There is nothing most dogs love more than playing in the snow. My dog is no exception. She will run and bound and jump and roll until the cows come home.
& this is what she was doing a week ago Sunday when her ACL snapped.
Bounding, running, playing with another friendly dog when.... yelp! .... then hopping on 3 legs to me.
AARRRGH!
I extend my utmost gratitude to the other dog couple who waited with her for me while I ran to my car and drove to a closer entrance of the park. There was no way she was walking that far and no way I could carry her.
The emergency vet diagnosed a ruptured/torn/whatever ACL and a torn meniscus based on the x-rays and the popping noises her knee was making. My vet confirmed this diagnosis the following day. Surgery was the only option.
Pure craziness. You know when you don't know too much about something there is nothing to do but trust that the people who do are going to guide you in the right direction. Unfortunately, I am not that good at trusting. I sent out emails to other dog people. I researched ACL's, dog menisci, operations, conservative treatment. But I felt as informed as I was before Bella's injury - nil.
We had decided to simply go to the surgeon that the vet suggested. But, you know, there was just something about that decision that wasn't resonating. & I guess that is what it's all about when you don't know jack - the intuition has to take over.
My husband talked to his cousin, a vet on the west side. She recommended the Animal Clinic Northview. Yeah, she works there, but she is also very objective - per my husband. & the way the facility was described seemed right to me. And after meeting with Dr. Knox, my mind was a bit more at ease.
So, a week after the injury, Bella is on the mend. She was placing weight on her leg the day after the surgery. And she now thinks that she can do pretty much anything. Of course, for a very long while she will have to be quiet and contained. & this is the biggest challenge.
If anyone has any ideas of how to keep her mentally active without too much movement I would greatly appreciate them.
& this is what she was doing a week ago Sunday when her ACL snapped.
Bounding, running, playing with another friendly dog when.... yelp! .... then hopping on 3 legs to me.
AARRRGH!
I extend my utmost gratitude to the other dog couple who waited with her for me while I ran to my car and drove to a closer entrance of the park. There was no way she was walking that far and no way I could carry her.
The emergency vet diagnosed a ruptured/torn/whatever ACL and a torn meniscus based on the x-rays and the popping noises her knee was making. My vet confirmed this diagnosis the following day. Surgery was the only option.
Pure craziness. You know when you don't know too much about something there is nothing to do but trust that the people who do are going to guide you in the right direction. Unfortunately, I am not that good at trusting. I sent out emails to other dog people. I researched ACL's, dog menisci, operations, conservative treatment. But I felt as informed as I was before Bella's injury - nil.
We had decided to simply go to the surgeon that the vet suggested. But, you know, there was just something about that decision that wasn't resonating. & I guess that is what it's all about when you don't know jack - the intuition has to take over.
My husband talked to his cousin, a vet on the west side. She recommended the Animal Clinic Northview. Yeah, she works there, but she is also very objective - per my husband. & the way the facility was described seemed right to me. And after meeting with Dr. Knox, my mind was a bit more at ease.
So, a week after the injury, Bella is on the mend. She was placing weight on her leg the day after the surgery. And she now thinks that she can do pretty much anything. Of course, for a very long while she will have to be quiet and contained. & this is the biggest challenge.
If anyone has any ideas of how to keep her mentally active without too much movement I would greatly appreciate them.
