ACL OUCHY!

We were out for a car ride and when we returned home there sat a fuzzy little critter on our side walk. I saw it and pulled the car in the garage. Got out and left Dalton in the car while I chased the vermin away. Went back to the garage and let Dalton out of the car. Apparently the vermin was stubborn and decided to come back into our yard and of course Dalton spotted it. They both ran off around the pole barn. I called Dalton and he came limping back - no vermin.

I know - I should of held on to Dalton when taking him out of the car and double checked for that nasty critter but I didn't.

I checked his leg and paw over for cuts or brakes but found nothing.  So after a few days of limping I brought him to the vet where he did what is called the "drawer test" I learned that he has a partial ACL tear.  OUCH!!!  This is located between the femur bone and tibia bone at the stifle joint (canine knee joint). It is not a life threatening injury so that's good but it does have a long recovery time no matter which treatment route you pick.  

We're opting for no surgery due to his age and instead we will be doing what's called conservative management.

What conservative management will mean to us?  No running, no jumping, no long walks, no getting on furniture or beds, no playing catch and no going up stairs without assistance for at least 8 weeks.  

That's going to be hard for Dalton.  He's really going to miss his ball games especially.  He's already tried bringing me his jolly ball.  I think tomorrow I'll dust off that big book of 101 Tricks and we can work on something new.

Original Image Author = Florian Scheuerer 10-7-2007
Revision = Vahneesa Norberg to show Dalton's injury 2-22-2011
Licensed under Creative Commons
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Tip for Today: Vermin cause all sorts of problems!