Osteoarthritis after cruciate ligament surgery – Franzi and Linda in an interview promoting relaxation in dogs
Franzi heads the marketing team and is responsible for marketing strategies, campaign planning and employee organization: And part of the team is of course a very special young lady: Office Dog Linda. Today the two of them tell us how Linda's cruciate ligament tear changed her everyday life, what treatment steps followed and how it all relates to her osteoarthritis.
Alina : Hello, you two! Franzi – tell us: who is sitting next to you and what makes this young lady special?
Franzi : This is my Dalmatian dog Linda – she came to us from the animal shelter in winter 2018 at the age of 16 months. Unfortunately, she did not have a rosy past: she was adopted by a family in Spain and then abandoned.
Alina : Linda's arthritis stems from an injury. How did the accident happen, what happened and, above all, how is all of this connected to the arthritis?
Franzi : It started with a limp – that can happen. After a rest period showed no improvement, I took Linda to the vet. They couldn't find anything wrong: I was then sent home with medication and the suspicion that she was overexerting herself. After 3-4 weeks, however, she started limping badly again. After the drawer test, a diagnostic method for detecting a cruciate ligament tear, was negative, we still had an X-ray done - there was swelling in the knee area, which is why we were referred to a surgeon who then took a closer look at Linda - and it turned out to be a torn cruciate ligament. And to keep it short: From there, she went into surgery within a few days.
Alina : Was the operation unavoidable? How did the whole thing go?
Franzi : After the diagnosis of a torn cruciate ligament, you always have the choice between the surgical and the conservative method. In order to avoid long-term consequences for Linda and to give her a better quality of life in the long term, we decided to surgically insert an implant. With the TTA method (see distinctions under II.) Under general anesthesia, the front part of the shinbone is removed and reattached with a spacer.
Alina : What are the costs of cruciate ligament surgery?
Franzi : The cost of the operation alone was around 2,000 euros. If we take into account all costs, from diagnosis to aftercare, including swimming therapy, the total was around 2,600 euros.
Alina : And how did Linda survive the operation and the anesthesia? How did you both feel after the procedure?
Franzi : Luckily, everything went very well - Linda had an operation in the morning and we were able to pick her up again in the evening. She tolerated the anesthesia well - but the sight after the operation was devastating: her leg was shaved, she had a neck brace on, she was completely out of sorts and hardly recognizable.As a dog owner, you just have to keep reminding yourself that this is completely normal after such an operation and that this time will soon be over.
Alina : That must not have been easy for you to watch. How did you try to make the time after the operation as comfortable as possible for Linda?
Franzi : My boyfriend and I built a wire cage and made a nice cave out of it for her so that she can feel safe. It is also important to stay calm yourself and to give her the feeling of security that she needs at that moment - even if it may look completely different on the inside.
Alina : What tips do you have for organizing your everyday life after cruciate ligament surgery?
Franzi : The swimming therapy did Linda a lot of good - that's a really great tip from me: perfect for building up muscles that is gentle on the joints and relaxing, and for general exercise after cruciate ligament surgery. Of course, we made her everyday life as movement-friendly as possible, for example by covering all the wooden floors with painter's fleece for better grip and by lifting or carrying her even on small elevations.
Alina : How do you know as a dog owner when it is time to let your darling run or jump for longer?
Franzi : Your doctor will give you an individually tailored exercise plan for your dog after the cruciate ligament surgery. This contains all the necessary information from week to week about the duration and intensity of exercise. This information is among other things depending on size, weight, age, history and type of surgery. In principle, however, it is said that dogs should be checked again about six weeks after cruciate ligament surgery. can move freely.
Alina : Tell us – did Linda recover well from the operation? How did you experience this time?
Franzi : Absolutely – luckily Linda recovered very well. Nevertheless, this time was nerve-wracking and emotional. The process definitely does something to you.
Alina : I believe you immediately. Let me summarize: How does this all relate to Linda's arthritis?
Franzi : Dogs that suffer a cruciate ligament tear are much more likely to develop arthritis. This was unfortunately confirmed in December last year: Linda was diagnosed with arthritis.
Alina : In what time frame after the operation did the osteoarthritis develop?
Franzi : The Cruciate ligament rupture surgery took place in September 2021. After the six Everything was fine during the first few weeks of rest and the follow-up check - but between the holidays in 2022, Linda started limping again. The examination then revealed that she had an acute joint effusion and the X-ray showed that osteoarthritis had also developed.
Alina : How have you been supporting Linda since her cruciate ligament surgery?
Franzi : After a cruciate ligament tear, people often talk about a “one-way street to arthritis” – and what’s more, arthritis does not go away, but at best stagnates. In addition to careful handling, I recommend, for example,Warming up, additional physiotherapy with exercises, massages or even swimming therapy. I also support them with food: In the morning we have our Premium salmon oil as well as green-lipped mussel powder on top and sometimes in between our joint tablets "joy of playing".
Alina : Thank you so much for sharing your story with us today. I have one very, very important question for you: How many points does Linda have now?
Franzi : I have REALLY tried to count them several times. I even tried to mark the dots once - impossible. We'll never know! (laughs)
Treatment after cruciate ligament rupture – surgical vs. conservative method
TTA: The term "Tibial Tuberosity Advancement" describes a change in the front area of the shinbone - the TTA operation in dogs is therefore a bone operation that is performed under general anesthesia.
TPLO: A TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) is a surgical technique performed on dogs to treat a cruciate ligament injury in the knee. The surgery involves cutting off and re-twisting the tibial head to change the angle between the tibia and femur, thereby correcting the stability problem.
Lateral Suturing: This technique involves placing stitches to support and stabilize the damaged cruciate ligament.
Extra-articular techniques: These techniques include procedures such as using screws, plates or rods to support the damaged cruciate ligament.
Conservative method: The conservative method refers to the treatment of cruciate ligament injuries without surgical intervention. This method may be used in certain cases, such as in older animals or in minor injuries that do not involve complete rupture of the cruciate ligament. The conservative method often includes the use of pain medication, physical therapy, and weight control to reduce pain and inflammation and restore mobility to the affected leg. A brace or splint may also be used to support and stabilize the knee.
It is important to note that each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages and a suitable method depends on the type and degree of injury and the health of your animal A thorough review is by an experienced veterinarian.
Detecting osteoarthritis early: symptoms and signs
There are some signs that can help you identify possible joint problems in your dog – such as arthritis – at an early stage. These symptoms include, among others:
- (Persistent) protective posture
- Problems getting up after lying down for a long time
- Limping, limping and increased stumbling
- Reduced urge to move
- Stiff gait oraltered walking ("robot gait")
- Pain reaction (e.g. trembling, whining) when touched
In addition, there are many other indications that your darling may be suffering from joint problems suffers, such as a hunched back or hesitation before climbing stairs or jumping into your trunk. The rule here is: keep your eyes open and pay attention to physical signals - because you know your animal best.
