IAMs Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) Ashe has been limping after playing, and he's been on our vet's radar. We've been treating the limp with Metacam for inflammation and pain. The limp hasn't gotten much better over the last couple weeks, so we took him back to the vet to get checked out. She did a couple tests and believes that he has a torn ACL in his rear right leg. X-rays were taken and nothing was visible... no fractures, breaks, etc. Everything looked okay... which supported her idea of an ACL issue. She said that we should definitely get a second opinion from a specialist (scheduled tentatively for January 21st), but that surgery will most likely be the likely outcome. She mentioned that recovery is 2-3 months in the crate in order to limit movement. He would be taken out for feeding and for bathroom breaks, but that'd be it. Is this accurate? It seems like a LONG time! I can't imagine doing this to our sweet pup. If you've dealt with this, please fill me in. I welcome any and all advice. -Joel Edited January 24, 2014 by IAMs Quote * Gwen (07/2003-11/2009), * Maya (cancer , 06/2003-10/2013), *Ollie (cancer 07/2013 - 10/2018), *Azalea (cancer, 7/6/2015 - 5/20/2019), Ashe (cancer 04/2011 - 03/2020) *Aztec (sister of Inca, 12/1996-08/2011), *Inca (half-Siamese kitty ,12/1996 - 9/2016) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) That was what was wrong with Comfort...also the right rear. I was not told to crate him, but only out to potty and right back in the first month - then short leash walks only for two more months. The first month he stayed ex- penned in the hallway and bathroom. Then we rigged the ex-pen outside. He could use the dog door but was limited to the deck and a small area of grass.We went to the ortho at the surgical specialty clinic and he said when the referral for a ruptured ACL in a greyhound he said "no way". Way. Six vets in that office and none had ever seen a torn ACL in a greyhound. Something did show up on the radiographs but both my vet and the ortho determined his knee was unstable by physical exam.PM me if you want to. Edited January 9, 2014 by Hubcitypam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaineysMom Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) Larry tore his right ACL in Dec of '10 and it took until June of 11 to heal completely up. In fact, we leash walked him for maybe the first 2 weeks after we adopted him in June of 11. If you PM me your email, I will ask that Ellen Paulus of GPA -- who fostered and was his nurse all those months (they have a paraplegic dog as well, VERY savvy folks!) to email you her experiences, thoughts, advice. good luck! I know Larry's road was a long one but now you'd never know he was injured (except now he's recovering from a torn webbing! argh) Edited January 10, 2014 by RaineysMom Quote Kim and Bruce - with Rick (Rick Roufus 6/30/16) and missing my sweet greyhound Angels Rainey (LG's Rainey 10/4/2000 - 3/8/2011), Anubis (RJ's Saint Nick 12/25/2001 - 9/12/12) and Zeke (Hey Who Whiz It 4/6/2009 - 7/20/2020) and Larry (PTL Laroach 2/24/2007 - 8/2/2020) -- and Chester (Lab) (8/31/1990 - 5/3/2005), Captain (Schipperke) (10/12/1992 - 6/13/2005) and Remy (GSP) (?/?/1998 - 1/6/2005) at the bridge"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -- Ernest Hemmingway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespet Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 A complete tear (IIRC that would mean the leg is quite useless and hanging there) or a partial tear? Maggie had a partial and surgery was the recommended treatment. I researched a lot and talked to all my fav grey experts and with the exception of one vet in WV, all agreed that surgery was her best bet. But she isn't a good anesthesia candidate (Malignant hyperthermia) and the possibility of having the same thing happen to the other rear leg increases dramatically. I chose 6 months of rest followed by a re-assessment. She was crated or x-penned 24/7 except for potty breaks. I carried her up and down the 3 steps off our deck. And when she was really going stir crazy, I drugged her. This was going to be her best shot at recovery without anesthesia. And it worked. 3 more months of leash walking. Gradually longer walks. No off leash in my fenced yard for several more months. It worked for her. She now does zoomies and catches bunnies. Hope Ashe is feeling better soon. Quote http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g240/mtbucket/siggies/Everyday-2.jpgJane - forever servant to the whims and wishes of Maggie (L's Magnolia of JCKC) and Sam the mutt pup.[/b] She's classy, sassy and a bit smart assy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 My non greyhound tore his ACL--it was an instant total rupture and he was totally unable to use his leg. He had a TPLO, and he was on cage rest for 12 weeks. Got a bone infection and nearly died. Eventually (over a year total recovery) he was OK. This is a rare outcome, but man it was rough! Cost a fortune too. 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 January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Comfort had "old school" ex-cap. The vet used sterile fishing line to make him a new ligament. I couldn't afford TPLO which would have been about 4X as much.. My vet said the only thing about TPLO is when it goes bad, it goes really really bad as in George's experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAMs Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 We went to see a specialist this morning. He put Ashe through some stretches and contortions and feels that Ashe does NOT have a torn ACL. He said that Ashe's movements on both sides are similar to each other. Also, there's no muscular atrophy (which would be expected if he was having to favor one leg over the other due to a torn or tearing ACL). The vet said that he didn't notice anything in the x-ray that would be indicative of an ACL issue, which would include extra fluid around the affected area. We mentioned that our first thought, prior to the whole ACL issue, was that he had a cactus spine or something similar in the pad of one of his toes. Up until a couple days ago, the area around the insertion point was oozing some fluid. He checked it out and agrees that a spine or something similar is what is most likely causing the issue. Our Rx is to soak his foot in water with epsom salts once a day. Hopefully it'll work its way out. If not, we'll go back to him in a month and see if we can't figure something out. The BEST part of this news is that Ashe is cleared for an early April backpacking trip with my wife and her family. He LOVES LOVES LOVES backpacking and hiking, so it's great news that he should be able to go. (Of course, we're going to watch him closely before completely committing, but we're just happy to hear that it may be a possibility.) I can't even begin to describe how excited we are. Oh... and just because I know pictures are always requested, here are a couple pictures of Ashe on a recent backpacking trip with my wife. -Joel Quote * Gwen (07/2003-11/2009), * Maya (cancer , 06/2003-10/2013), *Ollie (cancer 07/2013 - 10/2018), *Azalea (cancer, 7/6/2015 - 5/20/2019), Ashe (cancer 04/2011 - 03/2020) *Aztec (sister of Inca, 12/1996-08/2011), *Inca (half-Siamese kitty ,12/1996 - 9/2016) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 That is good news! Hope you can get handsome goober all healed up . Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Glad you've got good news. And it seems these guys just love doing anything with their owners. Love his backpack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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