Discover an owner’s heartfelt journey through the recovery process after ACL surgery for their Miniature Schnauzer, providing insights and tips for fellow pet owners. Please note this is written from the perspective of an owner and her experience. Any specialist advice should be taken from a qualified professional. This is for education and information purposes only.

Introduction to ACL Injuries in Miniature Schnauzers

ACL injuries, or cranial cruciate ligament injuries, are prevalent among dogs, particularly those engaged in high-impact activities or experiencing age-related degeneration. The Miniature Schnauzer breed is particularly susceptible to these injuries due to their unique body structure and activity levels. Owners often find themselves in emotional turmoil as they witness their beloved pet struggle with mobility and pain. Understanding the psychological and emotional impact on owners during the diagnosis and treatment process is crucial for providing holistic care to both the dog and the owner.

For instance, when Miniature Schnauzer Tory was diagnosed with an ACL injury, her owners felt a surge of anxiety and concern. The realisation that Tory would need surgery brought about a whirlwind of questions regarding the procedure, recovery, and potential complications. This emotional journey is common among pet owners, highlighting the need for supportive resources and information that can alleviate fears and uncertainty during such critical times.
Moreover, the emotional strain can be compounded by the financial implications of treatment. The costs associated with surgery, rehabilitation, and follow-up care can be daunting for many pet owners. Understanding these aspects allows for better preparation, reducing the anxiety associated with unexpected expenses.

ACL injuries can lead to serious complications if not addressed promptly. Secondary conditions, such as meniscal tears and osteoarthritis, may develop as a result of untreated ACL injuries, significantly impacting a dog’s quality of life. Miniature Schnauzers are recognized as a breed at higher risk for these injuries due to specific genetic factors, making it essential for owners to be vigilant about their pet’s health. Awareness is key, as it can lead to earlier diagnoses and more effective treatment plans.

TORY’S STORY:

Tory is a 9 year old Pepper Salt Miniature Schnauzer and lives with her hoomans on Tory Island off County Donegal, Ireland. She has recently undergone surgery and treatment for an ACL injury and below is the diary and journey from her hooman mum, Tracey, a member of the Miniature Schnauzer Fundraising Group (MSFG).

Deciding on Surgery:

When contemplating ACL surgery, pet owners must evaluate a range of factors, including the nature of the injury, the dog’s overall health, and the potential risks involved. Surgical options can vary, from extracapsular repair to tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO), with the choice largely dependent on the specific condition of the dog. Financial implications also play a significant role; the costs associated with surgery and rehabilitation can be substantial and should be factored into the decision-making process.

Pre-Surgery

One of the most common knee injuries in dogs is a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Not only is this injury very painful, but it’s also a well-known cause of knee arthritis in dogs, which is why many pet parents choose to have it surgically repaired. Proper torn ACL home treatment is as important to a good recovery as the surgery itself. If you find yourself in this situation, here is what you can expect from your Miniature Schnauzer  ACL surgery recovery.

As Schnauzer owners, the last thing any of us want to see is our pets in pain or upset in any way. ACL tears cause ligaments to retract and therefore limit the range of motion of the joints. Tissue growth and inflammation can form around the knee. The first sign we noticed as pet parents was our schnauzer limping on her hind leg. Within a day or two she would not weight bare, and she began to sit abnormally to ease her discomfort. She also yelped if we lifted her a certain way.  Our first step was a visit to the vet where they sedated her to do an X ray on her, this confirmed that she had fully ruptured her cruciate ligament.  The vet gave us all the information about ACL Replacement surgery and the lengthy recovery process required after. One week later she was taken in for her surgery and her journey to being her usual wonderful happy self began! 

As a pet parent any type of surgery or sedation is a worry, The night before we followed instructions to keep her fasting and we kept her calm giving her lots of cuddles. We arrived at the vet and he took her from us. He advised that he would keep her in for two to three days. Now this length of time can vary depending on your dog and vet. Although we were upset to not have her home with us, we understood that she was being well taken care of. 

It is vitally important to carefully follow your vet’s advice and post-surgical rehabilitation programme, which will be tailored to your dog’s individual needs. Recovery from the surgery can take approximately 4–6 weeks, with increased activity and movement of the hind leg around weeks 8–12 weeks. After 12 weeks, most dogs will return to their usual activities and level of exercise, but in more severe cases, full recovery can take up to 4 to 6 months. The length and type of recovery time will vary from dog to dog and case to case. You know your dog best so do trust your own instincts on your Schnauzers progress. 

