Ruptured Ligament Cruciate - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Cru's mom · 12-05-2005, 07:02 PM

Hi All,

Can anybody help me with some advice? I have a 5 year old, 6 lb Yorkie, named Cruella that I luv to death and she needs surgery to repair a ripped cruciate in her knee. I am very nervous about this entire thing and I would like to know if anyone had this surgery done.

simonandhallie · 12-05-2005, 07:32 PM

Welcome to YT! I am sorry that I have no experience with this but I bet someone will! I am sending good thoughts to Cruella (great name) and you for a speedy recovery and successful surgery!

yorkieusa · 12-05-2005, 07:38 PM

I'm sorry your little yorkie needs surgery. If no one gets back to you on this thread, you might try the "search" button on the blue bar above and try some different phrases for what you are looking for. We've seen a number of broken legs around here and various other reasons for surgery, too.

Cru's mom · 12-05-2005, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonandhallie

Welcome to YT! I am sorry that I have no experience with this but I bet someone will! I am sending good thoughts to Cruella (great name) and you for a speedy recovery and successful surgery!

Thank you for your good wishes and your response.

Cru's mom · 12-05-2005, 07:44 PM

Thank you for your response. I am new at this chat club, so bear with me. I have done research on the cruciate and it makes me ill when I looked at the pics of the actual surgery. I don't know the risk of this surgery, so I thought that this was the best place to try and find out.

SnowWa · 12-05-2005, 08:04 PM

Well I certainly have had experience with it. My little Bichon (16 pounds) ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament playing out in the field. We went to the Vet, got x-rayed, and had surgery.....$800.00.

And, it wasn't more than 6 months later when he did the same thing to his other knee......another $800 ???????

What I am going to tell you know is absolutely true -- a little dog (less than 20 pounds) does not need to have surgery. If a dog is small, they can heal on their own without surgery. This is because there is so little weight on their knee that the knee can heal without surgery.

Of course, people and larger dogs do need surgery for this injury. This is the exact same injury that so many football and basketball players get. It is also a common injury for skiers because it is caused by a twisting of the knee.

So -- for my second cruciate ligament tear - I told my Vet that I was just going to let it heal on his own. He advised against it-saying that he thought surgery was best. But I flat out could not afford another $800 surgery right then, and knowing I had the option not to have it - I took that option.

If you choose not to have surgery - get some pain pills from your vet - because a torn ligament is painful for your dog.

And be aware that your little dog is going to almost have to live in a crate for a few months - or do whatever you need to do to keep him off his knee and quiet as much as possible. (I did not crate mine. I kept him as quiet as I could around the house - not letting him jump, etc.) My dog's torn ligament took several months to heal - and now I honestly can't tell which of his knees had the surgery and which one healed on its own.

Also - even if your dog does have surgery - you will still have to go through keeping down and quiet for a long time.

The vet will tell you that your dog may have more arthritis without the surgery, but my vet said they also have some arthritis if they do have the surgery.

I work for Cardiologists and one of my doctors said he has had several small dogs with a cruciate ligament tear - and they were little dogs, and he let them heal without surgery. He told me I didn't need surgery for my small dog. But, he said surgery was necessary for larger dogs.

Please get on the Internet - and read as much as you can about this injury. You will find many articles that will tell you that surgery is not necessary for a small dog. I found article after article telling me that.

Good luck - it's a common injury for people and for animals. You can get the surgery if you wish (your vet will no doubt say it is best) ---or you can choose to just let it heal. I did both - and both of my dog's legs (knees) have healed very well. He is back to his normal self - running, jumping, etc. And, with my luck, he'll probably do it again.

Good luck - I just wanted you to know your options -- and hear it from someone who has researched it a lot - and has actually done both.

I am glad my little dog had some pain pills though - because his leg did hurt him. He was soon much more comfortable.

Good luck!

yorkieusa · 12-05-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cru's mom

Thank you for your response. I am new at this chat club, so bear with me. I have done research on the cruciate and it makes me ill when I looked at the pics of the actual surgery. I don't know the risk of this surgery, so I thought that this was the best place to try and find out.

Don't worry about being new at it. Just try to find the answers you need. I understand how you must feel. Surgical pictures do make you feel weak in the stomach, don't they?

Have you talked with a surgeon about the actual risk and need for the surgery? Wishing you luck...and again, I'm very sorry!

Patti · 12-05-2005, 08:23 PM

I posted in another post a few minutes ago on my experience with this. I agree with SnowWA.

