ACL tear

Well. my poor Tara has a new challenge. She's been limping badly for the last couple of days - wouldn't put any weight on her left rear let and I knew it was more than her HD. We took her to the vet and sure enough she tore her ACL. She goes for surgery on Monday. I'm just sick because my girl spends many happy hours snoozing on our bed. No more. She can't jump or at least she's not supposed to. We are going to go look at the pet store for a ramp, but she's such a weenie, I'm not sure she'll use it.
Any sage words of advice?

Carlene

Thanks for the replies. I'm sitting here bitting my nails because she goes in today for surgery. She's five and VERY big - tall and leggy but overweight too. She has bad allergies so gets six Benedryl a day and they make her sleepy, so she isn't as active as she should be. We were just diagnosed on Saturday so I'm hoping no arthritis yet. One of my friends is a house call vet and she, too said there's a high probility that she'll tear the other side in the future - I sure hope not! We tried getting her on the ramp yesterday and she freaked - she's a big weenie. We'll just keep at it because the vet said no more jumping for Tara. It breaks my heart because she spends most of her days on our bed!

I'll let you know how she makes out.

Carlene

Well, we all survived - barely. Tara ripped her first collar off after surgery while in her kennel and distroyed it! She figured out very fast how to get it off. She's a pistol. It took four of us to get her into the car for the ride home. She is big but also too heavy - 122 lbs. We got her home and then she didn't want to get out of the car. The entired night was horrid. She cried, she whined. Everytime I put her collar on, she smashed around the bedroom, the sat, put her paws on either side of her head and pulled the colllar off! She's a very smart girl. I gave her more tranquillizers about 2:30 and another Deramaxx about 3:30. I spent most of the night lying next to her on the dog bed (they aren't bad!). I was reluctant to keep her doped up, but I guess it's best. It's really hard because both my husband and I work and we're taking time off and alternating watching her. We take her back Thursday for Atiquine (sp?) shots - twice a week for three weeks!

She's been on six Benedryl since she was a baby. If I cut back, she gets bad belly bumps and they get infected and has to get antibiotics. This is one expensive dog - but I love her to bits and will do whatever I have to, to keep her healthy.

More later,

Carlene

Oh, thanks HeyJude! Tara has spent most of her life curled up on our bed and I love to stretch out with a good book and cuddle with her. Of course she won't be able to do it for a while until she's healed, but I sure hope she can resume her favorite spot!

My vet also said she'd have to take a Deramaxx every day for the rest of her life - I do NOT agree! I'm afraid it would kill her! One of my other vets (I know about eight in San Diego) said to use Deramaxx like aspirin -if the dog is in pain, give her one.

Any thoughts on pain control????

Carlene (who slept REALLY good last night!)