DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 05/22/2012 10:10 AM |
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So I was playing some fetch with Dexter Friday and he was so excited for the chase that he ran in to a concrete planter box I have in the back yard. Clipped it with his rear left leg. He let out a couple of really bad screams and went to the side and immediately laid down. He got up and started moving around but with a bad limp. Because it happened Friday evening after the vet was closed I took him to the vet on Saturday morning. They took some x-rays and it looks like Dexter might have a fractured knee cap. The vet wasn’t positive because the cap wasn’t separated but showed faint line that could be an indication of a fracture. Apparently this is a very rare injury, and the doc said that he’s only seen 2 of these in his 30 year career, and if it is the knee, he’s going to need surgery. So I have to take him back to the Vet on Wednesday to do some more x-rays. Poor little guy. At least they gave me some pain meds and a sedative to slow him down a bit but he’s still limping pretty good.
The other down side is now he’s afraid to walk on the hardwood floors and to go in to his kennel. I made some accommodations for him and dog proofed the kitchen so that he really can’t get into anything while I’m at work, and also I have been letting him sleep out of the kennel these last few nights. I feel really bad for the little guy. But I guess I’m going to have to wait until Wednesday to see what’s going on with him. So needless to say, I’m hoping for the best.
Have any of you had knee fracture problem or maybe an ACL issue where you had to take them in for surgery? I’m wondering what the recovery time is and if it’s going to keep him from hunting?
Thanks! |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3164
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| 05/22/2012 10:49 AM |
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| I have no experience, I just wanted to send my wishes for a speedy recovery for Dexter! |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 05/22/2012 10:51 AM |
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| Thanks Everbell... he's still wagging his tail though so that's a good sign. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7839
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| 05/22/2012 10:57 AM |
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| My Belle did something similar playing fetch, but the immovable object was a tree. She ended up with a torn bicep. She had surgery and was down for 8 weeks and then had about 4 weeks of rehab. I would expect that the knee would be similar recovery time. One thing I really noticed during her recovery was how quickly the muscle in her hurt leg atrophied. Thankfully the rehab helped it come back just as quickly. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 05/22/2012 11:18 AM |
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Texas,
Did Belle make a full recovery?
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7839
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| 05/22/2012 12:56 PM |
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| Yes she did. The ortho doc told me that the full recovery rate was 80%, but he also said most dogs that had this type of injury were older and over weight. I had to laugh at him because he was excited to be "working on a real athlete." Those were his exact words. Belle was about a year old at the time.The rehab that helped Belle the most was the underwater treadmill. She also loved it. When I would drop her off at rehab on the way to work, she would head right over to the treadmill and stand there and look around like ok, I am ready, let's get going. Good luck with Dexter. I am sure he will do great. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:992
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| 05/22/2012 2:49 PM |
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Bugsy had ACL/CCl surgery (TPLO) and the worst was keeping him from his insane antics. He was about 3.5 at the time and I'd say he made a full recovery, tough to tell as I had a hard time letting him just 'be' for a long while afterward.
Of course Bugsy is also huge (lean but has some dane in him), smaller dogs are known to have better results from CCL surgeries
The slick floor thing is likely because the knee feels unstable - during recovery we didn't let Bugsy on any slick floors. he was always sliding all over them anyway so it was obviously going to be an issue on a bad leg.
As Bev said they lose muscle and that is the most important part of recovery (IMO). Carefully building it back up protects the repaired knee AND the other knee which also atrophies some and has to work harder until the repaired leg is stronger.
We also did the underwater treadmill as part of rehab and walking over hock high hurdles gets the dogs to lift their leg properly.
It sucks but they are so good about it (except when they want to run like a fool and aren't allowed LOL)
I wish you and him luck and swift healing
I am sure he'll be hunting again |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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mit
Harleysville, PA
MH
Posts:599
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| 05/22/2012 6:58 PM |
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I sure hope Dexter is doing better! Knee injuries are not fun.
