brady's mom Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 Hi guys, I know it's been a while since I've posted (still working on that Addison's detection thing with Brady), but pup and I just got hit with some bad news. He's had issues with his right knee/stifle since he was a baby, but it was something my vet and I thought wouldn't be a huge deal until he was much older. Fast forward to December and he's favoring it, won't put any weight on it at all, and it's obviously tender. I attributed to an injury because he had come back from some pretty serious play and took him in. He was put on crate rest and carprofen. He seemed to get better and then, for the last month and a half, he's been favoring it off and on. Mind you, I haven't allowed extreme play since December and he only went on light walks. I took him in yesterday for some X-rays, and he has almost no cartilage in his knee. Not only that, but it's starting to become the same on his left, as well. He's only 4...this just seems so soon, and I'm in a period of transition right now and surgery is just too far outside of my price range (for now). Has anyone else had similar issues in a young dog? What can be done to make him comfortable while I save for potential surgeries? Right now, he's on glucosamine and carprofen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShoresDog Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 Oh, I am so sorry to hear you've got to contend with this. In addition to joint supplements and NSAIDs, I would suggest you try cold laser treatments if you can swing it. They've helped my dogs quite a bit, much to the surprise of skeptical me. The good effect of the cold laser treatments on a back injury with Daisy opened my mind to try them myself -- I personally have got almost zero cartilage in my left knee and the right knee is getting extremely thin. The phototherapy helps me more than any other thing I have tried. If I took enough NSAID (advil) to make a difference, it really upset my stomach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brady's mom Posted February 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 Thank you for the suggestion!! I think a couple vets in the area do that, so I'll definitely call around for some info on it and some price quotes. I just feel so bad, because he's so young and has such a huge play drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 Another thing you might consider is stem cell. I have a vet here in SoCal whose business is doing stem cell therapy on dogs, but he also does this nationwide. Usually, they will do one procedure where they collect fat from your dog, send it to this guy, then he sends back the stem cells. They then inject them into the joint. He is also working on an FDA clinical trial right now that eliminates that first step--he has a bank of cells that he uses, so there is only one procedure to inject those cells. The primary issue he is using this for right now is arthritis and other joint problems. Right now the hesitation that some vets have with stem cell is doing the 2 procedures, but by all accounts stem cells do seem to be a very good thing, A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brady's mom Posted February 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 Thank you!! So, we went to his consultation with a specialist today and it sounds like my regular vet jumped the shark on diagnosing him with DJD. The specialist said there was no evidence of arthritis and his cartilage was fine. There's evidence of a slight tear in his CCL, which would explain the tenderness and limping. So, eventually, we'll probably have to have surgery for that whenever it gets worse. I'm so happy he doesn't have DJD though! I feel greatly relieved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 Sounds good! My dog was diagnosed with an injury to his CCL which was treated with medication and a few weeks of crate rest. Celt, an active dog who works cattle on our farm as well as having a lot of active play time, did experience a deterioration in that joint that eventually resulted in a total tear of the CCL and surgery, but it was three years between the initial consultation with the orthopedic specialist and the time when he required surgery. Some dogs, with minor injuries to the CCL, can go on to lead pain-free and trouble-free years with care to keep them a desirable weight and reasonably exercised (walking is excellent, and so are other strengthening exercises that a canine physical therapist could recommend). Others, like my dog, are either prone to a CCL tear and/or lead an active enough life that an injured CCL will eventually break down. Best wishes, and I am sure others will have good advice for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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