Our adorable two year old Bernese Mountain dog practically stopped eating about two weeks ago, so I went to the vet. After a clinical examination, he was pronounced healthy so we left. Apparently, one of his " doggie school mates" was in heat and we laughed about him being " in love".
His appetite continued to be very poor. This week, whilst walking he yelped out in pain. ( he SELDOM barks or makes noise) . Again, we went to the vet. This time he was given non steroidal anti inflammatories and sent home. The meds made him vomit.
So, a third trip to vet was made. This time x-rays and blood tests were made. The doctor did find he reacted to manipulation of his back left knee. She thinks it is a kreuzbandriss, or cruciate ligament tear. If yes, it would mean surgery.
We have another appointment tomorrow, but I am hoping someone has had experience with this, before we jump into such a decision. He is quite young and has been very healthy until now. He is limping and appears in pain. :-((
Sorry, but this vet sounds terrible. Three visits to diagnose a knee problem? I know next to nothing about dogs, but I hope you get a second opinion before resorting to surgery, and that your dog is feeling better soon!
I know a simillar breed dog who, IIRC, had both knees fixed by 3-4 years of age. She's 12 now......it's funny to see the dog in a cast when recovering.
Is your dog able to do #2 properly with this issue? Because I can bet that may be the cause of the not eating.
And vets also rely on owners to give signs and symptoms as dogs can't speak. If you can't spot the issue then the vet's going to start at the basics. This may be the case here, you never know. If the dog was walking without any indication of the issue, you're investigating when the animal's not eating.....which usually is not connected to a knee....
Unfortunately surgery is the only way to fix the problem. If you don't do it he will end up just using three legs. You should also know that he is very likely to blow his other knee in the future. Don't allow him to jump, that will hurt the other knee, even after the first one is fixed.
Go to a vet that has a lot of experience doing cruciate surgery. You want to make sure it's done right. It is not a cheap procedure, and recovery is long.
I hope he does well.
As far as the not eating, it could be his reaction to pain. If he has no vomiting or diarrhea, then the vet is right to do a thorough check up. Some dogs are very stoic, and it takes time to find the problem. You don't actually want a vet that will do every test in the book at the first sign of trouble. It would cost you a fortune. Some animals go off their food for a few days, and go back to normal, without us ever knowing what was wrong. It is only if it persists, that you want to investigate further.Your dog was not limping, so it was difficult to diagnose. He probably has a partial tear at this point. Don't be surprised if it ruptures completely and he stops using that leg all together. Keep him quiet until he has the surgery.
I agree. However, it seems a dog will stop eating when they are generally unwell. In his case, his limp did not become apparent until this week. Obviously, we are trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The clinic is in Hünenberg, which seems to be quite good and reputable.( http://www.ennetseeklinik.ch/site/index.cfm )
Although we saw three different vets, they do document and refer to each other's notes.
Before any surgery is accepted, we shall seek second ( or third:-) opinions.
Just wondering if any of you have had experience with this situation. He still refuses to eat...though he has pain medication, so we are concerned...
You obviously are knowledgeable. ( probably a vet...) thank you!
Just so you know, I am a veterinary nurse. I have dealt with this problem many times.Try encouraging him to eat small amounts. Give him something that smells really good to him, better than his dry dog food. Cooked chicken is a good choice. Just feed him little and often.
You can try icing the knee. Mix 1part rubbig alcohol with 3 parts water water. Put in a zip lock bag and freeze. It will be flexible, so you can mold it to his leg. Don't keep ice pack one for more than 20 minutes at a time. It sould reduce the inflammation and give him some relief.
Dr Béosier did Haifisch's amputation, an extremely complicated surgery. He has also consulted on the Belltie's case - and recommended against surgery, helping me find less invasive options. I like that he has the best interests of the animal foremost at all times.
I trust Dr Béosier implicitly, as I do his partners. (Dr Gerold, the internal medicine specialist at MyVets, is now my primary vet. I think he walks on water, to be honest.)
The MyVets partners used to be at the Spezialiatinklinik/Ennetsee, where I first met them. As of this June they formed their own practice, located in Cham about 5 minutes down the road from Hünenberg.
If you think a second opinion is warranted, Dr Béosier would be a very good choice. I value his expertise and advise highly.
Keeping all our fingers and paws crossed for your big fella.
Good news, he ate three hamburger patties today. It's funny, as I can't even remember the last time we ate hamburgers, but our sons bought the meat for a party yesterday and it needed to be cooked. Kuma must have felt his American side....
Kuma and I have just arrived home from our second opinion appointment.
Basically, we heard the same stuff, but in a different way. The was no "100 0/0 certainty" for surgery and "no other option" attitude. This vet, Dr. Beosier ( http://www.myvets.ch/team/ ) was kind, contemplative and careful in his evaluation. He offered several options, including acupuncture and cortisone injections before surgery would be considered. He also would suggest an examination, while slighly sedated, to determine the extent of the problem. This would take place, again, before surgery.
I guess it doesn't matter if you are visiting a dentist, a surgeon or a veterinarian, it is important to hear truth and feel our best interests are at stake. It is a pity many health professionals get this wrong.
Anyway, we certainly are trying all the other options before surgery. I'll try to keep you posted...
The anti-inflammatories helped, his eating improved and we decided to wait, as I had a pending trip to US. Our wonderful dog- sitter kept him by her side and restricted his daily walks, during the week. My husband and son took over during the weekends.
I returned to a healthy and happy dog, who seems to not have any issues with eating or walking.
What happened? No idea. But, the Bitch in heat has gone home and we've avoided major surgery.
Just another chapter in the book of dog ownership. Hope it shall not be repeated!