Reina cant wait to get back to the beach
Monday, January 31, 2011
Night before the big day....
Well...the past few days have been all about Reina. We went to the beach this weekend and the park daily. Tonight we went to the park until after dark...ate a great big dinner with lots of treats. No more food or water allowed after midnight..but we are all in bed now...Im dropping her off at 1030 am...and surgery is....i dont know what time. Im sick.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Shopping!!!
So far this is what I bought for the recovery period ...Probably will have to get lots more fun stuff to do....They actually make dog interactive games..and wow are they expensive!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Reina's Gait
Ok...Maybe Not
After talking to a few more specialists..and several more days worth of research....I changed my mind. One specialist who actually teaches all of the procedures and is well published internationally told me this. ..If you brought your dog to me...strong, active Doberman, 87 lbs....I would do TTA. If you brought me your dog who was 30 to 40 lbs..I would definitely do Tightrope. If you brought me your dog who was 20 lbs or less..I would send you home and pretend I never met you. He was a pretty much straight shooter. I want Reina to go through this ONCE and only ONCE and I truly feel after WEEKS of research that her best shot at a normal, active, healthy life in the shortest amount of time is the TTA. We are scheduled for Tuesday!
OVERVIEW
Reina is my 4 year old Doberman. She is healthy overall and large for a female dobe...weighing in at about 85 to 87 lbs. Reina tore her CCL sometime in November 2010. In hind site now, I think this was a long time coming. Ever since i had her (since 8 weeks old) ...she would always sit with her right leg out a bit. I assumed it was a hip issue that i would have to address late in life...now...I think it's just her anatomy and over the years with her "off" anatomy, the wear on the CCL caused it to tear.
After limping for several weeks, I took Reina to her vet. He took x-rays and said he did not think it was her knee and that it was her lower back. She had a large amount of arthritis in her low back, far more than expected for a dog of her age. We assumed there was some spinal stenosis involved too, and me (being a chiropractor) did not rule out a herniated disc as well. He gave me an rx for Rimidyl for a week to see how she would respond. I am not a huge fan of meds...so i tried it and it helped a little but did not completely alleviate the limping and discomfort. Knowing exercise is the best thing for arthritis...we continued to walk and go to the park. Over the week, I really kept a close eye on Reina and felt like it was probably not her lower back causing the limp and probably her right knee. After much research, low back arthritis is usually an incidental finding in most dogs and the problem is elsewhere. Watching her tip toe gait..bunny hopping...made me think knee was definitely involved. I immediately made an appointment with an ortho in Tampa, FL. He consulted with me and immediately said its her knee and needs surgery. He told me the 3 options. TPLO, TTA and Lateral suture technique. He said he would likely do the TTA procedure unless during the workup her tibial angle is greater than 30 degrees, where he would have no choice but to do the TPLO. I questioned him on the Tightrope procedure and he said he has done several but doesnt know the long term success with it because it is a relatively new procedure.
A lot has happened with this project..but the gist is...I questioned many and researched countless hours and had friends researching like crazy too, as to what procedure is the best. The TPLO was NOT an option for me. The bone cutting is way too aggressive for what might be a partial tear. Plus..in my opinon, the reason for the other knee going within 6 months is the redistribution of weight and gait putting more strain on the good CCL. The TTA was not an option yet for me either. The thought of cutting Reina's little (big) bones is not something I want to visit right now.
CM (conservative management) was my first choice. I joined a few yahoo groups and read about people's success with CM ..some did great...some did not and went on to surgery..others were a year into CM and still very careful with their dog. My problem with CM was...my heart. :( I didnt think my heart could not let my angel not run and play for 10-12 weeks or more ..knowing a real possibility would be surgery and another 10-12 weeks if CM didnt work. WHICH...is why i decided on the Tightrope procedure. I contacted Orthopets on a stifle brace for after surgery as well...not sure I will get it yet...still up in the air....There is another newer procedure that is called Securos...it is supposed to be stronger than tightrope...but i have talked to several and decided against it. The few vets I have contacted that did it, no longer do..Some do it only on small dogs.
After limping for several weeks, I took Reina to her vet. He took x-rays and said he did not think it was her knee and that it was her lower back. She had a large amount of arthritis in her low back, far more than expected for a dog of her age. We assumed there was some spinal stenosis involved too, and me (being a chiropractor) did not rule out a herniated disc as well. He gave me an rx for Rimidyl for a week to see how she would respond. I am not a huge fan of meds...so i tried it and it helped a little but did not completely alleviate the limping and discomfort. Knowing exercise is the best thing for arthritis...we continued to walk and go to the park. Over the week, I really kept a close eye on Reina and felt like it was probably not her lower back causing the limp and probably her right knee. After much research, low back arthritis is usually an incidental finding in most dogs and the problem is elsewhere. Watching her tip toe gait..bunny hopping...made me think knee was definitely involved. I immediately made an appointment with an ortho in Tampa, FL. He consulted with me and immediately said its her knee and needs surgery. He told me the 3 options. TPLO, TTA and Lateral suture technique. He said he would likely do the TTA procedure unless during the workup her tibial angle is greater than 30 degrees, where he would have no choice but to do the TPLO. I questioned him on the Tightrope procedure and he said he has done several but doesnt know the long term success with it because it is a relatively new procedure.
A lot has happened with this project..but the gist is...I questioned many and researched countless hours and had friends researching like crazy too, as to what procedure is the best. The TPLO was NOT an option for me. The bone cutting is way too aggressive for what might be a partial tear. Plus..in my opinon, the reason for the other knee going within 6 months is the redistribution of weight and gait putting more strain on the good CCL. The TTA was not an option yet for me either. The thought of cutting Reina's little (big) bones is not something I want to visit right now.
CM (conservative management) was my first choice. I joined a few yahoo groups and read about people's success with CM ..some did great...some did not and went on to surgery..others were a year into CM and still very careful with their dog. My problem with CM was...my heart. :( I didnt think my heart could not let my angel not run and play for 10-12 weeks or more ..knowing a real possibility would be surgery and another 10-12 weeks if CM didnt work. WHICH...is why i decided on the Tightrope procedure. I contacted Orthopets on a stifle brace for after surgery as well...not sure I will get it yet...still up in the air....There is another newer procedure that is called Securos...it is supposed to be stronger than tightrope...but i have talked to several and decided against it. The few vets I have contacted that did it, no longer do..Some do it only on small dogs.
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