Large breed ACL surgery recovery time (vet, costs, effects, failure)

[jtdailey]

I have a large mixed breed dog. He is 3 and weighs about 125 lbs. He had ACL surgery 9 weeks ago. We had to keep him off his leg for 8 weeks and only walk him outside to go to the bathroom. The vet said we can now let him run freely outside. I am a bit concerned because his knee is still swollen more than the other and he wont put full weight on it when standing.

Has anyone else had a dog with ACL surgery and if so what was the recovery time. Does this seem to be normal at 9 weeks?

Thanks!!

[Amazonchix]

We had acl surgery on our 58lb BC mix. We had a very strict physical rehad program to follow before we were allowed to let her be free in the backyard. BUT, due to the procedure we had performed on our girl (TTA), the surgeon released her at 10 weeks with supervision. We still worked with her at slowly building up her endurance and strength. You'll notice that your dog's surgery leg has had significant muscle atrophy. Take things slow because you don't want to compromise the other knee. If you haven't already work with your dog on building up strength in the surgery leg by a controlled walk on leash and increase the walk by 10 minutes if you don't see any limping or favoring at the end of the day. Start slow.

[alan9]

There are safer alternatives for acl ccl injuries in dogs that are safer, cheaper and really do work.

Your vet may not tell you because dog knee joint surgeries are very profitable.

If a vet is referring the patient to an orthopedic surgeon then the vet receives a referral fee or reward of some 10-15% of the cost of the surgery so every vet has a big incentive to push surgery over any safer alternative. Say a referred surgery is $4500 then the referring vet would receive payment of $450. Not shabby, as many vets have a strong incentive to refer surgery then to mention a safer cheaper alternative.

Sorry to hear that your Dog has a torn ccl acl joint.

You may want to consider a custom Dog Knee Brace for your dog very soon to start supporting the injured leg to take the pressure off the good leg. The sooner a dog is wearing a dog knee brace, the less chance the other knee will tear. With surgery, there is a greater chance the other knee will tear because surgery takes so long to heal, that the other knee fails too.

If both legs have a torn ccl acl then you can get two Dog Knee Braces to support both knees and just put on a support harness if needed to help them on dog walks till their legs get strong enough to walk without a support harness.

Go to PoshDogKneeBrace.com - Home or search with words Posh Dog Knee Brace for lots of informative info RE Dog Knee Brace VS Surgery and read the NEWS page with informative articles at the site written by honest veterinarians about the extreme dangers of knee joint surgery.

Our elderly large dog had a torn ACL CCL full rupture and torn meniscus. Vet estimated $4625+ for ccl acl tplo surgery and another $1200 for aftercare or another $3000 for any complications. The very painful surgery with very high risks and failure were unacceptable to us. Instead, we got a fully functioning global stabilizing posh dog knee brace that really works better and safer than any ccl acl tplo tta type surgeries without the long list of complications caused by dog acl ccl cruciate joint knee surgeries.

Our dog healed without surgery wearing the Posh Dog Knee Brace for several months and was able to walk longer and longer each day wearing the dog knee brace and many others dogs are now wearing the Posh Dog Knee Brace and NOT getting surgery because their dogs can heal without surgery wearing a Dog knee brace that globally supports the knee so the knee can heal. A Dog Knee Brace is the safer cheaper alternative instead of surgery.

Please don't put your poor dog thru this very painful unnecessary joint surgery with a very low success rate and high dangerous side effects when there is a safer alternative that is cheaper too.

Pet insurance would pay for either the excruciating painful joint surgery or the safer painless Posh Dog Knee Brace. We had a choice since pet insurance pays for dog knee braces because they do work better than surgery without the many complications that surgery offers.

Many Veterinarians lie (or fail to mention dog knee braces or are unaware) to force patients to buy knee joint surgery that their dog really does NOT need and will not tell patients about safer cheaper alternatives. They think by telling patients to kill their dog or get painful joint surgery, the patients will find the money for the vet to profit from the surgery.

There are some honest vets, usually holistic vets that do tell their patients that dog knee braces are a safer option to start with, and if it works, avoid surgery at all costs.

Search for a Holistic Vet at AHVMA.org FIND A HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN

Saw in Fido Friendly Magazine recommends dog knee braces, see link be low...
or search with words
FidoFriendly Magazine Dog Knee Brace to find it
.
Posh Dog Knee Brace Provides Non-Surgical Recovery From Dog Knee Ligament Injuries | FIDO Friendly

Fortunately there is a safer alternative to surgery.

[Rowan123]

Originally Posted by jtdailey

I have a large mixed breed dog. He is 3 and weighs about 125 lbs. He had ACL surgery 9 weeks ago. We had to keep him off his leg for 8 weeks and only walk him outside to go to the bathroom. The vet said we can now let him run freely outside. I am a bit concerned because his knee is still swollen more than the other and he wont put full weight on it when standing.

Has anyone else had a dog with ACL surgery and if so what was the recovery time. Does this seem to be normal at 9 weeks?

Thanks!!

Does the vet know it's still swollen and he's not putting his full weight on it? Regardless, I'd take him back to the surgeon and let him see what it looks like and how your dog is walking on it before I'd let the dog run free. IMO it's much better to be too cautious then not cautious enough in this kind of thing. I don't think there is a hard and fast rule that works for all dogs every time when it comes to recovery.

Good luck.