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Well, i went to pick him up this morning and consult with the specialist (who is incidently Extreamly cute and Nice!!!, not a bad 1/2 hour consult talking to him at all 
).
They said that he tore his patella ligament, but not fully. They were actually quite stumped, and this is their "best guess" as to what is wrong. The only other tears they have seen were from hit by cars, or accidental cutting during surgery. They dont really have any previous cases like his that they can go off of for further treatment. When they ultrasounded the knee his patella is up higher then his good knee. They found some fluid there and sent it out for a reading, but think it is just normal from the injury. The doctor said this really isnt surgical, and he would prefer to not do surgery on it. Says that it is a very unrewarding surgery with many complications as far as actually keeping the ligiment sewn down.
So the plan is for Riley to be in a brace for 4-6 weeks and strict confinement/crate rest. Every week he will have to have the bandages changed. His leg is wrapped straight from his groin to his toenails. We will have to get used to that. After the 4-6 weeks we will go back up for another ultrasound/consult and talk to a physical therapist.
He said it could take 3-6 months to get back to normal activity again where he can walk normal. Although he may never get back to full strength in that leg. We will just have to see. That sucks also as the weather is getting nice. We LOVE to go for walks, hike and tracking. I dont know if he will ever be able to go back to tracking again. He has to consult with my vet tomorrow about everything, and also about his addisons. With the steroids he is taking with the addisons, we cant really use the drugs we want (antiinflamatories).
So all in all, a very long, painful recovery ahead of us. Finding how/where to confine him will be the challange. We have a large crate, but with his leg sticking out from teh brace i dont know if he will comfortablly fit.
). They said that he tore his patella ligament, but not fully. They were actually quite stumped, and this is their "best guess" as to what is wrong. The only other tears they have seen were from hit by cars, or accidental cutting during surgery. They dont really have any previous cases like his that they can go off of for further treatment. When they ultrasounded the knee his patella is up higher then his good knee. They found some fluid there and sent it out for a reading, but think it is just normal from the injury. The doctor said this really isnt surgical, and he would prefer to not do surgery on it. Says that it is a very unrewarding surgery with many complications as far as actually keeping the ligiment sewn down.
So the plan is for Riley to be in a brace for 4-6 weeks and strict confinement/crate rest. Every week he will have to have the bandages changed. His leg is wrapped straight from his groin to his toenails. We will have to get used to that. After the 4-6 weeks we will go back up for another ultrasound/consult and talk to a physical therapist.
He said it could take 3-6 months to get back to normal activity again where he can walk normal. Although he may never get back to full strength in that leg. We will just have to see. That sucks also as the weather is getting nice. We LOVE to go for walks, hike and tracking. I dont know if he will ever be able to go back to tracking again. He has to consult with my vet tomorrow about everything, and also about his addisons. With the steroids he is taking with the addisons, we cant really use the drugs we want (antiinflamatories).
So all in all, a very long, painful recovery ahead of us. Finding how/where to confine him will be the challange. We have a large crate, but with his leg sticking out from teh brace i dont know if he will comfortablly fit.
