Limping in hind leg - but doesn't seem to be in pain

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by dwerten

just curious what they could have done to avoid surgery other than rest with acl injury? DD had it and they did not want me wrapping the leg with ace bandage just said let her rest for 2 months if she is not better in 2 months then she will have to have surgery. Sounds like you did that and in 2 months it did not get better so yours is having to have surgery? 80% of toy breeds do not need the acl surgery but sounds like yours is in the 20% unfortunately I hope the surgery goes great and did you get a pack n play that rolls from room to room as heard those are the best for after this surgery. I think you did all you could to avoid the surgery

Well, in my own case, two months ago when Mylee was spayed, I told them there was a problem and she was protective of her right rear leg and intermittantly carries it, but still played hard and showed no signs of pain or discomfort. (I have been around animals my whole life and often notice the smallest things before others, and am quite often told I am overreacting, but I am rarely wrong). So, during her spay they x-rayed her hips and diagnosed hip displasia. Since the hip displasia showed up they didn't look anywhere else and assumed this was her problem. They told me not to limit her exercise and we'd let her tell us when we needed to do something more like pain meds, or even the Femoral Head surgery (the wait and see approach). This was the worst thing I could have done, because she progressively got worse and carried her leg more and has now started with obvious limps, and cannot get comfortable while resting.

Two nights ago she nipped at me when I barely touched her knee and I knew. So I took her back yesterday and told them I didn't want her in pain and we needed to do something and didn't think it was the hip. (I also requested a different vet who I know personally). Sure enough, she had ruptured her ACL and needs surgery. He confirmed, that this was likely what I noticed two months ago, only allowing her free exercise she went from what was likely a minor injury that could "possilby" have healed on its own with rest, to a full blown rupture because we let her continue to play as normal and jump on and off the furniture. He called it a rupture with micro tears in that she probably had the tears and then finally ruptured. It was a lot to absorb, and this is my first experience with this type of issue, so I may have some of this off base a bit. It is also likely that the weak hip contributed to the injury as well as it is on the same side. Sorry so long.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

Well, in my own case, two months ago when Mylee was spayed, I told them there was a problem and she was protective of her right rear leg and intermittantly carries it, but still played hard and showed no signs of pain or discomfort. (I have been around animals my whole life and often notice the smallest things before others, and am quite often told I am overreacting, but I am rarely wrong). So, during her spay they x-rayed her hips and diagnosed hip displasia. Since the hip displasia showed up they didn't look anywhere else and assumed this was her problem. They told me not to limit her exercise and we'd let her tell us when we needed to do something more like pain meds, or even the Femoral Head surgery (the wait and see approach). This was the worst thing I could have done, because she progressively got worse and carried her leg more and has now started with obvious limps, and cannot get comfortable while resting.

Two nights ago she nipped at me when I barely touched her knee and I knew. So I took her back yesterday and told them I didn't want her in pain and we needed to do something and didn't think it was the hip. (I also requested a different vet who I know personally). Sure enough, she had ruptured her ACL and needs surgery. He confirmed, that this was likely what I noticed two months ago, only allowing her free exercise she went from what was likely a minor injury that could "possilby" have healed on its own with rest, to a full blown rupture because we let her continue to play as normal and jump on and off the furniture. He called it a rupture with micro tears in that she probably had the tears and then finally ruptured. It was a lot to absorb, and this is my first experience with this type of issue, so I may have some of this off base a bit. It is also likely that the weak hip contributed to the injury as well as it is on the same side. Sorry so long.

ok that makes more sense sounds like alot going on there with the hip and leg. Possibly rest could of made a difference or not due to the hip situation aggravating it surgery was probably inevitible in your little one.

There is no way for them to see on an xray a cruciate ligament in a toy breed. The mri cannot even pick up cruciate ligament in a toy breed and barely in a large breed. The only test for acl is to do a drawer test and tibial thrust. Our friend is the head radiologist at a surgical center in Los angeles. I called her when dd hurt her leg to do an mri and she said no way total waste we can barely see them on a big dog no way on a small dog.

When i ruptured my achilles playing tennis on VACATION ugh - they did not even do an mri on me - they did xray for bone chips but it was obvious - they squeeze your calf and nothing moves in your ankle so they can usually tell by manipulation for things like this without mri. This is where on acl the tibial thrust and drawer test are done so if the bones over lap one another they know it is a rupture.

