ACL drawer test

[jeff t.]

Thanks for the help guys. He aired for longer than normal this morning and I could not see anything that suggested he is favoring it. The problem is keeping him calm enough to keep him from breaking into a dead sprint, even airing on a rope. Well stay with the crate rest for the remainder of the week and evaluate with some very minor exercise this weekend assuming he continues to show no signs. I guess my main concern is that an MRI would be necessary to diagnose if it was a pArtial year. I simply can't afford that coupled with surgery if it came down to that. Thanks for all the pm's as well.

What is the basis for your decision that it would be ok to allow some exercise this weekend? It has been suggested that you see an orthopedic specialist. Have you already been there, done that and received medical advice that it is OK to allow exercise on that schedule?

[claimsadj]

I thinkreassign the thread will answer your questions. He is showing no signs of lameness right now. If that continues the remainder of the week he will be allowed to be on his feet a bit moreat his weekend. If that goes well with no lameness well ease back into some swimming at some point. If at any point he becomes lame again I will assume its a partial tear and see dr. Milton. I never said I was going to mark him this weekend. If you're that concerned send me a blank check and off to a specialist well go. Otherwise find another thread to be "helpful" in. Thanks for the folks who have offered advice in a non condescending way.

What is the basis for your decision that it would be ok to allow some exercise this weekend? It has been suggested that you see an orthopedic specialist. Have you already been there, done that and received medical advice that it is OK to allow exercise on that schedule?

[Ted Shih]

Thanks for the help guys. He aired for longer than normal this morning and I could not see anything that suggested he is favoring it. The problem is keeping him calm enough to keep him from breaking into a dead sprint, even airing on a rope. Well stay with the crate rest for the remainder of the week and evaluate with some very minor exercise this weekend assuming he continues to show no signs. I guess my main concern is that an MRI would be necessary to diagnose if it was a pArtial year. I simply can't afford that coupled with surgery if it came down to that. Thanks for all the pm's as well.

I have dealt with several partial tears. The leg looks better with rest. But, if the joint is stressed, the partial tear will become a full tear. If you have a partial tear, you are flirting with disaster. Then you will have to pay for surgery or have a dog with three legs for the rest of its life.

[jeff t.]

I apologize if I sound condescending.

I'm just trying to understand the basis and rationale for your treatment plan to deal with your dog's lameness.

I can't imagine dealing with lameness without consulting someone who sees it, accurately diagnoses it, and successfully treats it every day.

To do otherwise puts my dog at risk.

I sincerely wish you and your dog the best of luck.

[claimsadj]

If it turns out to be a tear of any kind he will have surgery. Is it worth it to see a specialist when there is no longer a sign of discomfort? I assumed if it was a partial year even mild activity would aggravate it. My plan is to give him at least 4-5 more days of strict rest in a crate. He will air on lead. If he shows any sign of discomfort or limp with mild activity then well see dr. Milton. When I say mild activity I mean airing off lead in a 30x30 fence alone. I'm not goin to let him rip and roar any time soon. I'm just Trying to give him plenty of time to get over it in case it's something minor. If lameness occurs any time in the next couple of weeks then I'll know it's not something minor

I have dealt with several partial tears. The leg looks better with rest. But, if the joint is stressed, the partial tear will become a full tear. If you have a partial tear, you are flirting with disaster. Then you will have to pay for surgery or have a dog with three legs for the rest of its life.

[claimsadj]

I'm not trying to be rude. I'm just not in a place right now to spend money i don't have. Between trying to sell a house, buying land and moving I'm about spent out. Is the prognosis for a partial tear any different than a full tear? I just assumed they are created equal, maybe they aren't. I'll update when I air him this afternoon and throughout the week. If we see a specialist I'll update with that info as well. That will take place next week if I see any further lameness.

I apologize if I sound condescending.

I'm just trying to understand the basis and rationale for your treatment plan to deal with your dog's lameness.

I can't imagine dealing with lameness without consulting someone who sees it, accurately diagnoses it, and successfully treats it every day.

To do otherwise puts my dog at risk.

I sincerely wish you and your dog the best of luck.

[Howard N]

Is the prognosis for a partial tear any different than a full tear?

Years ago, back when they fixed cruciate tears with fish line, I brought in a young dog with hind leg lameness to my old vet. He couldn't feel anything on the drawer test. Heck, the dog didn't show anything with all kinds of poking, prodding and twisting. Doc told me it could be a partial tear. He told me to give crate rest and go ahead run the dog when he wasn't limping anymore. Doc said when I started working him again if it was a partial tear it would get worse and worse eventually becoming a full tear at which point they'd have to fix it. In my case Tracker got better after a week of crate rest and became my first FC/AFC.

[claimsadj]

Thanks Howard, your old vet gave you the same plan of action I am taking. If there is anything to it I will know soon. At the first sign of lameness after this crate rest we will see the specialist however, not going to wait for it to go completely south on us.

Years ago, back when they fixed cruciate tears with fish line, I brought in a young dog with hind leg lameness to my old vet. He couldn't feel anything on the drawer test. Heck, the dog didn't show anything with all kinds of poking, prodding and twisting. Doc told me it could be a partial tear. He told me to give crate rest and go ahead run the dog when he wasn't limping anymore. Doc said when I started working him again if it was a partial tear it would get worse and worse eventually becoming a full tear at which point they'd have to fix it. In my case Tracker got better after a week of crate rest and became my first FC/AFC.

[Ted Shih]

If you have a partial tear, the symptoms (lameness, etc.) can go away with rest, only to re-occur later.
If you have a partial tear, and fix the joint, your dog will have less cartilage damage (and arthritis later in life) with surgery now, rather than waiting until you have a full tear.

I do not know of any partial tear that got better with time

You could do an arthroscopy of the knee ($500) and if the scope shows damage progress directly to surgery
- 1.5 - 2k for DeAngelis
- 2.5 - 3.5k for TPLO
- 3-4k for TTA

Don't assume that because the dog is better with rest that you do not have a partial tear
If the problem recurs, I would be very suspicious of cruciate damage

[claimsadj]

That's what I'm doing Ted. If any further lameness occurs I'll assume it's ligament damage and get with a specialist.