Knee Injury in 5 month old Goldendoodle

[Amanda McPherson]

Hi everyone! I have a wonderful almost 5 month old Goldendoodle who I absolutely love named Duffy. Last thursday he apparently jumped up to get my six year old son's cookie and somehow injured his leg, yelping and crying when it happened. Since then he doesn't put much weight on it. (I was out when this happened.)

The next morning I took him to the vet who said it didn't appear fractured and to have him rest, give him aspirin and see if he gets better by Tuesday (tomorrow). He's not much better. He didn't mention his CCL joint, but obviously after researching that is what I'm concerned about. He did mention concerns about his growth plates. 

Have any of you had experience with something like this? He wasn't rough housing or doing much, just jumped and maybe twisted it. I'm hoping it's just a sprain but really concerned that this will cause him life long problems. I've ordered him some supplements and so on. Our house also has tons of stairs which is an issue. I've been carrying him up the stairs. 

Any ideas on what I should ask the vet? Any experience with this? He's a young puppy so it's a concern that if he has to have surgery it will obviously have to wait, and the thought of doing surgery is a real concern. Any help is appreciated. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would give it another week and then I might consult an orthopedic specialist if Duffy is not better. Good luck.

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

Tearing the cruciate ligament is unfortunately not an uncommon occurrence in young dogs, and sometimes older dogs too.  Skadi had to have the surgery when she was 2 1/2.  She started displaying symptoms around her 2nd birthday...2012.  She started limping and lifting her right foot when she peed.  We kenneled her when we went out west in 2011 and the folks there recognized her symptoms immediately and gave us information on what they thought was wrong and what would happen...and they were right.  She had her surgery January 2013. It took us visits to 4 different vets, before she was finally diagnosed properly(just like the folks at the kennel told us)  At first we were advised to rest her.  First for 8 weeks...then a following 8 weeks.  All that rest did not help.  The surgical report showed arthritis in the stifle, but her meniscus wasn't damaged.  The surgeon did the cruciate ligament repair and she had to stay low key for 3 months.  Awful to go through.  That was 3 1/2 years ago.  She has a funny gait when walking.  I do not run her, but she does run some when horsing around with her sister Elli.  She balks at long walks.  They say she has a 30% chance of having the other stifle go out.  One thing the kennel folks did tell us is the growth plates do not mature until the dog is around 2 years old...so if an owner can put of the neuter/spay, the dog has a better chance for the growth plates to mature and close.  Waiting that long can be a challenge.  Skadi was spayed at 9months.  Hopefully your puppy doesn't end up with this problem..but I would do like F.Calla & Luca recommended, wait to see if he gets better.  Then if not, I would seek out a specialist.  Hope this helps.

[bmdoodle]

Hi
I have a 5 year old Australian Mini Labradoodle named Mia that has had both CCLs replaced. First one March 2015 and the other March 2016. She was first diagnosed with luxating Petellas in both knees when she was a year old. It didn't seem to bother her and whenever her patella or kneecap would pop out she learned to just straighten her leg and it would pop back in. In March 2015 she was chasing her ball and stared crying and we waited for her to pop her knee back in but she started to limp on three legs so we took,her to the vet and found out she had torn her CCL. She then had her first surgery. We had to keep her in the house for the first 6 weeks and then short walks and finally after 12 weeks we could let her run and she was back to her old self. When she tore her second CCL this past March she did not recover as well. She can run but will limp the next morning. I'm just glad to know that her surgeries are behind her. Mia also has a golden doodle named Bella who luckily has no knee issues.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Did the vet x-ray the injured leg?  He could have a slight fracture that would only show up on an x-ray.  Some dogs are really sissies - like some people - and are hesitant to put weight on the leg even when the 'bruise' is long healed.  If you took him back to the vet today, I hope you report back to us with what the vet said.

[Amanda McPherson]

Thanks everyone. When I first Duffy in right after it happened the vet didn't Xray him. He thought it wasn't fractured after examining him but told me to call him back. I'm waiting for him to call me back now. Duffy almost seems like he's getting a little better. A little more weight on it and more happy and his normal self, wants to run etc. I hope he is just a sissy! I'll let you know what happens.