I’ve been getting some conflicting opinions on how to deal with Sampson’s recovery from ACL surgery. The problem is the complication of the Iliospsoas Muscle strain/tear.
DO:
When our vet saw him a couple of weeks ago she told me to help heal the strain/tear I should be stretching Sampson’s leg out.
DON’T:
When I saw the physical therapist last week, she told me you do not stretch a muscle that is strained.
DO:
The physical therapist was using the underwater treadmill with Sampson once a week and didn’t have a problem with Sampson walking for 1/2 an hour twice a day.
DON’T:
My vet said his walks could be between 15 to 20 minutes, but at a very slow pace.
DO:
When I met with the surgeon last week, I was telling him how much Sampson loved his wood walks and how I was afraid to take him up there because I was afraid he would slip in the dried leaves. The surgeon said, don’t worry about the leaves, take him up there, let him have his wood walks.
DON’T:
I told him my concern with the wood walks was the off-leash dogs and how excited Sampson is when he sees a person or dog. The surgeon said, don’t let him get excited and bounce around like a ping pong ball.
MY WAY
I started thinking about the time that Hubby tore a muscle in his back. And how incapacitated he was for almost a full week while that muscle began healing. For the first couple of days he couldn’t move at all, then gradually he began limited movement by using a walker.
I thought about what made sense to me in terms of dealing with a muscle strain, I talked it over with Hubby and we decided a course of action.
WILL:
I will continue to walk Sampson, but the walks will be very, very slow and limited in time. I will strive to keep his walks to between 15 to 20 minutes twice a day.
WON’T:
I won’t have Sampson use the underwater treadmill. I spoke to the physical therapist and we swapped the treadmill out for cold laser therapy. Once the package is up, which is the end of this month, I can continue taking Sampson to our own vet to continue the cold laser.
WILL:
Once a week I will take Sampson up to his beloved woods for a walk.
WON’T:
I will try to choose a path in the woods where I can see people/dogs approaching and do my best to not let him get too excited.
WILL:
As soon as I can schedule it, I will set Sampson up with some more acupuncture treatments.
I will also work on getting my DIY cavaletti’s made so in a couple of weeks we can begin building his muscle up again.
I’m not sure this is the right course of action, but to me it makes sense.
I’d be interested to hear what you all think, especially if you’ve had a pet with these issues or work in the veterinary field.
Sophie says
I can imagine your frustration. Although I have not dealt with a tear like Sampson’s, I can certainly identify with getting different advice from”professionals”. It sounds like the course of action for Sampson is reasonable and in his best interest. It is all you can do, go with your gut. Keeping good thoughts!
Gus’ Mom
lauranne says
With conflicting advice you need to go for what you feel right in your gut. You know him better than anyone else and so you will know what’s best for him!! Although it may be scary you know him and you are so smart, use that, follow your gut and I am sure you will be heading in the right direction!! Sending hugs and opening a bottle of wine on your behalf :0)
Emma says
Mom and I have no clue, but our advice would be to do what you feel is right. Sometimes all the best medical advice is not as good at your own gut. If he is so happy going to his place in the woods, let him go there once and a while, it will make him happy, just do it carefully. It must be so hard dealing with all that stuff. Mom feels so blessed every day we are all healthy!
Cupcake says
I love that you always have a Plan B. (Actually, you’re probably up to Plan W by now, but still…) I’m no doctor, but not stretching a strained muscle makes sense.
Pamela | Something Wagging This Way Comes says
I had a similar experience when I was fostering a dog recovering from surgery. I followed the shelter vet’s instructions to the letter, just to have a consulting vet express shock and horror about the abuser I was subjecting the poor little dog too. It felt terrible.
It sounds like you’ve come up with a good plan that takes your understanding of Sampson and how he’s felling into account. I hope the acupuncture treatments help him heal.
It's Dog or Nothing says
It would be nice if everything was black and white in situations like this. Unfortunately, we’re never going to get the same advice from everyone. I think it was really smart of you to look at the situation and how it made sense in your mind. You are the best person to decide the appropriate course of action for your pup. He’ll let you know if something isn’t working. Good luck in the recovery process! Paws crossed it goes well 🙂
Jessica says
Your way sounds reasonable to me. I think you’re getting so much conflicting advice because you need to hit a balance. Too much and he won’t heal, too little and his leg may stiffen up or lose too much strength. Trust your own heart–nobody knows him better.
Blueberry's human says
Oh wow – that would drive me nuts to have such conflicting advice. I too would probably do what makes sense to me. I would probably Google the crap out of that situation just to find some nugget that let me know I was on the right path. You can’t be the only one that has gone through this with their dog.
Jenna,Mark “HuskyCrazed” Drady says
I think you are approaching this the right way. I can just hear the frustrations in your typing. And I don’t blame ya one bit. I hope this course of action helps.
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
lexy says
from an entirely non-veterinary/experienced point of view, I like your plan. It takes everything into consideration, including Sampson’s own happiness.
Callie, Shadow, and Ducky's Mom says
Callie’s surgeon would probably say the cavalettis are a great idea. I was going to set up some DIYs myself last year but never got around to it. And, personally, I like the way you think…any time you mix common sense with unconditional love, you’re going to have a win-win solution!
retro rover says
Its so frustrating to get conflicting opionions like that our thoughts are with you
retro rover
slimdoggy says
When you get conflicting advice like that, I think following your instinct is the best course of action. Good luck.
Sand Spring Chesapeakes says
What a great plan, don’t you just hate that different thoughts from people and you don’t know which way to go???? Muscle strains do take a long time to heal so take your/his time.
2 brown dawgs says
It really does make sense. I am very surprised by the conflicting advice. I would be tempted to say something to the surgeon because it seems to me that all the people offering you advice on Sampson’s treatment should be on the same page. Maybe the therapist and surgeon are not a fit for each other?
Nature by Dawn says
Oh goodness. It certainly makes things more difficult when you get so much conflicting information. Your plan sounds like a smart one. Get well soon, Sampson!
Jan K says
With so much conflicting information, all you can do is what you think makes sense. I think your plan sounds good, but I don’t have any experience in this area. I think you know deep down what seems best and that’s what you are doing, and that makes sense. You know Sampson better than any of those doctors and experts do.
Jana Rade says
Well, we did go with our vet’s recommendations. Religiously. This did include PROM (passive range of motion) and VERY gradual introduction of weight bearing exercises; very short leashed walks etc. We followed his instructions to the letter. The final result was good with Jasmine’s knees as good as new.
Scylla, Socks, Tuiren & Fenris says
We are sending healing purrs and your plan makes sense to us.
Jackie Bouchard says
It’s so hard to get conflicting advice. But it sounds like you’ve come up with a plan. All you can really do is take in the advice folks give you and sort through it and try to do what you think is best. You are the one who knows your dog best and all your decisions will be made from a place of love, so there’s not really a way to make a “wrong” decision. You might have to tweak the plan here or there when you see how it’s going, but remember there is no “wrong”.