When to stop?

druid

druid

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Some people might know the history behind this but for those who don't...

I have a 8yo Gordon Setter (Rory), last year he was hit by a car (14 stitches in neck, jugular barely missed being severed, muscle damage in shoulder). He never came 100% sound after that (lame in left fore), x-rays and investigation surgery showed this was due to trauma induced OCD in his LF elbow but also showed he had the starts of arthritis in both hips and stifles. We treated this and he came a little sounder. Then in a totally unrelated injury he did his cruciate ligament and had to have it removed and banded in surgery. We're now 6 weeks post-op and he is no sounder than before the surgery - infact he's worse. He's back in the vets again tomorrow for investigation and x-rays but really, when do you stop? I've probably sunk about 2-2.5k into this so far..when do you stop? Will he really have a better quality of life than on 3 legs?

At this point I don't think I could bring myself to put him through a third round of surgery with some guarantees that it'd make him sound...
 
A friend of mine has a lab x and they found a tumour in his hock and removed the leg when the dog was 10 years old.He coped and still does cope fine!!.His thigh muscles in his remaining leg are huge!!.
 
Very difficult to say without seeing the dog in the flesh. If I was in your position I would ask the vet to give you his totally honest opinion - what would he do if this was his dog?
 
Thanks

Rema - that's my thoughts, I mean how many 3 legged dogs are out there doing just fine?

TGM - I'll ask that tomorrow. He is in no pain but only puts his LH (cruciate leg) down maybe 75% of the time to weight bear.
 
So what is the decision you are contemplating? PTS versus amputation (or accepting loss of use in one leg) versus further surgery on problem leg? I do know plenty of 3-legged dogs who have very active and happy lives. I believe ajb on here posted on here prior to her dog having a leg amputated - from her reports he adapted very well.
 
Basically..

if they say tomorrow they want to do more surgery be it re-banding the cruciate, investigative or whatever...do I say yes or no?

I think amputation *might* put further stress on his already arthritic RH...(Cruciate is LH)

So...do I say yes to further surgery without a guarantee it'll bring him sound or do I stop treatment and just manage any arthritic pain and go from there?
 
Very, very difficult - depends how much you trust your vet. If trusted vet I would definitely ask what his decision would be if it was his dog.

If you don't trust the vet entirely makes it much more difficult. Would ask for some indication of likelihood of success of further surgery. 90% chance of success I would go for it, 50% or less then definitely not. That middle ground in-between is a very difficult one to gauge
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The fact is many 3-legged dogs have a great quality of life, however your dog has potential problems in both hind limbs - very, very difficult.
 
I agree with TGM re: chance of improvemet.
After that, if you do or do not do the surgery, I would manage any pain.
How does he cope with surgery?
My lab barely coped ws/ being spayed, changed her temperment completely but others have been fine. That would play a big part in any decision of mine
 
Dogs do manage fine with one back leg but as you say, the other one is already weakened and painful and there would also be extra strain on the damaged front leg too so personally I wouldn't have the surgery. I had to make the same decision a year ago when my 8yo lurcher had bone cancer. I decided not to prolong the inevitable and I let him go without making him undergo an amputation that would only give him a year or 2 more. It's a hard and horrible thing to have to do and I feel for you.
 
I agree with 1otp not sure that amputation would be an option in your dogs case - as you said he has arthritis in the other hind limb and a weaker fore limb. What I do think is perhaps you should ask your vet for a referral to an orthopaedic vet. It sounds like your dogs cruciate was repaired with a DeAngelis technique (also known as lateral suture) and I find these are not always a great success in bigger dogs. The treatment of choice would be a TPLO (tibial plateau levelling operation) which gets amazing results in dogs like this and a quick return to soundness. However this is quite specialist surgery and should only be performed by a vet with orthopaedic experience. Sorry to say that probably means a lot more money to pay out but the prognosis is generally very good.
Good Luck with whatever you decide, AJ
 
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