Any experience with recovery time - partially torn ACL

[Random Sample]

My 19 month old Brit has a partially torn ACL/knee has anyone dealth with this and the recovery time? I am suppose to rest him 2-3 months.

[slabchaser]

random I would say 2-3 months is the minimum. our lab had it happen and had the surgery. we rested her about 3 to 4 months and waited a whole hunting season. walked her and got her into shape for the next season and the next season came and she blew out the other one trying to stay off of the hurt knee. becareful give him/her time.

[Random Sample]

Good news for him is the tear is minor enough that the vet doesnt want to do surgery unless if completely goes. So he will be staring out of his kennel wondering why he is not getting his weekly runs for the next 2-3 months.

[Leaddog]

Had a Samoyed get the surgery. He tore his about the same time as Keith Mellard so yeah that was a while back. I let him hunt on it a time or two before taking the rest of the year off after the knife. Yeah he hunted - flushed, pointed, retrieved, took hand directions- was a total rooster maniac.

I think he was skiing with me that winter but had a good three months rest.

The last hunt prior to surgery he got into bunch of hens in a woodlot flushing them in all directions. He got out of there, layed down whining in pain. Eventually I limped him back toward the truck but a rooster flushed over the cattails. Took me an hour to get him out. When I did he was still working like a two yr old. Adrenaline is fantastic!

Good luck and rest that young dog. You'll be happy you did.

[311Hemi]

Vet suspected a partially torn ACL in my labs knee, although they can't really confirm that unless you have an MRI done. Anyways, we put him on strict bed rest for the 2-3 month time.....crated a majority of the time (we had a new puppy, he did not like that time!!). When outside he was on leash at all time.....every time he had to go out I was with him on a short lead so he would not run/jump. After a couple month we started short walks and then slowly progressed from there. As far as I can tell the knee is better, but he has a bad rear ankle with lots of arthritis on the same leg so I still see lameness.

[snatcher20]

Hemi- We seem to be having the same issues again. We discussed TPO a couple years ago. Now my dog Lexi is having TPLO surgery on her right knee on Thursday. They think she has a partial tear in both knees, however she shows no issues with her left.

We were advised 2-3 months rest for her partially torn ACL. However in my opinion if it's already partially torn, I don't think 2-3 months will help an active hunting dog in the long run. Our vet and a surgeon kind of confirmed that as well even though they recommended the rest first. To me 3 months of limited activity seems like a band aid that may or may not work.

We decided to go right for the surgery instead of potentially wasting 2-3 months on no activity. Lexi is alreay bored out of her mind and we are pretty sure depressed since we can't run her now. She doesn't even ask to play ball any more and just lays around with her head down.

Really not looking forward to full time kenneling as well as on-leash potty breaks. In the end, it will be best for both Lexi and my wife and I.

Then we have to hope the surgery heals well and the knee holds up. All with knowing in the back of our mind her other knee will probably need it eventually.

Never dreamt when getting our first dog ever that we'd be spending upwards of $10k on surgery and she's only 4. TPO on both hips and now starting on knee #1 with TPLO.