Making sure your dog remains a healthy weight and gets enough exercise is vital in having a pup without major knee issues. Cooling the injured region will help to reduce inflammation, swelling and pain. Her goal is to educate and uplift readers who also have a passion for animals through her writing. A few explanations as to why your dog is limping after splint removal can include: Muscle Atrophy Pain Learnt Behavior Your dog will most likely be wearing a cone around his neck so that he doesnt bite his incision. Some dogs will avoid bearing any weight on a mildly sore limb while others are stoic and will walk almost normally even though theyre in a lot of pain. Some dogs develop angular limb deformities that cause twisting and curving of the leg bones or even pieces of bone to detach inside the body, among other issues. The x-ray can ensure that healing is happening properly. For a more comprehensive overview of What You Can (And Cant) Give Your Dog For Pain, read our article here! I put part of that sentence in quotes because many times Ive heard people (clients, veterinarians, clinic staff, etc)say thepet is limping because of surgery or injury as if surgery and injury are somewhat abstract and causing the pain. Then, as the healing process sets in and your dog starts to feel better, the cast and stitches can be removed, but it is still important to make sure your dog takes it slow. The limp and lameness have overwhelmingly turned out to be because of pain, in my experience with hundreds of cases. Though your pup may appear to return to normal after a while of staying off his injured knee, with resumed activities, you may notice degradation. Affiliate of Mars Inc. 2023 | Copyright VCA Animal Hospitals all rights reserved. The last event happens frequently in FHO surgeries, in my experience. Broken bones occur when too much pressure is forced onto a bone in the leg or if a dog has metabolic bone disease. Along with the other symptoms, swelling of the knee joint is also a tell-tale sign that your dog has torn his ACL. If your dog is small enough, carry him carefully to your car, supporting his head and hips. All rights reserved, Can A Dog Retear Its ACL After Surgery? I have worked with many pets that have limped or been lame more than a full year after surgery. In humans, the ACL is known for getting torn during spots and intense movements. Eventually, your dog should be able to make a full recovery and enjoy the same things he used to. Your physical therapy with your dog may become more intentional after the two-week mark. Some surgeons may give you a set exercise plan to follow. Larger dogs are more likely to have more serious injuries from a torn ACL as they bear more weight in general. It can be challenging to keep your pup less active, both after surgery or without it, especially if you have an energetic breed. Veterinarians often prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories for mild to moderate pain, such as: These medications are safer for dogs than those designed for human use. If your dog is moving less, getting around less smoothly, and seems uncomfortable, there is a change he has done damage to its knee. Ms. Ali is still limping after having her knee surgery done back in June. Unfortunately, even if your pup has had ACL knee surgery, it is possible for it to re-tear. Some cases also benefit from bloodwork, a CT scan, an MRI, a joint fluid analysis, or other laboratory tests. Where is Rehabilitation and Conditioning for Animals? You may be wondering, can a dog retear its ACL after surgery? Since ligaments connect bones to other bones, if one or more of these tissues tear, the knee does not work as it should so surgery is often performed to stabilize the knee. It may be necessary to remove some or all of the metal implants used in the fracture repair once healing is fully complete. Keep in mind that dogs want to take weight off the leg that hurts them the most. He will need your help going outside to go to the bathroom, so you might have to carry him out to do his business. Daily I work with people and pets to help them pursue avenues to in order to get to the bottom of things and reduce or eliminate pain. Working together, you can design a treatment plan that will soon help your dog feel better. Another benefit of massage is that it loosens the muscles, thereby allowing greater flexibility and limb movement. When your vet finally gives the okay, you'll want to start exercising him again to try and burn off any excess weight he might have gained in his down time. Theres a slight, yet unmistakable, limp as your dog tries to trot around the way it used to. It is completely normal for your dog to limp after splint removal. For the first several days, your dog may need to have strict cage rest. If this is the case, you need to answer the next two questions. Heather Abraham is a professional blogger who owns two dogs, a cat, a parrot, and a leopard gecko. In dogs, while that can also be the case, its more common for the joint to be worn down simply over time instead. Here are some signs that your dog should see a veterinarian right away. This condition is often referred to as having loose patellas or patellar luxation. Muzzle Your Dog if Necessary When a dog is injured and in serious pain from a broken leg, it will naturally be very scared. (Revised January 27, 2018. To prevent re-injury following removal of the splint, your dog should not use stairs unsupervised or jump around. While you will be tempted to give your dog lots of treats while he is in pain, just remember that he is not able to burn off those extra calories like he used to be. As a result, once the injury has healed enough for bearing weight, the joint will be able to handle it more comfortably and help to reduce limping. You may also need to get better pain management drugs plus use them to the best benefit to go with rehabilitation work. A torn ACL for your dog is similar to how it would be for you. If a cast or splint is on the leg, this will need to stay dry and clean and should be changed regularly as your veterinarian recommends. Common causes of limping in dogs include: Bacterial or fungal infections of soft tissues, bones, or joints, Degenerative joint disease (also known as osteoarthritis), Cancer affecting soft tissues, bones, or joints, Damage to or illness that affects the nervous system. Limping in dogs is never normal, but some of its associated health problems are more serious than others. If not, and his aggravated behavior continues after healing, it is a good idea to talk to your veterinarian to see if there are any other underlying health issues that need to be addressed. Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and tumors in dogs, providing pet owners with valuable information and resources when dealing with canine cancer. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. In the case that you elected for your dog to undergo TPLO surgery, it is physically impossible for the ACL to become injured again since any and all cruciate ligament remnants have all been removed! You may be wondering if your dog tears it once, is it possible for your dog to re-tear their ACL after surgery for a second time? And it could be related to any part of the foot, ankle, knee or hip. Licking of open wounds can very easily lead to infection. There is a contact form at the bottom of this page <