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Angus Update - Demodex + ACL

QY10

Well-Known Member
Sounds like he is doing well! All of this takes time, for sure...

Mateo also takes awhile to "come down" from the workout of hydrotherapy...but then he does sleep well.

When Angus did finally settle down, he slept like a log. He's a very heavy sleeper, too; Snoring away, blissfully unaware of anything going on around him.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Angus goes back to Hydrotherapy tomorrow.

Tomorrow there will have been 4 days between his last treatment. Each day, he has woken up with no visible limp. Throughout the day he maintains no limp in his walk. I have noticed that he is naturally putting putting more weight on his leg.

I will also add that ever since he has started therapy, he has been out of Turmeric and I haven't had the time to go get him some more. So, all these improvements that I have noticed are without the aid of turmeric. The last time he had run out of turmeric, he wouldn't walk on his injured leg.
 

enzo_canecorso

Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear about your pup, its no fun. Our pitbull just had TPLO surgery for a completely torn ACL, they wanted to do both knees because they said the other one was partially torn. We decided against it because I didnt know how we would manage taking a 75lb dog potty when he couldnt put any weight on his back legs. When he first tore it he had a horrible horrible limp. The vet said it was likely ACL and to take him to the specialist. They couldnt see him for 2 weeks and by the time they saw him he was barely limping at all. By the time we could afford the surgery that he "had to have" he was completely normal. Running full speed through our back yard, playing with our other dog, jumping on and off the couch. Nothing seemed to bother him. Since the surgery he has been miserable, he is not one to be contained for an entire day, let alone weeks on end. He wont potty on a leash so I have to let him off, he is now (at 2 weeks out) walking away from me fairly quickly so he can potty in privacy. We had to take our other pup to the ER vet for a different reason and the ER vet said that her Pitty tore both his ACL's and she decided against fixing it. To have a vet with 14 years experiance tell me that really opened my eyes. I a little bit feel like we got duped by the surgeon. I dont know how breaking a bone and inserting a plate and screws is supposed to cause less arthritis than a ligament tear. Basically in saying this I just want you to know that dogs are tough, he will be okay. I hope he is doing better and things are going well.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Glad to hear your pup is okay and didn't need surgery on the other leg! Dogs are so tough and resilient. Surgery and Vet care can sometimes seen like such a money grab/scam. We can be so quick to turn to medications and surgeries when something as simple as rest can solve the problem. It is so hard to see our dogs in pain or any discomfort, so it's completely understandable why we jump feet first into whatever will make our dogs okay again.

Angus' primary vet said that surgery was the best option for him and that it would be 50/50 as to whether he'd need surgery on his other leg from overcompensating after surgery. That really turned me off and I asked to explore conservative management options first, which has been a huge success so far, in my opinion. Angus doesn't like being cooped up daily, but he gets out for extended potty breaks daily (10 minutes or so each potty break) and goes to Hydrotherapy and Laser Therapy 2x a week.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Just a quick update:

Angus has increased his underwater treadmill time from 15 minutes to 20 minutes. He's also started walking on an incline.

On his outdoor walks, he has increased from 10 minutes to 25 minutes.


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QY10

Well-Known Member
Quick update and small brag:

On the underwater treadmill Angus has increased his walking time to 30 minutes. On an incline, he walks for 25 minutes.

Outdoor walks have increased to over 30 minutes.

Today we went for a walk that was on dirt and packed gravel. The walk included some inclines/declines. The walk ended up being about an hour. He came home and had a nap and was slightly stuff after getting up from his nap (on the floor). I went out for a bit to a forum for work and when I got home there was no limp present.

My boy is doing so great! I am so happy that this is all working for him.
 

danielleconn

Well-Known Member
What ever happened with Angus's demodex? I know you were starting the Nu-Stock I believe, but did you? Has it resolved itself? Zoe is having some patchy hair loss & I think I may need to make a vet appointment it seems to be thinning more and more.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Started Nu Stock, but didn't continue as I started Bravecto. It's a 3-month flea and tick control that's been proving itself effective for managing mange as well.


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NYDDB

Well-Known Member
It sounds very positive!

Maeo's progress has been 2 steps forwards, one step back kind of thing. The swimming has definitely helped-even the evening after his therapy he is using his injured leg more, and his movements are more fluid..he's stronger overall. But then, he has had some bad days and we have to back off the activity.

Question: has the muscle mass on Angus' leg increased as well? There is still a difference in Mateo's musculature between his two hind legs. Maybe a little increase in the injured one...
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
I tried feeling his legs to see if I could feel a difference, but I can't really tell.

His 6 week evaluation is coming up, so I am sure that they will re-measure him to see what kind of progress has been made.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
UPDATE:

Angus can walk for more than 45 minutes.

Angus can walk on grass, gravel, concrete etc...

He's doing hills wonderfully

We jog on grass and gravel in 30-45 second intervals multiple times during our walks.

He's beginning to shift weight back on to his injured leg and I've caught him standing 100% normally a few times.

He still does hydrotherapy and laser therapy 2x a week. He's also been doing acupuncture 1x a week. At home, we've been doing stretches, massage and I've been putting warm, steamed towels on his leg.


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NYDDB

Well-Known Member
AWESOME! :)

I should post an update with Mateo's progress; he's doing really well, too. :)
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Another update:

We are now jogging about 2km a day on hard,packed gravel (plus our usual walking). We have not tried jogging on concret yet.

He is no longer using turmeric or Glycoflex. The only 'supplement' that he gets is his homemade bone broth.

He never limps anymore. He's never stiff upon getting up. He's is shifting his weight back onto the injured leg. When I put him into a sit, he is sitting much more naturally.

Overall, he is doing GREAT. I am so proud of my boy. ^_^
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
HOLY CRAP! I am so happy and excited for my boy.

Angus has been given the OK to go off-leash in the yard for 5 minutes at a time!!! :D

He runs and does incline on the underwater treadmill and his rehab practitioner has stated that it's about time he starts getting back to being a dog. She said that she has been intentionally pushing him on the treadmill to see where he's at in his recovery and he has responded well to everything.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Today, we did a 10+ kilometer hike.... OFF LEASH. He walked, jogged, ran, jumped from rock to rock etc....

Here's a picture from after we reached the top of a steep, rocky and long incline. He had such a blast. He especially loved the snow that we found. ^_^

c967c3ac6590b8ead01aecc2dfac9cd7.jpg



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