Kenzies Grandma · 12-06-2005, 08:05 AM

Hi. I too posted last night in another thread about my experience with this. I had a little silky x (about 7 lbs) and my vet actually advised against the surgery. He said it is necessary with larger dogs but not one her size, he also said that the recovery time is no shorter with surgery so he didn't think it reasonable to put her through it. I just made sure that she didn't jump up or down off things and we tried to always carry her up and down the stairs. It took only a few weeks and she was good as new. This happened about 5 yrs. ago and until her death in August (at 12 yrs. of age) she was just fine. Once in a long while she would limp for a day or two but hardly even noticeable and she certainly never seemed to be in pain. She never developed arthritis in it either. I definitely would make the same decision if this happened again with a really small dog.

I hope this helps and I hope your little Cruella recovers quickly.
Kathy, Tango and Gypsy

SnowWa · 12-06-2005, 02:02 PM

I'm glad that people are agreeing with my post regarding it not being necessary to have surgery.

If a dog does have the surgery -- I work in the medical field, occasionally in the ER, and have seen many surgeries and injuries. So, this particular surgery does not look bad to me at all. All surgeries look bad to people who are not used to watching any procedure being done. My advise here is don't look at it.

The surgery is time-consuming - but not bad or especially risky. Remember, however, there is always a risk with anesthesia for anyone - an animal or a person.... And -- one nice thing about not having surgery is that you don't have to subject your dog to any anesthesia.

Good Luck! Carol Jean

l

Teddy57 · 05-15-2016, 09:56 PM

Hi Everyone and Snow especially,

I have a 6 year old yorkie that tore his cruciate about a month ago and decided not to go the surgery route nor did the doctor suggest it. Anyhow i just wanted to know if anyone has any physical therapy on this injury and or suggestions. We try to carry him as much as possible and make it so he doesn't jump but still after a month he isn't putting much pressure on it at all. I would love to know when you started to see some progress and when your dogs started to walk on all 4 without a limp. Please help us understand what you all went through because this is my wifes child pretty much and my best bud and it sucks to see him like this.

please reply if you can, thank you!!

tfalsetta · 05-22-2016, 04:56 PM

Teddy....My seven-year-old Yorkies just had the same operation on may 2.... We are starting therapy on Tuesday... Right now when she walks very slow around the house she uses the injured leg.... However if she tries to go any faster than that she lets the leg.... The doctor is telling us this is a very slow recovery and doing just fine... I personally would like to see her use the leg more often... However I think I'm being too aggressive...

ladyjane · 05-25-2016, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddy57

Hi Everyone and Snow especially,

I have a 6 year old yorkie that tore his cruciate about a month ago and decided not to go the surgery route nor did the doctor suggest it. Anyhow i just wanted to know if anyone has any physical therapy on this injury and or suggestions. We try to carry him as much as possible and make it so he doesn't jump but still after a month he isn't putting much pressure on it at all. I would love to know when you started to see some progress and when your dogs started to walk on all 4 without a limp. Please help us understand what you all went through because this is my wifes child pretty much and my best bud and it sucks to see him like this.

please reply if you can, thank you!!

Surgery is really the best route. Without it, these pups end up with severe arthritis.

Yorkie Haven Rescue - Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tear Info

12-05-2005, 07:02 PM	#1
Cru's mom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 5	Ruptured Ligament Cruciate Hi All, Can anybody help me with some advice? I have a 5 year old, 6 lb Yorkie, named Cruella that I luv to death and she needs surgery to repair a ripped cruciate in her knee. I am very nervous about this entire thing and I would like to know if anyone had this surgery done. Last edited by Cru's mom; 12-05-2005 at 07:07 PM.

12-05-2005, 07:38 PM	#3
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	I'm sorry your little yorkie needs surgery. If no one gets back to you on this thread, you might try the "search" button on the blue bar above and try some different phrases for what you are looking for. We've seen a number of broken legs around here and various other reasons for surgery, too. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

