinjure it in the future and amp be necessary.

 

Of course, I have talked to 2 vets about this, and have got a miriad of responses. Im hoping some experienced people here will chime in. FWIW, one specialist wanted to do the surgery in 2 steps because of his age (tibial crest and ligaments now, and ACL later when he stops growing) The other vet who is planning on doing the surgery did not agree with that.

 

I'm torn.

Edited July 15, 2009 by hvacman250

[CaliforniaGreys]

No experience here Shaun, but I'm sure someone here can help.

 

We're keeping handsome Rocket in our prayers and Zaney for his foot!

[Guest LynnM]

Where are you located?

 

There are always some options, and a pup that young is very, very resilient. No matter how nasty any potential surgeries are, the challenge will be the aftercare and keeping him quiet during the healing time. On the bright side, a pup that young will heal much faster and stronger than an older dog.

 

Lynn

[Guest KyGrey]

I'm not sure what all that surgery involves but Jennifer that runs Shamrock Greyhound Placement just had a total hip replacement done on her 1 yr old greyhound. OSU was involved in this. Ripley488 is her GT name.

[Burpdog]

I have not had it done on any of mine, but researched for someone a few years back.

 

The only thing I can say is have it done by a specialist and preferably one who has done it on puppies. From what I can remember, there are several different choices and when I was done with the research, were it my dog I would have chosen the old repair method.

 

On a puppy it's going to be tough but of course you have to get it done and not sure if there are options since it's so bad.

 

Sending lots of prayers.

[Guest FullMetalFrank]

Oh, no... No advice, just keeping the little fellow in my prayers...

[brandimom]

I would contact a holistic vet and ask about prolo treatment. A couple of my grey friends had dogs that needed to have surgery but they checked with a holistic vet first and discussed the prolo treatment. Dogs did not have surgery, had the prolo treatment and are doing fine. www.getprolo.com (this is the human side of it). Personal experience my grey had with prolo - limping, had x-rays, vet said we have to do surgery, contacted holistic vet and we discussed prolo, grey had six treatments 3 years ago and we have never looked back.

[LuvAPuppy]

for sure I'd get the opinion of an orthopod. even if you opt not to use him for the surgery, at least get an opinion from one. it'll be much more expensive probably, but...may be worth it.

[Guest hvacman250]

We are going to a 3rd and final orthopedic surgeon tomorrow, actually a team of them. One ortho surgeon cancelled on us and left a bad taste in my mouth, the 2nd today said "Wow, thats the worst Ive ever seen", so he refused to operate. I will make the final appointment tomorrow and re-xray his knee and ge their opinion.

 

Depending on their opinion, amputation may be inevitable. Its that bad according to 2 vets.

[GreytHoundPoet]

Poor Rocket...keeping him and you and the family in my prayers.

[Batmom]

 

Sending prayers.

[sweetdogs]

OMG, I'm so sorry. Have your tried Dr. Radcliffe? I believe he's in West Virginia.

[Guest KennelMom]

LynnM and Onrushpam know their way around ortho vets...I've heard good things about Dr. Radcliffe and a vet at Auburn...Dr. Gilette(?)

 

I'm assuming you've been to Upstate? We've seen them for more minor ortho issues and have been satisfied.

[jamngrey]

no advice here but I wish you the best with your next appt. Hope all works out

[GreyAcresMom]

We are going to a 3rd and final orthopedic surgeon tomorrow, actually a team of them. One ortho surgeon cancelled on us and left a bad taste in my mouth, the 2nd today said "Wow, thats the worst Ive ever seen", so he refused to operate. I will make the final appointment tomorrow and re-xray his knee and ge their opinion.

 

Depending on their opinion, amputation may be inevitable. Its that bad according to 2 vets.

 

I am so sorry. No real advice, but to say that Jac-foo lost her leg very early. The first surgery was unable to repair the "growth plate" so after her first surgery didn't do what we wanted, she ended up losing her leg.

 

We brought her home right after surgery, which was a 5 hour drive. It was about 1am when we got home, she peed and went to bed. That morning at about 9am she was out chasing her first bunny: before I could stop her. They recover so fast at this tender young age.

 

Don't worry at all about himwithout a leg. They recoup so fast. DH was adament that we would not "let" her be miserable with only three legs. Boy did he learn a thing or two. That is his heart dog.

 

for the hurt baby...

 

for Mom and Dad...

[Guest BatesieGreys]

Didn't read all the responses, but this is what I know. I had a rottweiler growing up. When she was about a year old she tore the cruciate ligament in her knee. She tore it completely, but there were no other complicating injuries. Not only did we have to keep her quiet while she was healing, but there was always a concern about her reinjuring it. Rottweilers do not run nearly the way that greyhounds do, and there was still that concern. As she aged, she developed arthritis in that knee (which was complicated by hip displasia as well). As much as I hate to say it, with that much damage to the knee, and knowing how greyhounds are, I would always be worried about reinjury, and at a later date the healing might not go nearly as well.

 

Even without being able to see any of the x-rays, I actually trust what the vets have said. Even if you did find someone to operate, rocket could probably never be allowed to run or be too active. Wishing you both the best of luck.

Edited July 15, 2009 by BatesieGreys

[macoduck]

Our non-grey Rosie had the ACL ligament surgery. Vet said more than likely the other one would eventually blow.......and he was right. Running days were over for her as was jumping up onto the couch.

[Burpdog]

That is why I said old surgery in my post. From what I understand, the other knee is most apt to go with newer surgery technique.

[Guest mountain4greys]

Sorry to hear this. Prayers for Rocket to pull through this ok.

[Guest KyGrey]

Sending prayers to Rocket.

 

Sending prayers to Rocket.

[Guest hvacman250]

I will ask all these questions Friday morning.

 

Why would surgery on his left knee make his right knee prone to reinjury? If its the case of having "weak knees", what if amputation is best?

If I amp his left leg and he blows the knee in the right leg, WTH happens then?

 

Geez, the confusion and the not knowing.

 

How the heck do you keep a greyhound puppy/juvenile still? Never let him jump on the couch, bed, play with toys, etc. What kind of life is that?

 

 

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

I have no experience with the torn acl, but I do rehab broken leg dogs (foster). One thing I would say is this, your dog is very young, if you choose to amputate, he will be more than able to compensate for the loss of limb and the quality of life wouldnt suffer either. Just a thought if you do look at the amp route.

 

Chad

[LuvAPuppy]

I'm not certain why the "good" leg gets injured after a repair surgery....it's very common though, I've seen it happen twice personally in two knee cases. I suppose it's a compensation in movement kind of thing...favoring the "bad" leg stresses the "good" leg. Just add that question to the list for the third vet!

[onrushpam]

I just saw this.

 

If you can possibly swing it, you should take him to Dr. Radcliffe. I've seen him do some AMAZING repairs on badly injured greyhounds. I've not met him. But, based on the experience of several friends, he is very straightforward and will tell you the real deal re: chances of success, etc. And, he doesn't charge a fortune. If it were my dog, I'd be heading there now. Dr. Radcliffe

[Guest LindsaySF]

I'm not certain why the "good" leg gets injured after a repair surgery....it's very common though, I've seen it happen twice personally in two knee cases. I suppose it's a compensation in movement kind of thing...favoring the "bad" leg stresses the "good" leg. Just add that question to the list for the third vet!

If putting more weight on the other leg is what happens, I would think amputation would be a bad idea. All that weight going onto the remaining leg would seem to me like it would make it more prone to being injured.

 

 

Best of luck.