Torn ligament

Our dog, Benny, has been limping around for months now. The vet told us it's probably arthritis and/or the onset of hip displasia. 2 weeks ago Benny was outside running around and has now been hopping on 3 legs...holding up the back right leg, rarely putting pressure on it. DH took him to the vet today and they think he tore a ligament in his knee. This is when I wish I had pet insurance. They think he'll need surgery and from I gather it costs at minimum $1500! I feel so bad for Benny, I should have taken him to the vet last week, but we thought he just sprained something and hoped it would get better. 3 weeks or so ago he was at the vet getting x-rays for the original limping problem - now I'm wondering if the ligament was already starting to tear and the vet didn't realize that was the problem. Ugh. The vet said that he shouldn't go up and down the steps too much - we live in a bi-level - so the only way he would not have to use the steps is if we leave him on the lower level...where we rarely go! I feel soooo terrible for my boy.

Sorry just had to vent...!

Re: Torn ligament

We just went through the same thing with our dog, she was at my parents house and tripped while running up the deck stairs. We had to take her to the emergency vet, and they said she torn her ACL and she would need an operation ASAP. And until the operation, no stairs and strict cage rest. So that Monday we took her to our vet, thinking she was going to get a surgery and our vet said that it could possibly be a sprain, because both knees had about the same amount of give. Anyway, the vet recommended holding off on the surgery and do a month of strict cage rest and no stairs (easy for him to say, we live on the 3rd floor and she is 50+ lbs) but we did it, and about 2 weeks later she started putting more weight on her leg and by a month she was normal again. I am glad we didn't rush the surgery and got a second opinion because it would have cost us over $1500 and she would have need 6 months of rehab!!

Re: Torn ligament

Thanks for posting this! Very similar situation with Benny, my Dh was in the backyard with him and says he was running around and then suddenly he was yelping in pain. He's been limping ever since then. He already has a problem with that leg, so I'm afraid he really did some damage this time.

Re: Torn ligament

it can't hurt to get a second opinion, if we stayed with the vet who first dianosed her, we would be out a lot of money and she still would be recooperating today. I am glad our vet was honest with us and didn't want to cut her open until he was absolutely sure that was the problem. Now she is completely fine. Although, I am still nervous everytime we go to the dog park and she plays rough! Good luck with what ever you decide.