Help! Cruciate ligament injury with dog

[Jazzybmzoo 10]

Hi guys,

 

Happy new year and all that.

 

I need your help. My 4 year old Border Collie, Piet went for a cruciate ligament operation on his left hind leg this time last year. After a year of problems inc. a second operation and a persistent infection which he still has, things took another turn for the worse a couple of days ago. The cruciate in his right hind leg went!

 

I've had a constant battle with the vets and racked up almost £3k in bills. He went in for a relatively routine op a year ago and a year later is virtually crippled, with both legs in a bad way. Now I am furious with the vets and have sought a second and third opinion with other vets in the city but the consensus was that the surgeon who originally did the op would be best placed to continue his treatment. I had booked him for surgery next Wednesday for the implant on the original leg removing but this time will now be allocated to repairing the cruciate of his right leg.

 

I'm approaching the end of my tether with this situation now and would appreciate any recommendations or advice on how to get my dog sorted & quickly i.e. any vets specialise in this kind of injury, stance to take with my current vets.

 

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

[teeny 10]

Hi guys,

 

Happy new year and all that.

 

I need your help. My 4 year old Border Collie, Piet went for a cruciate ligament operation on his left hind leg this time last year. After a year of problems inc. a second operation and a persistent infection which he still has, things took another turn for the worse a couple of days ago. The cruciate in his right hind leg went!

 

I've had a constant battle with the vets and racked up almost £3k in bills. He went in for a relatively routine op a year ago and a year later is virtually crippled, with both legs in a bad way. Now I am furious with the vets and have sought a second and third opinion with other vets in the city but the consensus was that the surgeon who originally did the op would be best placed to continue his treatment. I had booked him for surgery next Wednesday for the implant on the original leg removing but this time will now be allocated to repairing the cruciate of his right leg.

 

I'm approaching the end of my tether with this situation now and would appreciate any recommendations or advice on how to get my dog sorted & quickly i.e. any vets specialise in this kind of injury, stance to take with my current vets.

 

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

you could always ask to be referred to a specialist or take a second opinion from for example Peak vets

[Posiepaws 10]

Oh dear sounds very frustrating.

I will say though that a cruciate ligament surgery is not exactly a routine surgery- it is not done by all vets and there are many ways which the joint can be stabilised.

Perhaps this should have been made clear to you? With any orthopaedic surgery there is risk of infection - you are entering joints which are perfect bacterial breeding grounds. If your vets followed proper sterile procedure and your dog had antibiotics after the surgery then it may be that this is just bad luck.

The other point I should make is that over 50% of dogs that get a ruptured cruciate ligament will then go on to get the same problem in the other leg within 12 months so I am not surprised.

It sounds like a frustrating communication breakdown rather than a case of any fault. That would reflect in the second and thirds vet opinion too.

 

Good luck with getting him fixed up. There will be a light at the end of the tunnel I promise!

[ccit 10]

I have three of my dogs operated on for this surgery. From experience, I think that having a vet who specializes is probably the best way forward but it may be that your current vet has a lot of experience of the surgery. There is a vet at Crookes and Partners (Chris Berry) who specializes in this. I also think that the after care is absolutely crucial in securing a full recovery. I confined all mine for several weeks after surgery and took a long time gradually building up the exercise. None of them had hydrotherapy but I understand that this is excellent for pre and post operative cruciate ligament surgery. Splashy Pups at Rutland Road comes very highly recommended.

 

I don't know why your dog got an infection in it's joint - it could be just very bad luck. With regards to the other leg needing to be done, the previous poster is correct - it is very common.

 

You sound very worried and uncertain and all I can say is to explore all your options first (which it seems you are doing). I imagine that the other vets don't want to touch your dog because of the complications in the existing leg. Clearly surgery is required but you need to choose a surgeon who you trust so don't proceed until you are totally comfortable. When the operation is done, take extreme care that your dog does not damage the wound either externally or internally by jumping about. It is worrying that they are going to operate on the other leg when there is an active infection in the first. Obviously I don't know the particulars but I wonder if it would be worth asking your vet if the surgery can be delayed until that leg is healed? Your dog is going to come out of the operation on three legs and he will be putting the weight onto the infected one - that doesn't sound very good.

 

I very much hope that the operation is a complete success and your dog is soon restored to health.

 

Forgot to say that Dovecote Veterinary Hospital at Belper also has an orthopaedic specialist.

A bit closer to home there is the Animal Medical Centre Referral Services at Thurnscoe.

Edited January 8, 2015 by ccit

[Jazzybmzoo 10]

Thanks guys - I really appreciate the kind words and advice. Apologies for not being on here sooner. He's booked in for surgery tomorrow so fingers crossed on everything.

 

Thanks again,

 

Paul