12-05-2005, 08:04 PM	#6
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	Well I certainly have had experience with it. My little Bichon (16 pounds) ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament playing out in the field. We went to the Vet, got x-rayed, and had surgery.....$800.00. And, it wasn't more than 6 months later when he did the same thing to his other knee......another $800 ??????? What I am going to tell you know is absolutely true -- a little dog (less than 20 pounds) does not need to have surgery. If a dog is small, they can heal on their own without surgery. This is because there is so little weight on their knee that the knee can heal without surgery. Of course, people and larger dogs do need surgery for this injury. This is the exact same injury that so many football and basketball players get. It is also a common injury for skiers because it is caused by a twisting of the knee. So -- for my second cruciate ligament tear - I told my Vet that I was just going to let it heal on his own. He advised against it-saying that he thought surgery was best. But I flat out could not afford another $800 surgery right then, and knowing I had the option not to have it - I took that option. If you choose not to have surgery - get some pain pills from your vet - because a torn ligament is painful for your dog. And be aware that your little dog is going to almost have to live in a crate for a few months - or do whatever you need to do to keep him off his knee and quiet as much as possible. (I did not crate mine. I kept him as quiet as I could around the house - not letting him jump, etc.) My dog's torn ligament took several months to heal - and now I honestly can't tell which of his knees had the surgery and which one healed on its own. Also - even if your dog does have surgery - you will still have to go through keeping down and quiet for a long time. The vet will tell you that your dog may have more arthritis without the surgery, but my vet said they also have some arthritis if they do have the surgery. I work for Cardiologists and one of my doctors said he has had several small dogs with a cruciate ligament tear - and they were little dogs, and he let them heal without surgery. He told me I didn't need surgery for my small dog. But, he said surgery was necessary for larger dogs. Please get on the Internet - and read as much as you can about this injury. You will find many articles that will tell you that surgery is not necessary for a small dog. I found article after article telling me that. Good luck - it's a common injury for people and for animals. You can get the surgery if you wish (your vet will no doubt say it is best) ---or you can choose to just let it heal. I did both - and both of my dog's legs (knees) have healed very well. He is back to his normal self - running, jumping, etc. And, with my luck, he'll probably do it again. Good luck - I just wanted you to know your options -- and hear it from someone who has researched it a lot - and has actually done both. I am glad my little dog had some pain pills though - because his leg did hurt him. He was soon much more comfortable. Good luck! __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

12-05-2005, 08:23 PM	#8
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I posted in another post a few minutes ago on my experience with this. I agree with SnowWA. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

12-06-2005, 02:02 PM	#10
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	I'm glad that people are agreeing with my post regarding it not being necessary to have surgery. If a dog does have the surgery -- I work in the medical field, occasionally in the ER, and have seen many surgeries and injuries. So, this particular surgery does not look bad to me at all. All surgeries look bad to people who are not used to watching any procedure being done. My advise here is don't look at it. The surgery is time-consuming - but not bad or especially risky. Remember, however, there is always a risk with anesthesia for anyone - an animal or a person.... And -- one nice thing about not having surgery is that you don't have to subject your dog to any anesthesia. Good Luck! Carol Jean l __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

12-05-2005, 07:32 PM	#2
simonandhallie *I Love My Monkeys!* Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Falling Waters, WV Posts: 11,166	Welcome to YT! I am sorry that I have no experience with this but I bet someone will! I am sending good thoughts to Cruella (great name) and you for a speedy recovery and successful surgery!

12-05-2005, 07:44 PM	#5
Cru's mom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 5	Thank you for your response. I am new at this chat club, so bear with me. I have done research on the cruciate and it makes me ill when I looked at the pics of the actual surgery. I don't know the risk of this surgery, so I thought that this was the best place to try and find out.

12-06-2005, 08:05 AM	#9
Kenzies Grandma YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: AB, Canada Posts: 387	Hi. I too posted last night in another thread about my experience with this. I had a little silky x (about 7 lbs) and my vet actually advised against the surgery. He said it is necessary with larger dogs but not one her size, he also said that the recovery time is no shorter with surgery so he didn't think it reasonable to put her through it. I just made sure that she didn't jump up or down off things and we tried to always carry her up and down the stairs. It took only a few weeks and she was good as new. This happened about 5 yrs. ago and until her death in August (at 12 yrs. of age) she was just fine. Once in a long while she would limp for a day or two but hardly even noticeable and she certainly never seemed to be in pain. She never developed arthritis in it either. I definitely would make the same decision if this happened again with a really small dog. I hope this helps and I hope your little Cruella recovers quickly. Kathy, Tango and Gypsy

05-15-2016, 09:56 PM	#11
Teddy57 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2016 Location: Utah Posts: 1	Hi Everyone and Snow especially, I have a 6 year old yorkie that tore his cruciate about a month ago and decided not to go the surgery route nor did the doctor suggest it. Anyhow i just wanted to know if anyone has any physical therapy on this injury and or suggestions. We try to carry him as much as possible and make it so he doesn't jump but still after a month he isn't putting much pressure on it at all. I would love to know when you started to see some progress and when your dogs started to walk on all 4 without a limp. Please help us understand what you all went through because this is my wifes child pretty much and my best bud and it sucks to see him like this. please reply if you can, thank you!!

05-22-2016, 04:56 PM	#12
tfalsetta YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY Posts: 3	Teddy....My seven-year-old Yorkies just had the same operation on may 2.... We are starting therapy on Tuesday... Right now when she walks very slow around the house she uses the injured leg.... However if she tries to go any faster than that she lets the leg.... The doctor is telling us this is a very slow recovery and doing just fine... I personally would like to see her use the leg more often... However I think I'm being too aggressive...