We can not thank the Findon Veterinary staff enough, and especially Ian, for the wonderful care our dear Ella has received, and I highly recommend using them, especially for Cruciate Ligament repair.
Ella has, for all of her 7 plus years, been ball crazy. There was nothing she liked more than to chase her ball and Ella's personality is one where she does everything at 110%: So running after the ball was done at full speed ! Her 360 degree flips in the air were wonderful to see. When chasing the ball with other dogs on the beach she would always be at the front, most times running so hard she would over run and miss the ball.
Then Ella suffered a suspected partial cruciate tear in her back leg and was treated with anti inflammatory drugs and rest, and healed quickly. At this stage X-ray's were not needed. (Unfortunately, once a cruciate has been damaged, it eventually will fully tear - that is, rupture - Ed)
A few weeks after we thought Ella was all OK, we took her to the beach and within seconds of playing with other dogs in the soft sand her rear right leg went up and all play was stopped.
Our vet Ian from the Findon Veterinary Surgery X-rays her hips and hind legs and ALSO found that all of Ella's athletic exhuberance over the years had caused quite bad arthritis in the hip joint (you wouldn't have known from her activity!!!) AND that her right cruciate ligament was fully ruptured.
Dr. Ian operated on her leg using the latest technique involving a titanium bone insert allowing a better fixture and tightening of implanted ligament filament. (Also, accurate placement of the prosthesis so that the MOST NORMAL function of the knee can be achieved and precise tensioning of the implant giving excellent stability, immediately, to the knee joint - Ed)
Ella's recovery was very fast! She was putting a lot of weight on her operated leg within the week!!!
And every week she improved. After ONE MONTH, Ella was walking very well and starting to trot.
Four months after her operation you could not tell there was anything wrong.
We walk Ella nearly every day now to keep her fitness up and to keep her moving, on the few times she is let off the lead she runs like a normal healthy dog even with her badly worn hips and repaired knee! 🙂
Roman and Helen
Underdale