Diesel presented to our clinic (supposedly with hip dysplasia), having recently been lame on both legs. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was incorrect as Diesel had bilateral ruptured cruciates.
Being one of the very few clinics who are experienced in repairing bilateral cruciates and luxating patellas at the same time, we recommended to Diesels owner to consider this. We had previously done both legs at the same time via the standard DeAngelis procedure, but never the newer Tightrope procedure. We suspected that patients should do well with a double Tightrope procedure and informed Diesel’s owner that he would be our first case.
Diesel’s owner opted for this option and we couldn’t be happier with the results! Diesel went home the very next day – not the usual three days that double cruciate patients normally go home in. See below for a sequence of videos of Diesels recovery and testimonial from his happy mum.
Diesel’s case shows how SAH continues to be at the forefront of latest surgical procedures, offering both clients and patients sensible, practical solutions to their unique concerns, communicating all the pro’s and cons of each individual case. We continue to be excited with regards to Tightrope as a procedure for cruciate disease for all patients, small and large dogs, unilateral and bilateral.
Diesel is certainly happy with his result and is back to running around the park in no time at all.
A testimonial from ‘Diesels’ owner:
When I first noticed Diesel struggling to sit and walk I took him to my local vet. They did some X-rays and came to the conclusion that he had hip dysplasia and placed him on a set of four weekly injections twice a year. On the visit to the vet for his fourth (and last) injection, she said that she was surprised that he had not responded to the injection as well as she had hoped and advised me to maybe take him to see a dog physio. Two days later Diesel could hardly walk and I had a feeling that there was something else wrong.
I took him to Southern Animal Health for a second option were Dr Mike and another vet both examined him and came to the same diagnosis of ruptured cruciate ligaments in both knees. They went through all the options with me for his care and the difference in the procedures that were available for him. We decided on the Tightrope procedure and for it to be done on both legs at the same time because we did not want to put him through a long process of doing two operations one leg at a time. The benefits of getting them done together (as you can see in the videos), is that the recovery is so much better and shorter than getting them done one after the other. He learnt to use both legs together so he regained the strength in his muscles at the same time and not favouring one more that the other. I would highly recommend the Tightrope procedure with both legs done together to anyone who is considering it for their dog. The staff at SAH looked after Diesel and gave him the best care – more than I could have wished for! I won’t be going anywhere else and would highly recommend them to anyone.
Thank you so much to Dr Marcus, Dr Mike, Dr Karin and all the team at SAH.
Regards, Maria and Diesel.