About 4 months ago Maggie took a fall on our property and was limping badly. She was holding her left leg up and was barely allowing her toe to touch the ground. I assumed (wrongly) that she would heal from the injury and that would be that. She seemed to get better after being kept quiet (as best as we could) but she re-injured herself again from either jumping or running with her family. We knew we had to take her to the vet.
The vet told us the bad news.. that she believed she had torn her cruciate ligament in her left leg and most likely would need a surgery known as TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy )- TPLO involves making a curved cut in the top of the tibia bone (osteotomy) to include the tibial plateau. The tibial plateau is then rotated along the curved osteotomy in order to level the slope. A plate and screws are used to hold the tibial plateau in place so that the bone can heal in its new position. It is so scary to see it in xrays and the models the surgeon presented. Other options are just not acceptable nor would they restore her ability to run, jump and play. If you are interested in the knowing more just Google TPLO.
The vet also told us that often once a dog tears the cruciate in one leg the other will also become injured. The vet then prescibed an anti-inflamitory and suggested that we think on it and if we want to pursue the surgical option she would put us in touch with a surgeon. The vet told us that the next step would be to have x-rays done to see the extent of the injury. We took our lil Maggie and our heavy hearts home.
While at home, I decided that she needed to have all her shots up to date if we are seriously considering any type of surgery. So the next day I took her to the local low cost shot clinic. By the time I got her back to the office she had vomited and was breaking out in hives and was having difficulty breathing. I turned around and ran her back to the clinic. An hour later, and three shots of Benedryl, she was deemed out of the woods and could go home. I did say she is a special needs child right?
A couple days later, my husband and I noticed that she was exhibiting signs of extreme pain.. she wasn't eating and was panting and drooling. She then began vomiting. I called the vet and was told to stop the anti-inflamitory drugs. We also noticed that she was now favoring her right leg. We then became confused and couldn't remember which leg she had originally hurt. I was sure it was the left, but now we were worried that she had torn the ligament in her right leg. I asked to have x-rays done at this point because I felt we couldn't allow Maggie to suffer any longer. Two days later I brought her in for the x-rays. She was there the entire day and when the doctor called and confirmed that she was sure Maggie had torn the ligament in both knees. Our worst fear. She mentioned that she had at some point injured her hip too. That injury didn't seem to present a problem and had healed.
We asked for a referral to a surgeon. One week later we took our girl to the surgeon. I was still skeptical and feared the surgery as tho she was one of my own children. I needed convincing that this radical and invasive surgery is truly the only option she has. The surgeon reviewed the x-rays and then went to alot of effort to explain the entire procedure and why / how it works. The surgeon said that he is surprised to see this in a dog so young. It isn't that it never happens, but it isn't that common.. did I say she is a special needs child?? He said that there is no plausible explanation for this happening except as he said.. maybe runt syndrome. She is terribly bowlegged... and always has been so that might have been what lead up to this. He said the surgery will not correct the bow legs. The good news in all of this? Maggie shows no signs of hip displesia.... She is developing some arthritis tho, but we should be able to help her with that after the surgeries utilizing acupuncture. She is otherwise healthy and because she is so young and not overweight her recovery should be successful.
A couple days later, my husband and I noticed that she was exhibiting signs of extreme pain.. she wasn't eating and was panting and drooling. She then began vomiting. I called the vet and was told to stop the anti-inflamitory drugs. We also noticed that she was now favoring her right leg. We then became confused and couldn't remember which leg she had originally hurt. I was sure it was the left, but now we were worried that she had torn the ligament in her right leg. I asked to have x-rays done at this point because I felt we couldn't allow Maggie to suffer any longer. Two days later I brought her in for the x-rays. She was there the entire day and when the doctor called and confirmed that she was sure Maggie had torn the ligament in both knees. Our worst fear. She mentioned that she had at some point injured her hip too. That injury didn't seem to present a problem and had healed.
We asked for a referral to a surgeon. One week later we took our girl to the surgeon. I was still skeptical and feared the surgery as tho she was one of my own children. I needed convincing that this radical and invasive surgery is truly the only option she has. The surgeon reviewed the x-rays and then went to alot of effort to explain the entire procedure and why / how it works. The surgeon said that he is surprised to see this in a dog so young. It isn't that it never happens, but it isn't that common.. did I say she is a special needs child?? He said that there is no plausible explanation for this happening except as he said.. maybe runt syndrome. She is terribly bowlegged... and always has been so that might have been what lead up to this. He said the surgery will not correct the bow legs. The good news in all of this? Maggie shows no signs of hip displesia.... She is developing some arthritis tho, but we should be able to help her with that after the surgeries utilizing acupuncture. She is otherwise healthy and because she is so young and not overweight her recovery should be successful.
Her Right leg will be done August 14th and then 7 weeks later she will have her Left leg done. She won't be able to run and play with her family until January at the earliest. I am worried.. of course.. and scared for her.. but she is young and will be pampered and loved. I can't wait till she can run and play again.. with no pain.
I'll keep everyone posted on the status...stay tuned.
I'll keep everyone posted on the status...stay tuned.
1 comment:
poor thing...we love you maggie moo
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