My dog is having ACL surgery. What post-op home care tips do I need?

Typically these surgeries are pretty routine when performed by qualified individuals. The most common complications associated with them include pain, inflammation, implant failure, and infection. The most important thing to remember post surgically is to follow the instructions given to you regarding cage rest, leash walking, passive range of motion exercising, and general care of the surgical site. If you do all this, the chance of complications will be very small and the chance of a successful experience will be very high. I'm sure everything is going to be just fine! Hope this helps answer your questions.

Hi and thanks for using PetCoach! Sorry to hear that Nevaeh is going to have surgery this Friday. Great question regarding supplements. I would advise that you check out the following website- http://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/?petcoach=1977951 Look at Canine Omega Benefits and Osteo TruBenefits I wish you and her the best of luck. I hope she does great.

I am so sorry to hear Kira is having difficulties after her surgery. It is understandable that she is having troubles standing, and hopefully I can provide you with some options for helping her. Movement and physical therapy after these types of procedures is important. But it must be don't correctly. Encouraging Kira to stand and move around on her own will be difficult at first but she will get stronger as the days pass. Rather than trying to lift her with your hands, try passing a towel or bed sheet under her belly, just in front of her back legs, to make a sling. Then you can lift this-it will provide more support for Kira and hopefully be more manageable with your injured arm. Try and find someone (a neighbor or friend) who can come help if you need extra assistance. Ensuring that Kira takes her post-Surgery pain medications as prescribe is very important too. If she is very painful she will be more reluctant to move around. Once Kira is moving around normally, has recovered from her surgery and is given the 'all clear' to return to normal activity by your veterinarian then it would be a good idea to try and achieve some weight loss for her. Being overweight not only puts extra strain on her joints (especially the one that has just been repaired) but it also puts her at much higher risk of rupturing the ligament in her other leg. Please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you feel Kira is not recovering appropriately. Ask them too about any recommended physical therapy routines you can do for her to help improve her mobility. You may be able to find a certified canine rehabilitation specialist in your area too. Good luck, and I hope Kira feels better soon!

Exercise should be strictly limited for the first six weeks post surgery. To help guide you with Sunday's recovering, I will put a link to a website that details exactly what needs to be done in regards to exercise after this surgery. The first few weeks, Sunday will likely be toe tapping before moving on to gingerly putting weight on her leg. By six weeks post surgery, she should be using her leg without limping, but it will still be at least another six weeks before she is allowed to run, jump, or play. https://www.webvets.com/Resources/resource.php?Anterior-Cruciate-Ligament-Surgery-Post-Operative-Care-44

The answer to your question really comes down to her examination and your goals. It is possible for a cruciate ligament to be partially torn or fully torn. If it is fully torn, the knee is unstable and surgery is the best option to stabilize the knee and slow down the development of arthritis in the joint. If the cruciate ligament is only partially torn, you can see signs like you have in Hambro where she seems pretty normal unless she injures the cruciate ligament again with high activity. For a large dog who is young, partial cruciate ligament injures are often problematic because they inhibit dogs from being able to play normally without being painful, but it sounds like Hambro has done well for 6 months. Another consideration is that if she has a partial tear, she may completely tear the cruciate ligament in the future which will necessitate surgery. There is also a potential complication of cruciate injuries that involve a tear in the meniscus. If that happens, she will be consistently lame and will need surgery. Unfortunately, only you can decide on the right answer for Hambro. Surgery provides the best possibility for return to normal activity without lameness, but certainly isn't without potential risks and complications. I have attached a handout on cruciate ligament injuries below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1975 Finally, if this is a partial cruciate injury and you would like to avoid surgery, I would recommend trying to find a rehabilitation veterinarian to help you with physical therapy exercises to strengthen Hambro. They will also be able to give you a second opinion. Hopefully you can find a vet in the UK at this site. http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/Find_A_Therapist.html http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/action.lasso Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

It probably just sprained it. It is not uncommon for dogs to do very well post-op and then have a bit of a set back. You didn't mention which type of surgery he had to correct his CCL tear. Did they put in a false ligament? Was a TTA done? Was the meniscus involved? All of that can play a factor on what may be going on. I suggest you just rest him very strictly and ice the knee for 10 minutes 3-4 times per day (both the outer and inner portions of the knee). Continue all the medications that your vet has prescribed. If not much improvement after ~7 days of this I suggest you get a referral from your vet to an orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Braces are rarely used if surgery is an option. In small dogs, they are not usually needed. Braces can cause some issues because the fit has to be absolutely perfect to avoid rubbing the skin or causing other joint damage. The best thing to do is “bed rest” and pain medications as prescribed by your vet.