Hello, as a new member of this site I wonder if anyone can advise me for my youngest Springer.  He is now 7 years old and as a youngster he ruptured both his cruciate ligaments, the first leg at 11 months and the other leg approx. eight months later.  He had both legs surgically operated on and each leg took a recovery period of approx. 6 months.  Now for the last couple of weeks he has had days of bad limping to a slight limp.  Is it possible to rupture a cruciate again ? or not ?  I thought it should not be possible, but not sure, it may be just that he is beginning to get arthritis which the vet warned about as he got older.  I have rested him for the last couple of weeks and he is a lot lot better, but just occasionally I wonder ...! I would hate to go through the experience again as the recovery time takes so long.  Any advice greatly appreciated. I am off the vets to get it checked out as he is also due is booster.
Thanks Nikki.

My Dobe has had one leg done. He occasionally limps from time to time - normally if he has gone mad in the fields, and his bones crack all the time.

I have put him on a mix of arnica/ruta/rhus tox 200c - done wonders for him.

Hope the boy gets well soon.

PB

I'm no vet but I just went through the cruciate problem with my dog. It could be he had surgery that tried to replace the ligament with a band. Maybe that could rupture again. A newer procedure called TPLO levels off the joint. The recovery time is much less. This vet can explain it better than me; he describes all three procedures he uses to repair cruciate damage.http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/client_library_orthopedic_articles.htm

I hope he gets better Nikki.

I'll add that hydrotherapy has done wonders for my dog's recovery. It was a great way to give him confidence, build up the wasted muscle, wear him out with exercise, and have a lot of fun in the process.

Thank your for your replies.

I am still reading through the information you advised on.  To be honest as it is now a while ago and we lived in Scotland at the time and so not my present vet, I can not remember the exact procedures used. I seem to think that the first time the vet used a piece of muscle from the thigh to form the new ligament and a band was used the second time.  But then again you can definitely feel a metal pin in one of his legs.  Interestingly, on the above website you gave and also some information on a previous post on this site it says that often cruciates occur in dogs which are bandy.  My dog does have very bandy front legs "Queen Anne Legs" as some would say.  Several things I have read now seem to imply there is a definitely a link there.  This is not something I even considered when we got him.
I am going to get the vet to check him over as I will only worry until I do.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.  I give him glucosomine supplements and have done since the ops in an attempt at keeping the arthritis at bay.
Nikki.

Hi there
Hydrotherapy is a great exercise for dogs with problem joints, it strengthens their muscles without fear of injury.  It does take dogs a long time to recover after these type of ops, think about the alternatives like acupuncture.   Also adding cod liver oil to the food each day can help - but not when the weather is hot.  You also say that you can feel a pin in one of his legs, it could be this causing the problem, maybe it needs to be removed - ask your vet and if you are not confident with the diagnosis it's worth getting a second opinion.
Maria