Good for you knowing when your baby is sick. Trust me i have a microscope on mine now lol after all i have been through. I consulted 4 people as dd has alot of issues so surgery was the last thing i wanted to put her through. 3 out of the 4 said no surgery until 2 months of rest. After that two months if dd was lifting her leg still I would have had surgery done as you have no choice at that point. I prayed every day my girl would not have to go through it due to her health issues as that would not have been fun.

[MaysonsMom]

I scheduled a vet appt for Saturday morning.
How do they test for acl rupture? Should I even get x-rays?
I am so pressed for money right now and I don't want to have to spend money where its not necessary.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by MaysonsMom

I scheduled a vet appt for Saturday morning.
How do they test for acl rupture? Should I even get x-rays?
I am so pressed for money right now and I don't want to have to spend money where its not necessary.

This explains how they manually test for an ACL rupture:

Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Lig

Here's one on luxating patellas:

Medial Luxating Patella

You are wise to take her to the vet right away instead of waiting. It has been my experience that catching things early is usually much less expensive than waiting.

[Cha Cha]

I am really glad you are taking your baby in. What dwerten said and ladymom posted about diagnosis is exactly what he did with Mylee. No x-rays. I think you will feel a lot better knowing what you are dealing with and how to treat it.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by MaysonsMom

I scheduled a vet appt for Saturday morning.
How do they test for acl rupture? Should I even get x-rays?
I am so pressed for money right now and I don't want to have to spend money where its not necessary.

you can discuss with vet but they will probably check the patellas and acl first before doing xrays. I know for dd they did all the manipulations first before going to digital xray.

How old is your little one?

maybe this can be the annual exam visit make sure to read up on the vaccine thread as well as i am sure that will come up for annual visit

you can get CareCredit Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures to extend out your vet bills - call your vet to see if they accept care credit as well. I ended up getting this to help to extend out my vet bills. Not all vets or hospitals take it but when they do it is nice and helps out if you are having a tough time with finances.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

This explains how they manually test for an ACL rupture:

Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Lig

Here's one on luxating patellas:

Medial Luxating Patella

You are wise to take her to the vet right away instead of waiting. It has been my experience that catching things early is usually much less expensive than waiting.

that youtube video looks great i am going to watch it when i get home from work as i liked that so saved it to my playlist as the graphics were good at explaining it all - thanks for posting that

[Pammyb]

Hi _ my 2 1/2 yo was doing the same things - he had torn cruciate ligaments in both knees - check for that!!

[DamSweet]

This place is amazing - it has EVERYTHING I search for - I am going throught the same thing with Bridget this weekend. I got home from work Friday to find her favoring her rear left leg. Every once in a while she would try to walk on it but you could see that it must be tender. I've tried to feel it, and she never flinched no matter where I touched it. I took her to the Vet first thing Saturday morning and after them checking her over they thought she was a bit swollen, but didn't feel anything was broken. She gave me two options - 1.) to take her home with pain meds, keep her calm, and see how she is walking Monday. Or 2.) to have her sedated and have x-rays done. She felt it was a strain or a sprain and said that either way the initial treatment would be the same. She felt that the x-ray would just help pin-point the exact problem. After a tough decision, I decided to bring her home withouth the x-ray (I did ask my vet that if she felt I was doing the wrong thing she would tell me and she assured me that waiting until Monday would not make a difference) Money wasn't the deciding factor - what's $150 after a $500.00 it for spay and teeth removal, heartworm and flea meds. Thank God for CareCredit!!!! I was more concerned about having to have her sedated if it wasn't necessary. I did bring her home with the meds and am keeping her "quiet". No "ramp" for the furniture - we are picking her up if she is persistant about getting up on something - otherwise we try to be sure that she is content on the floor. They gave her Meloxicam - double dose yesterday with smaller doses for the next 4 days. The vet said that is for "pain and inflamation". At times she seems better, but then it seems back to yesterday. She is acting normal - not only does she WANT to walk but she want's to run!!! I'm sure it will take more than one day - but oh, I'm so worried. She was just spayed 2 weeks ago and I had them check her knees then and then again Saturday, and my vet felt that was not the problem....Oh such little packages of love and worry.
Sorry to step on your thread - but I couldn't believe someone was going through something so similar. Sending prayers and good thoughts for a speedy recovery for your little one!!!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by DamSweet

