My Jack Russell blew the ACL in her rear right leg a few months ago. We couldnt afford the surgery and were advised against it by friends who said it has a high failure rate. She manages long walks on three legs and often uses the sore leg when at home. Whats the chances of the ligament healing of its own accord?
2006-11-04 17:48:28 · 8 answers · asked by Gus 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
To give you a short answer to your question...
The ligament wont heal by itself...it will appear to improve over the course of weeks but the knee will be notably swollen and arthritis will set in quickly.
The surgery will cause some temporary pain, and the dog will need to have rest while it recovers...but the success rate is good with the surgery...
If arthritis sets in it will be permanent and you will be left wishing you had the surgery done...
Hope this helps
2006-11-04 18:13:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anastasia 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know who your friends are and if they had dogs that had the surgery?
I had a small breed that did the same thing, she had the surgery because it would not heal on it's own. It was rough going for a couple weeks but she regained her life without pain. I have never heard of it not having a good success rate, I have heard the opposite. It is worth the money. And it is responsible dog ownership to take care of your best friend when it gets injured. So, save up the money and have the surgery.
2006-11-04 18:01:29 · answer #2 · answered by dog's best friend 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, you should ask the vet that. Some do and some don't. If you have waited too long though, it will be harder to fix and the secondary arthritis will be worse in that leg.
Personally, I have had 5 cruciate repairs done on dogs over the years, and all went well and were a success. And they were on dogs over 120 pounds. I think you dogs surgery would have done a lot of good.
2006-11-04 17:51:53 · answer #3 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe your friends to be misinformed..the prognosis following surgery, if activity is limited as required, is very good.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1569&articleid=474
I couldn't find any statistics on the outcome without surgery...I would consult a second vet, if the forst vet couldn't answer that question..I would consult a vet that has a practice that includes Large and Small animals..For some reason they seem to know the most about non surgical options..
2006-11-04 20:12:00 · answer #4 · answered by Chetco 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take it from someone who owns two Jacks and I am very involved with the breed from showing to hunting. The injury will not heal itself and is most definitely affecting this pups quality of life and most likely causing it a great deal of pain regardless if he shows it or not, it's just in their breeding to be a tough dog. For the moron who says let nature take it's course do not listen to him, wild animals would be killed from a stronger animal if they have a major injury, there for not having to suffer a lifetime of pain and suffering.
2006-11-04 18:13:06 · answer #5 · answered by Dave H 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you cant afford it then dont go in debt think of it this way in nature if this had happend the dog would get eaten by a bigger animal so it still has a better life and will adapt look at micheal j fox
2006-11-04 17:55:46 · answer #6 · answered by Douglas G 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
take it to the vet
2006-11-04 17:51:02 · answer #7 · answered by ausblue 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It'll heal...take MONTHS & never quite right but....it'll heal.
Do****NOT**** allow "long walks"!!!!!
duh....
2006-11-04 23:18:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