"THICK KNEES"=ACL PROBLEM???

[BXR BUS]

Cooper has been limping (left hind leg) this has been off and on for a few months and always seemed to just go away....this week was different, it has not gone away. So we went to the vet this afternoon.
He checked him out, he said that he does not have any pain or tenderness, his neuro test are all good, and nothing is sublexing, clicking etc....he still applies weight on it and if not thinking about it (barking out the window at passer-byes) it appears to be just fine. BUT, the vet fears it could be an ACL issue because he said his "knees are thickening"....I have no clue what this would mean and do not see that, am I missing something?? I just dont see how he could have come to this conclusion so I was wondering if there is anyone else that might be able to explain this to me better then he tried to.

Thanks

 

[Austin's Mom]

I don't know about the thickening, but my neighbors dog may have a torn acl, because his leg is loose. He has to see a specialist and is in a splint for now.

 

[nanabear]

Cooper has been limping (left hind leg) this has been off and on for a few months and always seemed to just go away....this week was different, it has not gone away. BUT, the vet fears it could be an ACL issue because he said his "knees are thickening"....I have no clue what this would mean and do not see that, am I missing something??
Thanks

I think the vet might be referring to "thickening" in finding arthritis in the knee. When there is an injury, arthritis is nature's way of "protecting" things - building up support around an injury.
Did he take x-rays?

If an ACL tear or rupture is suspected - your pup needs to be sedated and an exam done under anesthesia looking for the "drawer sign" - that means the ligament is not holding the joint as tight as it should and things are loose and sliding around in there. That causes irritation which causes the body to build arthritis.

 

[BXR BUS]

No, no x-rays...yet.
When he did the exam on his leg he said it was tight, there was no pain or any tenderness, he applies weight on it no problem, nothing that WOULD indicate a tear or anything loose, he just said that it was the "thickening of the knee" that worried him and that it could lead to an ACL issue.
At this point he said to start him on glucoseamine and see if that helped and to keep him from running and jumping for 7-10 days (limited exercise) and we are going to re-evaluate him in 2 weeks.
I just never heard the term "thickening of the knee" so it had me concerned as I just did not understand what that really meant in a medical aspect.
He seems to be doing a lil better today and I just hope it is nothing serious.
I will keep you posted though.

 

[domina]

my dog was stepped on bythe mother right out of the womb. It broke her leg somewhere around the elbow. (front knee) It set itself and she has a huge knot right at the elbow. Calcium buildup from the healing. I know that tendons and ligaments do this too when cut or nicked or whatever they get scar tissue that can build up and cause discomfort. My dog will un-doubtedly have arthritis. at a young age for that matter....doctor said that it is growing fine considering. May need to see a specialist. Anyone ever deal with joint problems like this or these with a specialist or surgery. How did it work out. and do you think glucosamine can be given before real signs of a problem that is inevetable(sp)

good luck,
Andy