Knee Injury Still Limping After Weeks of Rest
by Judith
(Torrington, WY)
Reader Question
During the last week of December my pit bitch injured the right knee. X-rays on Jan. 1, 2013 showed damage to the joint. There was no luxation and no cruciate tear. She was kept in confinment with Rimadyl for three weeks. Still limping at the end of that time. More x-rays showed calcification below the patella and a thickening/swollen area on the ACL some distance above the knee. Another three weeks in confinement with previcon daily. She still favors that leg and will carry it when first released after resting. What are my options?
Answer from Our Team
Ongoing lameness after six weeks of rest, with new bone changes on X-rays, often means a problem inside the joint, and a partial cruciate tear is one of the most common in dogs. Partial tears can be hard to feel on examination and the ligament doesn't show on X-rays.
Options include examination under sedation, referral to a veterinary surgeon, and arthroscopy or advanced imaging. If a partial tear is found, surgery is often recommended because partial tears usually progress to full tears.
See torn ACL in dogs and dog knee problems.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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