Such great dogs!
A dog never fails to warm my heart.
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Anyone have experience of vets repairing a torn cruciate ligament in a large dog?
It has been an unpleasant 36 hours expecting that we would be putting our 11 month old puppy to sleep.
Back left leg torn cruciate, right leg cruciate will go in turn within a year.
X rays also showed hip dysplasia.
The operation on the leg, bone removal and metal plate insert will give him good recovery I hope,. The poor ‘wee dog’ is so unhappy even on strong pain killers.
51 kg and loosing weight by hardly eating.
No…. But all I’ll say from experience is that animals are resilient.
We’ve had broken legs in sheep, spinal abscess which causes temporary paralysis. Dogs with horrendous cuts from doing “stuff” to themselves. The main focus/priority is pain management and keeping them calm and immobile as possible.
Good luck with the big boy.
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Mate, that is gut wrenching to hear.
But as @keets said, animals are resilient. No experience with torn ligaments, but we have had one Ridgeback operated on to remove a dermoid sinus (Ridgies are/were prone to this condition). Not that many years ago they were considered inoperable and the only choice was euthanasia. But we decided to take the risk and expense of surgery and had a wonderful, big boofhead boy for many years 
For us, money has never been the deciding factor when it comes to their welfare (we will go without before they do). The important thing is that you do what is right for the animal, whatever that may be.
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So sorry to hear.
If he has the chance, dogs can endure things that would crush humans.
I hope he pulls through and is by your side for many years still. My best thoughts and hopes are with you both.
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Sorry to hear; I don’t recall any specific experience with that issue but I worked at a vet for a bit when I was younger and can only attest to what everyone else is saying, animals are tough! I remember a stray cat someone adopted that got used to a compound fracture, like there was an actual piece of bone sticking through it’s leg for who knows how long and it just got on with going about it’s business. There was a great dane that had emergency surgery, prognosis was not good so I was nervous to open in the morning, afraid of what I’d find - but there was this dog was waiting to great me, looking like Frankenstein with his stitches all over having busted open the lock on the kennel.
It’s not really in their nature to ‘give up’ when it comes to recovery after surgery, at least from what I’ve seen. They might be miserable for a bit but with time and pain management I can’t remember seeing many (if any) drastically bad outcomes after surgeries.
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Very hard to hear Scoop, but dogs are tough. And he looks to be a good one. Good keepers too.
ps if the vet there is like the vets here in the States, you’re paying a lot of money to fix the big fellow. If you need, we could prolly get a goFundMe page setup to help cover costs. And don’t be offended, it’s not charity, just a means for others to help others.
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Count me in.
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He will cost about £6,000 for each back leg. Obviously only one has gone but the vets and the internet say the other always goes. Spent about £1,000 so far on tests and painkillers for him.
Fliss and I were in tears. As a result we didnt take in everything we were told. We thought he faced a future of pain and limited mobility all his life - kinder to put him to sleep we feared. However the pain will only last for about four months postop. He should then be 95% mobile and able to again run like the wind. Some complications in later life perhaps.
We anticipate costs being about £15,000 including the physio and hydrotherapy. £4/8,000 should be covered by insurance depending on the second operation being after the end of 2023.
Recovery will be hard as he wont be allowed off the lead for maybe two months. Not even in our garden as he would chase squirrels.
He is the ultimate big soft soppy dog, with a loud bark he uses freely.
Pain killers have kicked in tonight. He ate normally and barked back at the neighbours terriers. He had not done this since Christmas.
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That is great news. If there are any later complications deal with them then but meanwhile enjoy the years you have ahead of you
Just let us know if we can help in any way, financial or otherwise (I use we because I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one).
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I’ve liked your post, but it’s for sympathy.
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Well, I’ll misquote George C Scott here:
“A dog that eloquent has to be saved!”
It’ll be a tough slog, but I’m glad to hear that there’s a bright light at the end of this tunnel. I wish him a quick recovery and long life.
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I don’t know squat about computers and setting up websites etc., but If someone sets up a GoFundMe campaign for this, count me in to assist financially.
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Great idea!
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Did this with two dogs. Our border collie at 11, and he had both ligaments go. He had compensated so well that we didn’t even notice until the second one went. We did one leg and planned to do the other when he healed, but he was so amped after the first one that we decided that the cure was worse than the disease and left it as is. He lived another 4 years and never lost his energy.
Also did this with our ridgeback. She was 14 and in the same boat as your dog (possibility of the other one going soon after). She still had a lot of life and attitude so we went for it, but it was a lot tougher for her. Even though she healed the other one was starting to go sooner, and she never really got her mobility back. We ended up putting her down about 5 months later. She was also 80lb, whereas the border collie was 55lb.
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How’s the pup?
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I delayed replying until we had been to see the orthpaedic specialist at Cambridge University Hospital today.
He could find no evidence of a torn cruciate ligament, nor could the radiologists.
There was evidence of hip dysplasia but not criticaly so. It is very common in German Shepherds.
There was evidence of a bone condition, very common in fast growing puppys. It is very painful but cures itself.
No operation was recommended. Instead a conservative course of treatment to ensure a proper diet and weight management along with exercise. Zeus was described as being an ideal weight for his size.
So I cannot thank everyone here enough. It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions from expecting to have him put to sleep to crippling ourselves financialy to pay for operations and therapy.
It looks like the insurance policy will cover everything. I may have a few pennies to repair my laptop and buy the Heatblur F4 module.
Meanwhile our puppy sitter has supplied him with a new squeeky toy to chew. The toy seems to enjoy 32 pearly whites chomping him gently.
Thank you all.
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