Two weeks ago Webster had his second TPLO surgery! The recovery is very long and rehabilitation is so very important.
This time around I told the doc that I should be given the sedatives! |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3133
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| 05/23/2012 6:30 AM |
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| Poor Dexter...hope recovery goes well! |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 05/23/2012 8:59 AM |
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Thanks guys! Yesterday was the first day that I had him out of the kennel all day while I was working. Came home and found nothing out of place! What a champ. I find out tonight to see how bad the damage is. I’m hoping for some good news.
Mit- They asked if the doc prescribed any sedatives, I said “no, but he’s going to need them”. I don’t even want to imagine how hard it would be to control an injured dog that really can’t get the needed exercise that they require.
I’ll let you all know what I find out tonight. I’m really hoping that it doesn’t put me in the poor house, and that he can make a full recovery.
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7839
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| 05/23/2012 12:25 PM |
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| If they prescribe ACE as the sedative just know that it can work in reverse. It did on my boy Ringo when he was neutered. I gave him the ACE and then end result is I had to keep him on a leash and we walked the hallway until it got out of his system. Just saying that it might happen. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 05/23/2012 12:31 PM |
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| Texas- I think it was ACE that they gave to me. It seems to help, but doesn't knock him out or anything, just mellows him out a bit. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7839
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| 05/23/2012 12:54 PM |
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| That's usually what they give the dogs. If it is mellowing him out, it is working correctly. Your are lucky. It was not fun having a hyped up dog that was supposed to be resting. Thank goodness my vet knew the breed and double stitched his incision. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 05/23/2012 1:18 PM |
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| If he needs surgery do you think that might be something that I should request? He is a pretty active dog |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7839
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| 05/23/2012 2:23 PM |
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| The vet will probably offer you something, but if not I would ask because I expect the recovery time will be around 8 weeks or so and that is a long time for a shorthair especially when they start feeling better in the later weeks. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:992
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| 05/23/2012 2:58 PM |
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Our surgeon gave us trazedone and that seemed to help. Even Xanax is probably better than ACE.
This what a friend that is a professional trainer said about ACE -
"You probably already know this, but if your vet suggests Ace/Acepromazine instead, say no - it's not an anxiolytic, just a paralytic."
Good luck tonight and fingers crossed the solution is relatively easy and your boy is back to his normal ways soon! |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 05/24/2012 9:12 AM |
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Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone.
An update on Dexter:
Took him in yesterday for his second round of x-rays and they confirmed that he does have a fractured knee. They kept him there over night and will be doing surgery today. The surgery involves a pin through the kneecap and then tying it together in a figure 8 with some wire to tighten it down and hold it together. The Doc dose have a small concern that there might be some other damage done to the tendons, possibly an ACL. I’m hoping for good news on that one. If all goes well the Doc said that he’s going to be out of commission for about 8 weeks and after that they may have to go in to remove the pin. He said that Dexter was in great shape and should recover nicely. I should be able to pick him up tonight. I’ll keep you folks updated.
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3133
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| 05/24/2012 9:25 AM |
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| Good luck on the surgery and keeping him calm for the 8 weeks! |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:992
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| 05/24/2012 10:02 AM |
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aww poor baby, poor you 
Sending our best smooth & successful surgery vibes.
He may be fairly calm for a couple of weeks after the surgery. Its when the heavy doses of pain killer are reduced and he starts to feel better that becomes difficult.
I fed Bugsy raw meaty bones and used things like kongs to make eating a slower and more involved process (after he was feeling better, not at the beginning)
Initially for us anyway B was kind of out of it
Anyway I feel sad for your baby but I know he'll be OK |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7839
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| 05/24/2012 10:24 AM |
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| Sending prayers and good thoughts for a successful surgery. As kpwlee said, the time after he starts feeling better and is off the pain meds is when it will get harder. Also, I think the rehab will be important as well, but that is for the future. Will be anxiously awaiting an update this evening. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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