Young Hound Who Can't Straighten His Back Legs After Months: Can Surgery Help?
I am concerned that he would be put down if I brought him to a vet because I realized that his knees seem to have slightly bent sideways and I suppose his hamstring would have tightened up incredibly after such a long period. Is there a surgery to give him at least a 80% chance of walking again? Please advise me as I am truly hoping to help my dog having returned and realizing the necessity for pro active treatment immediately. Is there treatment? What would it involve?
A knee that keeps popping up and bending from a young age often points to kneecaps that slip out of place (patellar luxation), sometimes with bone and muscle changes as the dog grows. When both legs have been bent for months, the muscles and tendons can tighten and the joints can stiffen, which makes treatment harder, but it's still worth an assessment.
Please don't let fear keep you from a vet: vets don't usually recommend euthanasia for a dog who is bright, energetic and comfortable, so the goal of a visit is to find out what can help him. Please book a vet exam soon and ask for X-rays, a check of his nerves and spine, and a referral to a board-certified veterinary surgeon. Depending on what they find, options can include corrective surgery to realign the kneecaps, physical therapy to stretch and strengthen the legs, and, if surgery isn't possible, a dog wheelchair. Only an exam can say how much function he might regain.
See luxating patella in dogs and dog knee problems.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Knee.
