Hubcitypam Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) Comforts career ending injury was supposed to be a hairline fracture in his pelvis. I checked with several vets and they said it should be no problem. The problem is that radiographs show nothing wrong with his pelvis. My vet started looking for other issues and it turns out he has a torn ACL (in people/CCL in dogs). He tore it in January and was at the farm until I got him in August. I get differing vet opinions on if he should have surgery. Some say yes, but it will be much harder than a fresh tear. One vet said his body has been trying to heal itself and there's a sort of boney hump (maybe that is the wrong wording on my part) and surgery wouldn't be a first option. Bottom line is the leg seems to be atrophying and his foot is skewed to outside a bit. He likes to sleep on the hardwoods where it is cooler but he scrambles so hard to get up it hurts me. Ideas? Edited October 10, 2013 by Hubcitypam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallgreydogmom Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) Don't you have the young vet from OSU? Have him contact Dr Dyce at OSU. Dr Dyce and Dr Couto helped me with Vallery's prosthetic. Edited September 27, 2013 by Tallgreydogmom Quote Then God sent the Greyhound to live among man and remember. And when the Day comes, God will call the Greyhound to give Testament, and God will pass judgment on man. (Persian Proverb) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 I'm trying to get a consult with TAMU for now as I can get it hands on with a 5-6 hour round trip. Will advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreytHoundPoet Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 (edited) My Dalmatian had torn her CCL years ago and we went with conservative management instead of surgery because her heart was bad. It did heal by itself over time but her's was a minor tear. Edited September 28, 2013 by GreytHoundPoet Quote Masquerade Hounds & The Hounds of East Fairhaven & Ibizan Hound Club of the United States Member Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 (edited) From what I'm hearing once it has atrophied its too late to do much good. Edited September 28, 2013 by Hubcitypam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJNg Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Have any of the vets you've gotten opinions from been orthopedic surgeons? There are different surgical procedures available, and certain ones may be better due to the atophy and length of time from the initial injury. Are there any degenerative/arthritic changes on x-rays? I really don't see why atrophy would keep surgery for doing much good. He might require more rehab/physical therapy afterward, but surgery would fix the underlying instability. Also, cruciate ligament ruptures are very rare in greyhounds. I'd suggest a 2nd opinion just for that reason. Glad you're trying to get him to TAMU. Quote Jennifer & Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On), Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 (edited) No, only my vet from OSU. There is a lump about 8 inches down on the inside of his leg that he won't put weight on... Should I take him to the surgical center here and have an ortho look at him or just try to get him to TAMU? Thank you. Edited September 28, 2013 by Hubcitypam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJNg Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 If you have a local referral center with board certified surgical specialists, I'd start there. Might not need to travel to TAMU if you have local specialists. Quote Jennifer & Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On), Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 We do. The doctors are really nice and if they are not busy they will sit in on other doctors patients. When I was up there with Rex I got both ortho and neuro for one office call. I will get a referral there. Thank you for being the voice of reason. I'm sort of deconstructing right now. http://dfwvetsurgeons.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJNg Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Keep us posted on what the ortho vet says. Quote Jennifer & Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On), Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted October 4, 2013 Author Share Posted October 4, 2013 Jennifer - Suzanne Stack said exactly the same thing about ruptured ACLs being rare in greys. Our appointment with the Ortho is 11:15 on Monday. Will advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 The Ortho said when he saw the referral for a greyhound with a torn ACL he said "No way". After examining him he said he has both a torn ACL and a torn meniscus. He said the knee was unstable and the meniscus might be more of a problem than the ACL which is scarring over.. He went to pick the brains of the other surgeons and said they all went "HUH?". He said between all the surgeons in the clinic they had seen ACL tears in one other greyhound. Comfort just had the perfect storm of a wreck on the track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Any treatment plan, Pam? Does this complicate his surgery? Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 Waiting for Dr. Ben to call Dr. Josh so he can explain it to me in layman's terms and we'll go from there. Dr. Ben said biggest problem would be keeping a 2 year old greyhound inactive for the healing time. http://dfwvetsurgeons.com/surgeons/bayer/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laur Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Can they cast that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Good lord! Sounds like a lot of enforced rest is in Comfort's future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedHead Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I don't really have any suggestions, but went through this with my last dog who tore her ACL when she was older, so we opted out of surgery. It eventually caused her other leg to get weaker and that one eventually tore as well. They do sell support braces for dog's to wear with acl injuries, but I don't know how beneficial they are, I have just read of other people using them. http://www.woundwear.com/home.cfm Good luck, I hope they can figure out something that works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msnikkerdoodle Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Well dang, poor Comfort. Did you get the impression from the docs today that they were leaning toward surgery on meniscus and/or cruciate ligament? I'm guessing some are saying an old cruciate tear can scar over and make knee more stable again?? Not sure if the same is true for meniscus though. Eager to hear your Dr Josh's explanation and recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 (edited) The ortho only will do the new school $4K surgery. Dr. Josh wants to do the old school surgery on both the CCL and meniscis at once. He said the meniscus wouldn't take 15 minutes so the price would be the same. We'll schedule surgery as soon as we can. Edited October 10, 2013 by Hubcitypam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 My old dog tore his ACL. It was a traumatic total rupture (all he was doing was running on a flat grassy surface!). He had a procedure called a TPLO (tibial plateau leveling ostemy). It cost a fortune. He also ended up with a bone infection, and almost died from that. However, rare as his outcome was, he was actually just fine after the infection was cleared up a YEAR after the surgery. It was a tough time. And the total cost was around $10,000, which my darling father paid. All I could have afforded was amputation or euthanasia. Given he was only 5 when it tore, neither was a good option. He was also uninsurable after the diagnosis. Something like 50% of all dogs who tear one will tear the other within 6 months. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 The "new school" I was referring to is TPLO. It is $4K here and that isn't happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Our first mutt Rosie had a torn ACL. Vet said we'd be back in 6 months for the other leg and he was right. If we'd known how relatively easy the recovery was I would have liked to get both legs done at once. fFter the repairs Rosie had no further trouble. Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 Considering how freakishly rare torn ACLs are in greyhounds and his was due to a traumatic injury I'm crossing my finger his other one will hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted October 10, 2013 Author Share Posted October 10, 2013 He is scheduled for surgery next Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msnikkerdoodle Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 We're sending good thoughts for Comfort on his surgery day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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