Re: 4-6 month old dog with slight cranial drawer

[Guest guest]

First if there is a " thud " at the endpoint, then the acl is intact- running into something won't damage the acl- is she lame, or just painful on palpation?

are there images?

 

Freedman VMD CCRT

 

I have a young client with a 4-6 week old Australian cattle dog mix who recently had a traumatic injury (ran into something) and was very painful in her right stifle.  When we had her under anesthesia we tested her for cranial drawer - she has a 2-3 mm in her right stifle but the end feel is still abrupt and firm (I am guessing a partial tear).  No swelling but thickening of the joint capsule that tells me that although the trauma occurred a few days ago, this is not " acute. "  She has a very small amount of tibial thrust in the right leg as well.

Muddying the waters - she has a small amount of laxity/drawer in her left leg as well - definitely less but it makes we wonder about her age and if this is normal at all for a dog who has not finished growing.  Also, the client is young and doesn't have a ton of money - and the dog is bonkers (energy level-wise).  I want to give her the best advise for how to proceed. 

I would assume that no surgeon would do a TPLO on a growing dog and I am not sure whether she could afford such a procedure now or in the near future.  My concern is that if she does not address the partial tear in a timely matter that the dog will end up fully tearing it some day and then will already have a stifle full of degenerative changes.  I have thought about telling her to rest the dog, and have her daily exercise be on leash only (or controlled exercises with her mom).  I could get her on glucosamine supplements and wondered if adequan injections might help.  I also considered giving her quad strengthening (and general rear leg strengthening) exercises.

Does anyone have experience with this type of injury in a dog so young - or any suggestions?

Thanks.

Dr. Hutchison

-- Regards,