This place is amazing - it has EVERYTHING I search for - I am going throught the same thing with Bridget this weekend. I got home from work Friday to find her favoring her rear left leg. Every once in a while she would try to walk on it but you could see that it must be tender. I've tried to feel it, and she never flinched no matter where I touched it. I took her to the Vet first thing Saturday morning and after them checking her over they thought she was a bit swollen, but didn't feel anything was broken. She gave me two options - 1.) to take her home with pain meds, keep her calm, and see how she is walking Monday. Or 2.) to have her sedated and have x-rays done. She felt it was a strain or a sprain and said that either way the initial treatment would be the same. She felt that the x-ray would just help pin-point the exact problem. After a tough decision, I decided to bring her home withouth the x-ray (I did ask my vet that if she felt I was doing the wrong thing she would tell me and she assured me that waiting until Monday would not make a difference) Money wasn't the deciding factor - what's $150 after a $500.00 it for spay and teeth removal, heartworm and flea meds. Thank God for CareCredit!!!! I was more concerned about having to have her sedated if it wasn't necessary. I did bring her home with the meds and am keeping her "quiet". No "ramp" for the furniture - we are picking her up if she is persistant about getting up on something - otherwise we try to be sure that she is content on the floor. They gave her Meloxicam - double dose yesterday with smaller doses for the next 4 days. The vet said that is for "pain and inflamation". At times she seems better, but then it seems back to yesterday. She is acting normal - not only does she WANT to walk but she want's to run!!! I'm sure it will take more than one day - but oh, I'm so worried. She was just spayed 2 weeks ago and I had them check her knees then and then again Saturday, and my vet felt that was not the problem....Oh such little packages of love and worry.
Sorry to step on your thread - but I couldn't believe someone was going through something so similar. Sending prayers and good thoughts for a speedy recovery for your little one!!!

your vet may have said this but want to make sure when giving nsaids like metacam to give mid meal so 1/2 food then metacam and then 1/2 food. Never give with steroids or on empty stomach

I hope your baby is ok soon and just needs rest. Try to keep her confined to a small area

[DamSweet]

Originally Posted by dwerten

your vet may have said this but want to make sure when giving nsaids like metacam to give mid meal so 1/2 food then metacam and then 1/2 food. Never give with steroids or on empty stomach

I hope your baby is ok soon and just needs rest. Try to keep her confined to a small area

Thanks for the note - that's what so great about this place - everyone is so helpful. Luckily she did, and it's really difficult with Bridget because she doesn't really eat a meal (so to speak)...she's more of a grazer! So I sit and hand feed her some of her food then give the meds, then feed more just to be sure her tummy's not empty. She takes the meds so great - I just wish she was as willing to rest. She's like an energizer bunny....No one slept at my house last night - trying to be sure she was either "up" or "down" from where she wanted to be....about 100 times...lol!!!
Thanks again - you can never be too sure that instructions are always given correctly!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by DamSweet

Thanks for the note - that's what so great about this place - everyone is so helpful. Luckily she did, and it's really difficult with Bridget because she doesn't really eat a meal (so to speak)...she's more of a grazer! So I sit and hand feed her some of her food then give the meds, then feed more just to be sure her tummy's not empty. She takes the meds so great - I just wish she was as willing to rest. She's like an energizer bunny....No one slept at my house last night - trying to be sure she was either "up" or "down" from where she wanted to be....about 100 times...lol!!!
Thanks again - you can never be too sure that instructions are always given correctly!

lol sounds like a true yorkie lolll well i hope she gets better soon. That is the double edge sword with pain meds. They make them feel better so they do not rest lollll

[mashgirl]

Cha Cha -

How long was your yorkies recovery period after ACL surgery? Did you notice improvement right away? I noticed you wrote that yours had a wek hip also??? So did my Toby.

Toby had ACL surgery on the 4th and he is on kennel rest. I have noticed no improvemnet at all and I am afraid I made a mistake by getting the surgery.

Jennifer