Cruciate injury - non surgical approach?

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toffeeyummy

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Hi
My twelve year old terrier has been diagnosed with a partial cruciate tear. The vet has recommended surgery but due to the cost and his age it's really something I don't want to do. My question is has anyone experience in cruciate recovery without surgery? He is completely non weight bearing although otherwise perfectly happy to totter around on three legs. Doesn't seem to be in any pain. I have looked at the braces, again anyone have experience of these?
Many thanks x
 
Our dog (Westie) has torn both of hers, the last one she did last year, age 7. I was tempted to go down the non-surgical route but the vet persuaded me that surgery was in her best interest. I am now really glad we listened to him & went ahead. However, I think at 12 I'd be much more reluctant, especially as it's just a partial tear.

I met a Westie at Burghley a couple of years ago who had taken the non-surgical route, and he seemed absolutely fine, I think he had torn his cruciate several years before, so you can get good results, but it does take time I think.

Good luck with it.
 
my 12 kg terrier did his and was not operated on, he rested himself as he is a big baby-he is fine now and has been for 5yrs plus.

my 23kg lurcher did her crashing into a tree and had surgery, when they operated they found a very damaged joint and a cruciate that had been ruptured previously at least once-she is not 100% sound but is comfortable and still loves to run. without surgery she would be far worse off.

personally I would not operate on a small dog but see what some rest and time does for him
 
Thank you, can I ask re the terrier how long before he started to weight bear/become sound? Although isn't rested ie cage rest, he wonders about the yard but as he's non weight bearing it's rested?!
 
From our experience of rehabbing our dog post-surgery (twice!) I'm sorry but he needs cage rest, you may think he's non-weight-bearing, but he will be holding it up, which is not good afaik.

Suzie recovered much quicker from her second cruciate than her first, which apparently is very common - and it's because the owners are more diligent with the cage rest, so however cruel you feel for locking him up, believe me, it's the best thing for him.
 
When our mini schnauzer cross tore hers, we were advised to let her rest it as she was under a certain weight. She made a good recovery and has been fine since. I think it took a few months for it to heal properly and several weeks before she bore weight on that leg.
 
We have had a few smallies (in the rescue) with ruptured cruciates, strict crate rest is needed as suggested for a good outcome, literally crate to toilet on a lead style rest. All ours recovered perfect. I cant stress how much the strict rest is paramount. I have has my rottie and akita both fixed via the surgical route* due to their size and again perfect recovery, but again both strictly rested, with surgery both where weight bearing immediately, non surgical they where sound and weight bearing in 6 weeks but still strictly restricted until a good 12 weeks for best chance of recovery then rehomed.
 
That gives me hope, as much as it pains me he will be cage rested from today. Hate it but I know it will be for the best in the long run x
 
toffeeyummy said:
Thank you, can I ask re the terrier how long before he started to weight bear/become sound? Although isn't rested ie cage rest, he wonders about the yard but as he's non weight bearing it's rested?!
Click to expand...

I agree crate rest is the safest option and most likely to be successful, my terrier was not crate rested though and was still walked if he wanted to come with us but as i said he rested himself-ball/similar throwing is now olimits for both of these dogs
 
My mini schnauzer is currently rehabbing this injury. She is 13 this year so vet is very reluctant to go down the surgery route. Some days are better than others but TBH, she's happy and not in pain so I'm happy. She's is walked short distances and spends the rest of the time in bed. She has lost a lot of muscle tone in the leg which doesn't help. I find she limps on it most when she's just up after a long lie down or if she walks too far.
Still tries to run on her walks! Very says with her age she might never be 100% though.
 
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