It is not unusual for dogs who have a cranial cruciate ligament rupture in one leg to develop one in the other leg. It is a little unusual to have two severe ruptures at the same time, but it does occur, especially in large breed dogs or overweight canines. Generally the signs of this type of injury will manifest itself in the dog with an impaired gait, shaking while walking, and/or dragging the back legs. It is not unusual for veterinarians and pet owners to think that partial paralysis is present or that the severe lameness is due to spinal disc disease because of the severity of the presentation.
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Jun 15, 2008 | | Non-Surgical Options, Weight Management, Extracapsular Imbrication Technique, Conservative Management, Surgical Options
Your dog will be in a lot of discomfort upon their arrival home from surgery. This is especially true if their extracapsular repair was an out patient procedure, and they were released back into your care the same day of the surgery. It is important to follow all the instructions your veterinarian has provided for pain management, as well as antibiotic use, to be sure that your pet has the best recovery possible. Within the first 24 hours after traditional repair, it is normal for dogs to not put any weight on their injured leg. Your dog may have a modified Robert Jones bandage on his limb, further restricting movement, and decreasing the possibility your dog will try to do to too much, too soon. Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 30, 2008 | | Recovery, Arthritis, Extracapsular Imbrication Technique, Traditional Repair
For both humans and animals alike, any surgical procedure carries a risk of complications. You dog should have a full evaluation done, complete with blood work and other baseline testing, prior to surgery to help minimize any risks. Pre-surgical testing can often diminish the risk of death from anesthesia and other preventable complications related to your canine’s health. Overall, complications with cruciate surgery occur in approximately 5 to 10% of patients. Complications can range from mild and easily resolved, to more severe complications requiring additional surgery, expense and disability. While uncommon, complications do arise during and after extracapsular repair procedures, and you should have a discussion with your veterinarian regarding ways to minimize and avoid these risks. Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 30, 2008 | | Complications, Extracapsular Imbrication Technique, Traditional Repair, Surgical Options
In the extracapsular imbrication, also known as the traditional method and lateral fabellar surgery, your dog will have a strong leader line placed within the knee to provide stabilization. Some veterinarians will only perform this procedure on small dogs and cats, while others will use the technique on dogs of all sizes. There is no definitive study evidence showing that tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, or TPLO, is superior to the extracapsular method in large dogs, in fact, the University of Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s leading veterinary hospitals, will not perform the TPLO procedure as the cost/risk risks do not outweigh the benefits. For more information see the article here - Penn Veterinary Medicine Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 30, 2008 | | Extracapsular Technique vs. TPLO, Surgical Procedures, Extracapsular Imbrication Technique, Traditional Repair, Surgical Options
For dogs diagnosed with cranial cruciate ligament tears or ruptures there are a number of non-surgical and surgical options available. Each dog is different, and your veterinarian will take into consideration your canine’s weight, size, overall health, severity of injury and the duration since onset when determining what treatment is best for your pet. Non-surgical options are generally referred to as “conservative management” and this treatment involves the use of weight management, prescription non-steroidals and rest to strengthen the joint and begin the healing process. Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 23, 2008 | | Tibial Tuberosity Advancement or TTA, Fibular Head Transposition, Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy or TPLO, Extracapsular Imbrication Technique, Traditional Repair, Surgical Options
