What are the chances? UPDATE
I just picked up Jackson from the vet. Boy is he mad at me!! Worse than after he got his teeth cleaned. Won't even look at me...:-(
He has a torn ACL, and horrible arthritis in his joint. It's definitely an old injury, and my vet isn't sure that surgery would make him any better. As he put it, he's not sure we could "get a bang for our buck". He doesn't doubt that it would keep the arthritis from getting any worse, but with it being so old, isn't sure it's worth the surgery. He's going to call the surgeon, and will get back to me on what he says and thinks. He came right out and said that Dr. Steen wouldn't recommend the surgery if he thought it wouldn't help (which I figured...I really like and trust both of them). So we are waiting to hear from him later today or tomorrow. And his left leg is pretty loose too, and he said it's just a matter of time before it fails. Coming from the puppy mill, he obviously doesn't have the greatest genetics, which you can tell if you look at him close, especially in his legs. Poor guy!
My vet had never heard of the prolotherapy, and was going to do some research and let me know. He said he does know a couple of holistic vets, and would contact them too to see if it's an option. My gut just says that the prolotherapy is a better option this time. If it was a fresh injury I'd lean towards the surgery, but if the prolotherapy can give the same results at this stage of the game, we'll go with that. Have any of you used it?
Clinically, Jackson is doing great. No limping since we have been giving him the Previcoxx (which will be lifelong probably at this point with the arthritis). You really can't tell anything is wrong with him. Which makes me even more inclined to go the conservative route. What do you guys think?
We just got back from the vet with Jackson, and the vet is pretty sure he has a torn ACL. Jane noticed him limping at her house when she rescued him, but I don't think we know for sure when it may have happened. We have an appointment for him at the vet Tuesday for the sedation and Xrays to see if he's got the "drawer sign"....but he's acting just like Seanna did/does when her's was torn and when it's bugging her. So....here we go again!! The vet said he'd benefit from surgery irregardless of how old the injury might be, so we'll get it done if it will benefit him.
My husband is either a saint or extremely upset, didn't really utter a word when I told him. I think he's a saint... :-) Thank goodness we know what to expect since we just went through it with Seanna. It will go by quick! Poor little guy. He's been through so much pain in his life, I hate to see him go through more!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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Yes, your husband is a Saint! So sorry to hear. Sparty's was not fully torn so we did not do the surgery and restricted his activity for a few months. Now years later he does quite well and rarely limps. My vet said his muscles are making up the support.However, we did have to eliminate some of his favorite stop and start games. We went this route because Sparty would make a horrible patient. You actually are a Saint for considering going through this again....
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Permalink Reply by Jill Usher on
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Jennifer -
Oh no! I am in utter shock. You poor thing. I need to go back and read Jackson's story. Sounds like the guy has had it rough. Let's hope that it can be managed without the surgery.
I'll say a little prayer tonight that tomorrow goes well and that it can be managed through resting it. OMG. It's a tough time of year to go through it all...especially with all the snow we just got. Jakey is having a blast in the snow but I'm afraid he's going to over do it bounding around our backyard after his purple ball.
Keep me posted.
Jill
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on
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I so thought about you today! I thought maybe we could have Jake's other leg done the same time Jackson has his done, so we can suffer through together again!!
Jane Christiansen took him and I think 3 other corgis in 2 years ago when a puppy mill here in Ottumwa was raided. The conditions were horrible from what I understand. He is just absolutely the sweetest, most lovable dog--despite what he's been through...I so hate to see him go through more, but if it's better for him in the long run, then we'll do whatever we have to. I'm going to look into prolotherapy this time too. It's totally natural, and I just found out about it for humans two weeks ago, and lo and behold, today in my NaturalDog magazine there is an article on it. They inject dextrose and lidocaine into the joint which is an irritant and causes the body to heal itself naturally. AND it's used for ligament injuries....and has the same success rate as surgery. (Plus it's alot cheaper, which my husband likes...). But I'll do whatever needs to be done for the little guy...
Hope you had a great Christmas!!
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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WOW...didn't see this...how great!
Yes, we got 4 dogs from the Ottumwa Humane Society which the breeder had to give up 30 corgis in sets of 10! The 1st 10 Lakeshore Rescue got(I believe) I told my husband 2 and came home with 4...did end up in the dog house myself but I wouldn't have changed it and I still have 2 I can't part with (Wiley and Teddy) they really show wear and tear of how they were treated:( They could have been in much worse condition than they were.
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Permalink Reply by Judi, Dawn, Soffie & Griffyn on
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oh my!!..... But there's always conservative management! (no surgery) it takes longer and more care and patience but I can testify that it worked for our Soffie!! If you saw her today.... vs. the night she pulled her little left leg up under her and sat down and looked at me like "what the HECK"!!! you would not believe that she had a torn ACL... I'm a believer!!!
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I've thought about that...Jackson is a little guy (18-20 pounds) vs Seanna's 28 pounds when she ruptured hers. And we're not sure how old the injury is, so maybe this would work for him. I'll do whatever is best...I'm not a believer that Western medicine fixes everything, but sometimes it's the best--I totally love and trust my vet and surgeon that fixed Seanna's leg. If he can heal naturally without any damaging effects, then hopefully we can go that route!
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Permalink Reply by Nicola Porter on
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Oh no, poor Jackson. Hope all goes well.
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But he now has you and Amber in his life...you are his life saviours and he knows it as you can see it in his new smile:) He needed a home of his own with his own family!
We all hope for the best tomorrow! We'll keep or fingers and toes and paws crossed! He's had much more pain in his previous life and now knows what it like to really be loved so "thank-you".
Your husband probably is much like mine and knows better than to say too much (ok maybe a saint).
Good luck Jackson and family! We'll be thinking of you!
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Any word about Jackson and the vet??????
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I just realized after reading this that I gave the impression his visit was last Tuesday. Oops!! It's this Tuesday. I will definitely let you know how it comes out Tuesday afternoon!
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