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Post by dobereyna on Jun 8, 2011 21:04:11 GMT -5
So I was at the off-leash the other day and there was a lady there with a 4-year old female who had torn her ACL (outside ligament of the hind legs basically holding their knees straight... when it tears their legs bow out), causing her to be bow-legged. This dog can no longer run and play. She told me that I should 'NEVER' run my dog, because that's what causes their ACL to tear. Since her advice was OBVIOUS B.S. I googled it when I went home. Apparently a major cause is lethargic, overweight dogs who are under-exercised then try to go and have a free run, jumping and playing. This dog is about 10-15lbs overweight at least, and I felt really bad for her after reading that. The owner 'doesn't believe in surgery', and was also advised by her vet apparently that she could save the money and just take her for 'short walks' and that would be sufficient!! Here's the odd part. There are 2 other dogs from the same breeder in the area, obviously not Dobereich ;D, that have the same issue. One has had corrective surgery, and is only 2, but still doesn't run like Reyna does. The other couple spent $6000 on the same surgery now don't run their dog at all. I have NEVER seen this before, let alone in 3 dobermans from the same breeder in the same area. All 3 are overweight dobes. Not hugely overweight, but very 'soft' looking and you can really tell when you rub their sides. My gut tells me 2 things: This is a by-product of poor genetics, and these owners are not educated and obviously do not have the energy or desire to care properly for a high-energy working dog breed. Has anyone else come across this? Thoughts? Reyna gets TONS of exercise, so I am not worried about her blowing out her knees... and by the looks of things on the forum, so does elses babies!!
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Post by Dobereich on Jun 23, 2011 12:23:02 GMT -5
This can also be attributed to early spay and neuter, especially in male dogs. In all my years breeding I only ever had one dog tear their ACL, he was neutered before 9 months and he is HUGE! Big dog, over 110 pounds, and yes, he's over weight. However he's also overly large due to early neuter, which is clinically linked to growth plates not sealing. Meaning, long bones continue to grow in dogs that are neutered before maturity. This then will weaken the ACL. My clients are wonderful people, they did the surgery, and their boy does exercise. They got him to trim down a little as well.
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Post by dobereyna on Jun 26, 2011 23:50:53 GMT -5
Thanks Monica! I knew you would have great insight.
Everyone thinks Reyna is 'small' in our area because they are used to seeing these 3 monster-sized females, who are also quite out of proportion. (Is she a mini-dobermann??) One man in the park yesterday finally said that Reyna is a great size, and the others are over-grown. They are all REALLY tall for females, well outside the standard, easily dwarfing Reyna... I really wish people would do their homework before getting a dog, and that there were better standards for breeders...
110lbs... whoa!!
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Post by jamalkhan on Sept 2, 2011 8:27:45 GMT -5
Would like to add my 2 cents on torn ACL’s issue, Phoenix my 5 year old Doberman died after what was termed and in most cases is routine orthopedic surgery (TPLO) . It all started off with a small injury on one of the legs he got a splinter in the paw; while his paw was getting healed he was putting a lot of pressure on his good leg. Few moths later he tore his ligament in the good leg. I would have never allowed him to be in so much pain and he loved to run so I got surgery done immediately on his leg , it was a 8 week healing process and the possibility that he would tear the ligament (ACL) on the other leg was as high as 50%, as my luck would have it he tore the ligament(ACL) on the other leg as well, we got surgery for the other leg too and then realized that he had a infected wound at the site of the first surgery and if that was not enough the infection was MRSA/MRSP which in laymen’s terms is a infection that is resistant to antibiotics. We fought the infection hard I reached out to specialists at the university of Guelph, in the US and UK. But after fighting for 6 months we lost the battle and I had to make the most difficult decision of my life and I had to let him go. I am not a vet, in an effort that people can learn from my mistakes these are few of the mistakes I made. 1. I had owned Dobermans all my life and I knew all that was there to know. This was my biggest mistake I was in actuality ignorant because you can never know everything. 2. The breeder was not reputable 3. I fixed my dog at 6 months 4. I feed him the best grain free high protein diet but did not keep an eye on his weight. 5. As we warm up and stretch before exercising, I should have walked and warmed him up before letting him run. 6. I should have done a better job finding a vet and understanding his expertise 7. I should have known the risks of MRSA and MRSP infections after surgery. 8. I should have noticed early signs of ACL trauma, like he would tap his paw while eating and slight shivering in the hind leg. You can learn more about MRSA and MRSP on the following blog. www.wormsandgermsblog.com/scott-weese.htmlwww.thebellamossfoundation.com/Hope this helps. Attachments:
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Post by hooligan on Sept 2, 2011 9:46:10 GMT -5
Would like to add my 2 cents on torn ACL’s issue . . . Thanks for this, jamalkhan. A good reminder that it's sometimes a good idea to take a step back and consider what we think we know so that we can do the best for our dogs.
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Post by dobermoms on Sept 2, 2011 21:17:08 GMT -5
Joanne, we don't think that Reyna is "too small", just as we don't think that Kazi is "too big". They are who they are. Don't forget that your little baby still has up to 2 yrs of age to grow, so we all know that she will still fill out. If it was me, I would simply reply to the next comment about her by letting them know that she is still a puppy, and she is growing slowly....
When Dante was growing, he wasn't/didn't grow as fast as Kazi is now. We used to wonder if he would ever grow a "chest"....ask Monica. We drove her crazy, no doubt, asking her for over 2 yrs as to when he would fill out. Well, he has finally filled out (this past winter, after 2 yrs of age), and he still doesn't have a "large" chest. lol.
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Post by dobereyna on Sept 2, 2011 23:37:20 GMT -5
Kerrie & Barb... you are completely right! I think Reyna is PERFECT, just like Kazi! Monica told me, long before 'picking day' that there are people that are constantly looking at what other people have instead of being happy with what's right in front of them. (not a direct quote, but pretty close... ). Our dogs are our baby's and we love them unconditionally (even when they bark at 3am), as they do us (when we are not 'perfect parents'). Thank you jamalkhan for the post... and welcome to the forum!!
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Post by Dobereich on Sept 3, 2011 16:08:39 GMT -5
Hi Jamal,
Thank you for sharing this with everyone. I know how painful this experience was for you and your family. So it was especially kind for you to rehash these wounds in order to warn others.
It is prudent to do one`s research, but being a pet owner doesn`t mean that you`re expected to rival the knowledge of a veterinary specialists. So i think you are being a too hard on yourself.
I believe that you went above and beyond for your boy in every effort to save his life. Your commitment to that task was admirable and you can only leave this situation knowing that you had the best intentions possible.
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Post by Lisa on Sept 6, 2011 21:22:28 GMT -5
Jamal I am very sorry for your loss.... and I am very glad you are buying a puppy from Q-littter! It sounds like another lucky dog has been born You will give your puppy the best care. Don't feel guilty. You did your best to save your boy.
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