canine ACL orthosis

Gary A. Lamb

Description

Title:

canine ACL orthosis

Creator:

Gary A. Lamb

Date:

11/2/2001

Text:

Fellow oandp-ler’s

The following was recently posted on a regional athletic training list. At
her request I’m posting here, an opportunity to shine as a profession.
You may respond directly to her (Mary Bolan [ <Email Address Redacted> ]) or
through me.
I’ve got a question that I’m sure is going to humor most of you to pieces.
I took my 5 year old 128 lb. rottweiler to the vet yesterday because she
periodically would favor her left hind leg, especially after she had exerted
herself. Knowing that rotts are predisposed to having hip problems I
figured that was the problem. The vet x-rayed the hip and didn’t find
anything, so he moved down to her stifle, or knee. She was sedated so he
was able to produce a very significant drawer sign. He called me back
yesterday to tell me that she had torn her cranial cruciate ligament, which
is analogous to the ACL in humans, and that she will need surgery. The
board-certified surgeon he recommended quoted a price of $1800-1900. I love
my dogs but we don’t make 6-figure salaries in our profession. Has anyone
heard of or encountered such a thing? Obviously I don’t want her to hurt,
but hell, if the ortho told me that I’d be asking for option B. Since the
vet knows the profession I’m in, he went on to explain anatomically why dogs
need their ACL, as compared to humans, who can manage w/o. She can run
around the yard, jump on the bed, into the truck, and onto the hot tub
cover. I think I’m going to take apart some old knee braces and make a dog
ACL brace. I hope no one gets hurt falling out of their chair laughing at
this one.

Mary Bolan






Regards,
Gary A. Lamb LPO, CO, FAAOP
C.O.P.E.
Comprehensive Orthotic-Prosthetic Enterprises
1742 Hickory St.
Abilene, TX. 79601

<Email Address Redacted>

                          

Citation

Gary A. Lamb, “canine ACL orthosis,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 26, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/217849.