Cruciate ligament paranoia

[Springersrock]

Has anyone else’s dog had issues with their cruciate ligament? If so, what were the symptoms? I’m completely paranoid about this.

2 years ago my dog busted her cruciate ligament in her left leg. We (the vet and I) are pretty confident we know when she did it - chasing a ball in a park, the ball bounced oddly, she changed direction quickly, stumbled and somersaulted but got straight back up and continued blasting around the park. She was quite limpy that evening and the following day, so took her to the vet who couldn’t really feel anything, gave us a couple of days pain relief and told us to keep an eye out, nothing further. A couple of times I noticed she was a tiny bit limpy when we got home if we’d been out on a very long off lead walk but was always fine again the following morning, and in general she was fine, her usual self, out on her usual walks, doing her usual thing so didn’t really think much of it. She’s a springer so always blasting about doing stupid stuff. Then one day, a couple of months after the first time, she came out paddle boarding with us. She was limpy when we got home and worse the following morning so I took her to the vet. X-rays, TPLO surgery, 8 weeks in a pen and months of physio and hydrotherapy followed.

So, Monday night I took her to the beach. Tide was out so massive, wide open beach, beach was empty, it’s her favourite place to be ever. She blasted about at 100 miles an hour, in the sea, jumping the waves and guess what…when we got home she was limpy in what I’m sure was the other back leg, although DH and DD thought it was her front leg - we’ve spent so much time looking at her legs, none of us are sure anymore.

She was absolutely fine Tuesday morning but I booked her in the vet anyway. Again, they can’t feel anything, there’s no limp, she didn’t react when they were manipulating her leg or anything so they just said keep an eye and bring her back if she limps again, but they only way to really know is £1000+ worth of X-rays

It’s so similar to the first time, I’m obviously now utterly paranoid that she’s busted the other cruciate ligament and we’re going to have to go through another op. I’d like to go for the X-rays (doggo is insured) as if she has done it again, I’d rather get it sorted ASAP than leave it to get worse. The vet doesn’t think it’s necessary as ‘we’d know’ if she’d busted her ligament, but we then didn’t last time so 🤷‍♀️

Thanks!

Generally my understanding is that if one goes, the other is likely to be problematic.

They can get better from rest, if not ruptured but I totally feel your paranoia.

I would get it sorted, if you have insurance. We didn't but would have paid for the operations if needed. But we were always on high alert & wrapped the dog in cotton wool but it is a lot of work & probably not good for any of us.

She was also on painkillers for a good few years. Which was ok for her, as her kidneys were ok but would have been different with other dogs.

We had lots of problems with our rescue collie’s back legs including problems with his elbow and cruciate ligaments.

He was on Metacam but we spent thousands on treatment and Hydrotherapy ( which he loved)
We had insurance but as he aged we spent lots extra.

He did save us money on an X ray though.
Few years ago now but vet said it would be £50 as they’d need to sedate him.
My DH literally got home and the vet rang to say come and get him! Once on the table he seemed to know and just lay still. Vet said they’d never seen anything like it.
Such a clever boy RIP Sammy.

My mini labradoodle did her cruciales ligament by smoky walking out the front door. There’s one small step and she immediately pulled her leg up and would not put it down. Of course we were to go abroad the next day!
Off to emergency vet where they injected a pain killer and gave us some pills. She could put some weight on it so they didn’t xray it. Anyway it took about a month for her to lose the limp and another three or four before she would go up or down the stairs and start running again - she was 13 at the time and not nearly as energetic as yours!
I notice now she doesn’t limp but has started not liking the stairs again, but this could be down to age and feeling creakier. She does have joint supplements.
As springers are known to have joint issues and arthritis could it be coincidental and that’s what’s happening? I know I feel it if I’ve had a couple days of walking way more than usual.

Just to give you a better understanding of this...

CCL injuries can be partial or complete rupture. They are initially painful but quickly become much less so. Ongoing lameness in the short term is more due to mechanical instability than pain.
If the current lameness is barely perceptible, your dog is in no distress. Then there is no issue with waiting a week or two or three, resting and seeing if she improves.
The CCL is not visible on an x-ray. What we pick up is a variable instability of the stifle joint on (usually sedated) manipulation, plus a couple of suggestions on the x rays (easier to see if CCL rupture is long-standing).

The vast majority of CCL injuries I see are from the beach. When you take your dogs to the beach, do not fling open the car doors and let them gallop off. Warm up with a controlled walk first. Avoid deep, dry loose sand where even big flat human feet sink and slide. Imagine how those small paws sink deeply into the sand while the body hurtles over them at mad speed. Always look for hard wet sand that offers a safe, true surface. If necessary, leash walk down to the water's edge for the surface you want. Also avoid having a dog twist and leap for a ball or Frisbee (you know that now).

Thank you!

To be honest, I’m not even 100% sure she was limping on that leg now. DH and DD thought it was her front leg. No limping since, although we haven’t been to the beach again. I might take her tonight and see what happens.

The tide was out so she was on the hard, wet sand, she wasn’t twisting or jumping on the sand but was running around in big circles rather than changing direction quickly iyswim, in and out of the sea, jumping waves, etc.

The vet couldn’t feel anything alarming when manipulating her leg. No sign of a limp by then either

I was only saying the other day that part of me wished that if the other one was going to go, it would hurry up and go so we could get it over with and stop worrying about it 🤦‍♀️. I’ve jinxed myself.

She’s only 6, she has lots of energy and is very active, loves the beach and swimming and we’ve banned chasing balls and stuff like that.

Thanks!

That's exactly how my dog used to do her knees in, beach and ball. Thanks for that explanation, @villainousbroodmare

@villainousbroodmare
That’s so helpful thanks so much
Our two love the beach.