[Denise Bryan]

My 2yr old Newfoundland Talula has just had xrays and has cruciate ligament disease confirmed and my vet has referred her to a specialist for TPLO surgery.

Can anyone advise if there is an alternative to surgery. We are concerned if we are doing the right thing of putting her through such a major op. She is very fit and healthy and have taken advise on her losing some weight (she wasn't over weight) but she seems very happy and only limps occassionally, normally if she has been asleep and laying down for long periods, never usually after exercise, especially swimming, this seems to help her situation.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[Daveyo]

Hi

Read your post. Strange as it may seem to be, is it a disease or a tear? Cruciate ligament tear basically means that animal is not going to be able to walk. Yet I see you posted it can walk. Are you talking about arthritis????

Just trying to get some things here clarified OK. What was the real reason for getting x-rays done???

Yes there is a lot of information concerning about the ligament tear on animals.

First you should get a MRI done because it is 99% conclusive and it can tell you the real picture if there is a true tear or something else. You ca then compare to the x-rays.

The problem with x-rays it spots bone material, as you well know an in some settings it can show like your lungs etc. But ligaments is like a tendon but not a bone and near closer to a muscle. It is the main part that moves something based on your command.

Here is some information for you to help you understand about ligament tears.
Also included here is the alternative if you choose to do so.

Be prepared that this surgery is not cheap either. Starting 2,400 dollars on up to 4,000 depending on the VET who is doing such.

Here in Thailand about 200 bucks usa dollars. Not bad huh.

Here are the links for you.

Extracapsular Stabilization Method

http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ivapm/professionals/members/current_articles/budsberg.htm
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04302003-201619/
http://www.ejbjs.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/5/988

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteolomy (TPLO).

http://vetsurgerycentral.com/tplo.htm
http://www.fvarc.com/PAGES/ARTICLES/images/fall-2004.pdf


I suggest that you have an MRI done on the dog besides an X-ray to determine just exactly

what got damaged. From there you can determine the best method of treatment. Both methods

are OK but the second one TPLO is lesser chance of arthritis. That is about the only plus

that it has over the other one.



I also have a link for you to read which is good for lay people to understand about these

ruptures. First there are 4 named ligaments in a human being and there are only two named

ligaments on Dogs. Funny how I can say this but it is true.

Here is the link http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ruptured_anterior_cruciate_lig.html

Last but not least here is the other method which is the alternative type if you choose to do this one.

Alternate method called the wait and see method.
http://home.earthlink.net/~tiggerpoz/index.html

Hope this helps you out a bit before you dive into this kind of operation and procedures.

Daveyo

[Denise Bryan]

Hi and thankyou so much for your reply and advise. In answer to your question, Talula attempted to jump through a fence and caught her back leg in sheep wire at about 12
months old and began limping, we went to our vet and was told she had a probable cruciate ligament tear and was given meloxicam and told to bring her back if there was no improvement. After the medication and rest she became sound. After a few months after playing with another puppy she seemed to limp periodically or after a long walk. We then rested her again and gave her the medication again. This seemed to help for awhile, we returned to the vet for another reason and mentioned this and they suggested she had xrays. The result being, I was told, she had cruciate ligament disease, instability in joints, some arithitis and wanted to refer to a specialist for a TPLO.

kind regards
Denise

[Daveyo]

Hi

Get the MRI done and confirm if there is a tear of the ligament or not. Do not do the surgery unless this MRI confirms that there is an actual tear of that ligament.

If no tear, I suspect a pulled muscle or stretched ligament at the joint area which requires lots of rest and of course some elastic wrapping around the affected area to give it more support. If it is a stretched ligament this is just short of a tear, so be very careful and give that dog plenty of time for it to heal. Ligaments take a very long time healing as the process is very slow. Just like human.

Use a heating pad, if available, to the area, like at night time when they sleep, use some muscle heat balm, to keep it supple, and most of all, do not let that dog run around or play. Keep it down and let it walk only, provided the elastic supports are on the affected leg.

There is medication for arthritis, but do not give aspirin at all to a dog.

No going up or down the stairs, no running around, and no jumping around. Walking slowly and not push the dog is fine.

Your dogs needs a lot of time to heal if the MRI says no tear. OK

The MRI will tell you everything and it will dictate your next course of action.

Fair enough

Daveyo

[nikz]

Hey, what did you end up doing. I just found out yesterday my male has this. He's only walking on 3 legs, in pain and Im in the midst of getting quotes and figuring this all out. Its a little stressful since I've heard its around $3,000.

[Labadorer]

If she walks fine sometimes it may be only a partial tear......... have to get the full picture some how. The "disease" they speak of is what? arthritis, bone spur, fluid inflamation ?
A Specialist may go in with an arthroscope first and take a look - if it is a partial 25% or less there may be a chance the less invasive and relatively new stem cell repair would work. That is what we are hoping for - if not the decision will be made right there while she is under to go ahead with the TPLO - I have prepared myself either way for the long and loving journey ahead......

Has anyone suggested the stem cell therapy repair?
http://www.vet-stem.com/
Read about it at a practice that is involved....
http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/
I believe have been lucky enough to
find and be close enough to this practice to have had a consultation.
Best of luck with your journey.