Demmy needs knee surgery

[smurfalicious]

Boo, it's too bad that she's a working dog. The guy who does our computer stuff at the pet store has his ACL damaged dog in this really cool harness. The surgery was just more than he could hack so he was trying that to see what happened.

There are some here:

http://www.handicappedpets.com/k9brace/

http://www.orthopets.com/ACLStifleDevice.htm

but I believe the one I saw on his dog is this one:

http://www.woundwear.com/product3.cfm

He said it was going well. Poor guy, I guess he had just spent a ton of money on some other life crisis when a simple game of fetch at the dog park crippled his dog. I was incredibly impressed by how well the dog was motoring about in that brace.

[kermit]

Those are great, thanks for the links. I just wish it was me instead.

[divingbiker]

Here's a thread from two years ago about this topic (thought I remembered discussing it before.)

[kermit]

Good news for the Demster. Another visit to the vet and the adequin shots and rimadyl have really helped. No reason to knock her out for more xrays right now. Doubting the ACL tear (wooooooohooooo). Thanks for all the thoughts and advice.

[jesvetmed]

That's great that Demmy is more comfortable! You must be very relieved!

Be careful, though, because ACL tears can seem better after the swelling goes down, but the joint can remain unstable, letting the the menisci beat themselves to a pulp inside the joint, causing much more damage in the long run. Be SURE that the joint is stable before foregoing any further treatment. Hopefully that's what your vet feels based on your "doubts the ACL tear" statement.

Here's to good healng for Demmy! Is she on healing vacation or still working right now? Hopefully she's home resting and chewing on a greenie in the sun.

[tulip]

My mom had a golden retriever from a puppy mill most likely who had severe hip dysplasia. She was put on rimadyl and, while it helped, it didn't do her liver any favors. I hope that Demmy can get off the rimadyl soon. My mom's dog died at only 6 years old. She was a great dog.

[kermit]

Thanks everybody. Liver enzymes were done and she's good with the rimadyl. Metacam and previcox make her throw up so good thing this is working. The vet felt that now she is sitting square and using the knee more. The muscles that were beginning to atrophe are working again. Hopefully it was just a bad sprain or overexertion.
Demmy is working but I'm on an afternoon shift which is alot quieter. I did that for her, less wear and tear. The vet feels as long as she is using herself, theres no reason to put her out right now for more xrays. I hope she's right. As discussed in the other thread, these malinois don't know when to quit. But she definitely let me know when she wasn't right. She also showed me she's feeling better. Sucks getting old!
Tulip-I'm sorry for your mom. I had a golden, Demmy's swim partner. Best dog I've ever had. Buffett. I still miss him. They just don't live long enough.