Did you know that large breeds of dogs can have problems with their Cruciate Lig
By jennybianca
@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
September 9, 2007 8:14pm CST
Did you know that some large breeds of dogs have a weakness in their cruciate ligament? Our Dalmation tore his cruciate ligament about 2 years ago. The vet said it would not heal unless he had an operation. It cost $1000.00. He had to stay in a cage for 6 weeks to allow for healing. They warned us that this would probably happen to his other leg, which it did about one year later. This time we refused the operation, as we thought it terrible to make a dog stay in a cage for 6 weeks.
So the vet gave us anti-inflammatory tablets for him.This reduced the pain & swelling, & he gets around okay now.
I don't know what will happen in the future for him? He has been banned from playing with balls, as this causes him to run & jump too much.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
10 Sep 07
Hi Jenny! I didn't know that it was a common thing however hubby and I had a cocker spaniel that tore the ligaments in both of his legs about two years apart. The first one happened on the way back from visiting my parents which were 25 hours drive away and we had no idea it had happened till we got home. It cost us, I think, $400. to repair and he wasn't stuck in a cage but rather he limped till he was better again. The second time it happened he was so excited from getting a bath that he rounded a corner too fast and tore the second one. Oh my did he scream and holler! I flew down the hallway and my husband flew out of the bathroom to him and he was so pitiful! We knew right away what he had done for he was shaking his leg something awful so we put ice on it till we could get to the vet the next day and it cost us $600. that time and it took longer to heal than the first one but finally it did heal and he was back to his old self again. He was a good ole dog that's for sure but he's in doggy heaven now. We had to put him down a couple of years ago because he had cancer on his foot and couldn't walk much anymore. He was 12 years old and very missed.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
10 Sep 07
These cruciate ligaments must be a problem for many breeds, judging by your experience. The problem is, we can't tell dogs to be careful.
When the vet banned our Dalmation from ever playing with balls again, the dof compensated by taking fruit off our trees. We have to discourage him from running & jumping, which is difficult because we can't watch him 24 hours each day.
My sister -in-law has two cocker spaniels & they are beautiful.
@sunnywaters (189)
• United States
10 Sep 07
I have a laborador and he is very strong with no leg problems. This is the first time I have ever heard of this problem ligament. Have you tried gelatin? It comes in capsules or power and can be found at WalMart in the vitamin department. It is reasonably priced and will strengthen his bones.
sunnywaters
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
11 Sep 07
That's great that your lab doesn't have these problems. He must have missed that bad gene.
I didn't know about gelatin. I will look in the supermarket (no walmarts here).
