DOG CARE: How Do I Care for And/or Diagnose a Possible Cruciate Ligament Injury/Tear in My Dog’s Hind Leg?
Question by Billy D: DOG CARE: How do I care for and/or diagnose a possible Cruciate Ligament Injury/Tear in my dog’s hind leg?
Sorry this is long winded, but I want to give as much detail as possible.
My dog is a 4 year old Yellow Lab Mix.
He is a little overweight (77 lbs – medium to average Lab size in height).
The other day, he was fetching on a pebbly/rocky beach. I had him running hard and swimming for exercise. I noticed he was getting moody around the other dogs (which is unusual)… but it was a hot day and he was tired.
A fight broke out with a muscular Pit Bull. When they both lunged upward on their hind legs, my dog came down and started whimpering/crying like I’d never heard him before. I thought he’d been bitten… but see no swelling, bite marks, or bruises.
We hiked to the car and I could tell he was avoiding pressure on his left hind leg. Then, He couldn’t even jump into the car. He wouldn’t let me near him that night (which was very odd)… and wouldn’t eat.
The next day he seemed in pain, yet not as listless… and no limping (just avoiding pressure on the injured leg). So I waited a day to observe before going to the vet.
The next morning (as I got him ready for the vet), he was limping severely. Still no bruising, swelling, or bite marks. Nothing in the paw.
The Vet said—almost immediately, without examination—that he thought it was a “cruciate ligament injury or tear.” He did a physical test, but the knee did not flex like that of a tear.
The Vet gave a prescription of RIMADYL (75mg 2x/day) and said we should wait 2 weeks to take x-rays… then “we’ll talk surgery and rehab.”
My dog has been limping more since the vet did the “physical exam”, he even whimpers when he tries to squat for bowel movements. He will not even lift his leg to urinate.
After doing research online about, “cruciate ligament injuries/tears” and surgery… my heart is in my stomach. The process sounds horrible.
Does anyone know anything about this condition and surgery?
Is surgery absolutely necessary?
Will my dog be the same afterward (he’ll die if he could never fetch a tennis ball again… it’s his addiction)?
Are there any homeopathic alternatives?
Does this sound like it can be anything else?
Is there anything I can do, in the meantime, to comfort him?
Sorry, for all the questions… but this really is the most loyal, sweetest dog I’ve ever owned. I want to do what’s best.
Best answer:
Answer by twilightluver
DO NOT TRY TO DIAGNOSE IT YOURSELF! TAKE IT TO YOUR VET!
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