Ouch - torn ACL in LGD

In dogs, it's actually CCL, but the human equivalent is ACL, so most people just call it that.  Anyway, a couple weeks ago, two very brave, very stupid, or very hungry, coyotes decided that the very edge of our yard, right where it meets the wood line, would be a good place to be when I let the dogs out in the morning.  I didn't see the yotes at first, but the dogs did.  In true canine fashion, the dogs went tearing ass across the yard and into the woods after them.  10 or 15 minutes later the dogs came back, and the LGD was on three legs.  I was pretty much certain what the issue was, having seen our mastiff tear both of hers last year, but I brought her into the vet for x-rays.  Sure enough, complete tear of the ligament.  Very expensive surgery, two weeks of laser treatments three days a week, four weeks of rehab.  The poor dog is dying of boredom being confined to the house all day, and with a cone on her head.   Argh.

Poor puppy! (And poor wallet...)

Christopher Weeks wrote:Poor puppy! (And poor wallet...)

It was expensive, but I'm grateful I'm in a position that I could afford to do it, even if it does put a couple other things on the back burner for a few months.  She doesn't seem to be in too much pain, so I'm very grateful for that as well.

Trace, I am so sorry.

My overly ambitious black lab mix used to be a runner--a very fast runner.  She was so fast that she could run faster than cars on my road!  She could also run faster than her ACL (CCL) could tolerate and she tore it 90%.  She would go out running and come back limping but weirdly happy.  We took her to the vet and they told us that we could restrict her movement (no running!) or she would tear the CCL and need a $5000 surgery!  Worse, during recovery, there could be NO jumping whatsoever, and her favorite place to sleep was on our couch where, of course, she would jump to get to it.  We chose to restrict her movement and she did recover--very slowly over a long, long period of time.  Today, she is old enough that she does not run as fast or as long as she did when she was younger--which is actually better for her health.

I don't know if this is helpful for you, but if it is, there it is.  In either case, best of luck.

Eric

Yikes, Trace. Poor baby. Hopefully, he'll heal fast & painlessly, and your lives can get back to normal, soon.

Eric Hanson wrote:a $5000 surgery!  
Eric

Yep, that's the price tag.  I'm glad to hear your dog is doing well.

Carla Burke wrote: Yikes, Trace. Poor baby. Hopefully, he'll heal fast & painlessly, and your lives can get back to normal, soon.

Thank you Carla, I appreciate that.