One of my dogs appears to have done something to her back leg, she was fine on it, then just walked into the front room limping very badly. She hadn't been running round or anything like that, and the way she was using the toes to walk on made me think, "****, she's done her cruciate". Now, I've rested her for the last 24hrs, and although she's not sound on it, she's much better. There's no swelling and she doesn't seem overly bothered by it, and certainly if she's still not quite sound tomorrow I shall book her into the vets, but in the meantime I was wondering, IF it is to do with the cruciate, is it possible that she has strained the ligament, as opposed to doing something that requires surgery, as I believe that cruciates don't actually repair themselves? and any ruptures or tears need surgical attention?

Sorry for rambling, but I've had a dog who's had a TPLO before and it's not pleasant, and the last thing I want is for my special girl to go through that, and my brain is running away with me and all the worse case senarios :-( I know she may have just knocked it, but the fact she literally wasn't doing anything to then hardly being able to put any weight on it makes me think we're looking at a cruciate injury :-(

She could have just given it a whack or strained a muscle or tendon so fingers crosses - have you checked the foot?

would just rest and monitor for a few days. With no or little on lead exercise.

Have checked her pads and between the toes, no cuts or anything that make me suspect that it's to do with the foot at all. I also don't think it's anything higher up, i.e hips, as she's always been as fit as a fiddle and sound. Which leaves the middle of the leg, I'm desperately hoping it's not cruciate related, but I think I'll give her over the weekend, as i said, she's much better on it, and I did catch her on just her back legs this morning sniffing my porridge which was on the side!! so she is bearing weight on it (just not 100%) but is walking with a slight limp

If it is cruciate, am I right in thinking that if it is strained, it will get better with rest?

It could well improve with rest but, in my opinion, the improvement would be temporary and as soon as she gets back to normal exercise, the problem will be obvious again. Delaying the op will result in more arthritis in the joint than she has now. The TPLO is major surgery and the recovery time to full mobility is about 5 months but then you should have a fully functional leg again.

Not an easy decision but I have made the decision to have the op many times and never regretted it.

When my Scarlet was three years old she injured her back leg in a very similar way ( she was a springer spaniel! ) we took her to the vet and it was X rayed but tendons do not show up always and the diagnosis was inconclusive. Our very wise vet ( who was also an ortho specialist ) suggested we treat it conservatively. She had some anti inflammatories for a while and we gave her chrondroitin and glucosamine, for the rest of her life in fact and we looked after it but she never had surgery. Sometimes if she over did it she would limp but surgery can bring its own problems so take your time over this.

well, just a little update. I have rested my girl for the last 5/6 days, no running round, trying to keep her calm etc, and she's been ok on the leg which I originally suspected a cruciate injury. This morning I decided to take her with the rest of the hounds to where we normally walk, but only walking her on lead for approx 100 yrds (basically I wanted her to get out of the house and let her have some fresh air!) she walked and did a little trotting and she looked fine, wasn't favouring it as i could see. I popped her back in the van whilst I took the others off for a run, thinking she'll be stiff & lame when I get home, typical cruciate injury etc etc, but she wasn't lame as such, just a slight stiffness that seemed to wear off after a few steps. Sooooo, I've left her whilst I go to work for a few hours to rest again, hopefully she won't be limping when I get back (fingers crossed)

I hasten to add that if I was overly worried, or it persists, or if my girl was in any discomfort, I would be taking her to the vets asap, but this is a very active girl who's had no illness/injury at all to having a slight limp, and maybe rest & time is what it needs first

Well, another update, she walked from one room to the other last night, and was holding her leg again. She's been absolutely fine since i last posted! Her toe was pointing to the floor, wouldn't put any weight on it, and so after a visit to the vet this morning is booked in for a TPLO tomorrow :-( He said it looked cruciate as soon as she hobbled into his surgery :-( Luckily she is insured, so I don't have to worry about paying for it, but I do worry for her. She is such an active busy thing... She'll go mad being kept confined, I know it's for the best, I've been through it before with another one of mine years ago. Guess I'd better invest in some stuffable toys etc for her

Sorry it has turned out like this. Don't want you to beat yourself up but years ago one of my girls dashed through a heavy bog and as I called she whipped round and came back to me on three legs with that funny toes pointing down position. To cut a long story short I took her straight to the vets and she was given a huge dose of steroids as they said it is often the swelling that causes most of the damage. Fortunately after 2 weeks of strict cage rest, steroids and then NSAIDs she was able to gradually return to exercise with no lasting damage. Since then I have told a couple of people the tale and provided their dogs were treated quickly enough, they have managed to avoid surgery.

Please don't think I am criticising in any way, maybe your girl had done more damage.

Good luck and I hope the op goes well and you manage to keep her entertained.

Has she had a scan to prove that it actually is a cruciate? Wouldn't go rushing into the surgery unless you know for sure.

She was x-rayed and he pointed out a swelling round her cruciate and he also manipulated the joint whilst she was concious and sedated, & he said there is alot of movement in the knee joint, and is 99.9% certain it's cruciate damage. But of course until he opens her up to look he can't be 100% certain. She's been putting a bit more weight on it since the other night, but definately still very tentative on it. After her being like this 6 weeks ago, I'm quite certain there is damage to the ligament, she's displaying the same signs as my last dog who had a ruptured cruciate.

Anyway, I dropped her off this morning, blubbering away like a right numpty, of course :-( She couldn't wait to get in and see everyone, lots of big kisses to the vet, and went with them without a backwards glance at me :-( I know she's in the best place, and I trust my vet implicity, plus I know if something didn't need doing or we could have looked at other forms of treatment etc, he would have advised it, just have to wait for a few hours now till he rings me to say how it's gone

The house will feel so empty when I go home :-( :-( :-(

Just for an update, 3 months on from her cruciate op', she's fully weight bearing, no limping/tenderness or favouring it at all, her coat is back, infact you'd never know she'd had it done! Unfortunately though, the other cruciate needs doing :-( I have thought for the last couple of weeks that she seemed to be favouring it, and after a trip to the vet last week, he, again said very very likely, she was scanned this morning, and he confirmed there's more 'play' in the joint than last time he examined her, so he is performing a TPLO as I type this. As he did a good job last time, and she recovered well, I'm not as nervous about it all, although I still cried when I left her there this morning. He did ring me to say she was a bit narky with taking her out of their cages, etc, I guess she remembers last time and is scared, wish I was with her, but i shan't see her now till tomorrow as they keep them overnight to keep tabs on them, check meds etc

Am reading this as was searching the boards as my fit athletic 2 yr old girl was taken out in mid air by our younger girl and landed and twisted awkwardly. Gave a pained squeal but then returned to playing after I checked her - appeared fine...

I noticed about a half hour later she was limping on her hind leg... could feel a lot of heat over her stifle.
Saw vet this afternoon and she is on Metacam and rest for 4 days, review for xray if no improvement then. They said she has probably strained/sprained her cruciate.
I am icing her 5 a day as well, to take the heat out, she is weight bearing fine with slight limp and still trying (and I am stopping) to be active. I am planning on being very conservative in case it worsens.
Your experience sounds a little similar... Thanks for sharing - I am less scared xx