Cat - Torn ACL in Leg? What should I do?

[lmeijer]

My cat torn what in humans is considered the ACL in her knee. She has been limping for a month, I took her to the vet the minute it happened and they said to give it a month. Now the surgeon says it is still not well and needs surgery. Surgery consists of putting a band around the knee to keep it in place. The doc noticed my hesitation and said it could wait another month to see if it heals. He said it had not healed like he had hoped in the past month and she had lost some mussle mass. What do you think? Should I wait or go ahead with the surgery? Even with the surgery recovery is only 90%, as of know she lays around a lot, sticks the leg out to the side when she walks and limps. SHe is 12 so I am nervous. He said he was worried she could blow the other knee.

What do you think?

[Scarlette]

If she were younger I would tell you to do it now, but since she's older it's a tough call. Is she in pretty good health (besides the leg issue)? I don't know, that's a tough call.

[lmeijer]

Yes she is in pretty good shape otherwise although she is 13 pds and they call her fat at the vet, that is a concern with the weight on her leg.

[Ravnos]

At one point its not healing the way your vet would like, and she's at risk for injuring her other knee because she's not using the injured one. On the other side, it is surgery and definitely a risk. Kind of a hard choice, but the risk for further injury seems to be the mitigating factor , to me at least.

[lmeijer]

Her surgery is set for Tuesday thanks for the help!!!

[catsluvme]

I worked with an orthopedic surgeon for almost 2 years. Please be sure to have all the pre anesthesia bloodwork done, and say yes to pain management. Do you trust the vet doing the surgery? It's not a simple procedure like a spay or neuter. There are old and new ways of correcting a torn ACL. I would ask how many he or she has done. Just my opinion and you know what they say about that term. There is also a chance of it happening again. This kitty needs to loose some weight if she is indeed 13 lbs. She will most likely come home in a huge bandage type cast which in time she will learn how to maneuver with.

Here is a link to where I used to work. Maybe there are some links from that page, or some helpful information. http://www.vss.org/
Good luck to you both, Denise

[lmeijer]

Quote: Originally Posted by catsluvme I worked with an orthopedic surgeon for almost 2 years. Please be sure to have all the pre anesthesia bloodwork done, and say yes to pain management. Do you trust the vet doing the surgery? It's not a simple procedure like a spay or neuter. There are old and new ways of correcting a torn ACL. I would ask how many he or she has done. Just my opinion and you know what they say about that term. There is also a chance of it happening again. This kitty needs to loose some weight if she is indeed 13 lbs. She will most likely come home in a huge bandage type cast which in time she will learn how to maneuver with. Here is a link to where I used to work. Maybe there are some links from that page, or some helpful information. http://www.vss.org/ Good luck to you both, Denise

Thanks, I know the guy has done lots of these and surgery is all he does, she is in right now, I am so worried. I know I have to get her weight down.