Post Surgery – Week One

ACL repair can knock your dog off their perch for a little while. The more you can prepare at home for the period after the surgery, the faster and easier the recovery will be. It will require you to make some alterations to your home and how you and your dog live for a few weeks. The first week following surgery is a critical period for recovery, requiring diligent monitoring and care from the owner. Observing the incision site for signs of infection, such as excessive swelling, redness, or discharge, is essential during this time. Keeping a diary of the dog’s recovery progress, including any changes in behaviour or mobility, can provide valuable insights for follow-up veterinary visits

  • Restricting your dog to one room only. They must be confined to a limited, safe space for a few weeks to let the knee heal properly. Use baby gates to block off entrances and staircases.
  • Remove furniture they can jump onto and items that may cause the temptation to jump.
  • Ensure the room they are recovering in has a safe, non-slip floor. Slips or falls can easily cause further trauma.
  • Provide a crate large enough for your dog to turn around in. They will usually need to be housed in the crate any time they are not supervised.
  • Provide a comfortable bed for them that they can easily access.
  • Keep food and water near their bed to limit their activity.
  • Stock up on any foods your veterinarian may recommend feeding to them after the surgery.
  • Create a safe space in a cupboard for your dog’s medication, as they will have medications, such as painkillers, that you will need to administer daily.
  • Follow the post-anaesthesia and post-surgery plan given to you by your vet. Remember, some of the effects of the anaesthesia can take up to 72 hours to go away.

Day one, we quickly realised that keeping our pet in a crate with the large cone just was not going to work, although the crate is crucial to collecting her from surgery and for the journey home to ensure she is safe and immobilised and also for bringing her to her follow up appointments, it was not practical for long term use for her. People have suggested using the buster collar as an alternative to the Elizabethan Collar and this is an option, but we decided that as this cone was actually so big and impacted her vision, this was probably the necessary collar for the first Crucial week  in her recovery. As we did not use the crate in our house, we used her lead to tether her to a small chair in the living room, we placed books on the chair to ensure she would not jump up, we put her cosy blankets along with her food and water on the floor. 

Keeping her tethered at all times was a great compromise to the crate. She was able to lie comfortably and stand up to change positions when she wanted to, not to mention it allowed us to lie with her and give her assurance and cuddles that she will be ok.  In the first week we administered her antibiotics and her pain relief. Her pain medication did not agree with her and on day two we needed to call the vet to ask for a different type of pain relief. It is something to look out for if they begin to vomit or have very loose bowel movements. 

Limiting the dog’s access to stairs and slippery surfaces during the initial recovery period can help prevent falls and complications. A safe recovery environment may include using baby gates to restrict access to certain areas of the home. These precautions are vital as they minimise the risk of re-injury while the dog is still healing, which can be a concern for many owners during this phase.

Post Surgery – Week Two to Four

After surgery, your dog will be expected to remain in a confined room or crate (whichever is best for your pet) with limited exercise. Usually, short walks lasting around 5 minutes on flat ground are advised so that your dog can go to the bathroom and retain some movement. They will need to be on a short leash to prevent extensive wandering and are not allowed off the leash for at least 8 weeks. This is so important to a full recovery, there are times where we felt very sad for her keeping her tethered, but it just takes one slip and all the hard work is undone. We were very strict about sticking to her routine. She was not allowed to go up or down stairs and we carried her into bed with us each night. We even tethered her to us at night to prevent her jumping down off the bed. If your dog sleeps in their own bed this will not be a problem, but our dog has always slept in our bed hence we needed to tether her at night. I did try to sleep downstairs with her but true to Schnauzer form she was having none of it and wanted to be in the big bed. 

The aim in these first 4 weeks is to reduce inflammation, keep muscles and other tissues flexible, prevent guarding and non-use of the leg and knee, and allow the surgical wound to heal. Gentle, controlled movements need to occur in this period to encourage normal movement. Keep the wound clean and dry. Report any pus, leaking fluid, redness, or swelling around the incision or joint to your vet. If you notice they are not weight-bearing in the first 1–2 days post-surgery, this also needs further investigation.  We had a check up with the vet on day 6 for him to view her progress and on day 12 her stitches came out.  The vet did advise to leave the cone on for an additional week to prevent her licking her wound as he advised it would become itchy.  We decided that she had been wearing her cone for two weeks and it was affecting her mental health, she was so sad so we used a baby grow for a week. This made such a difference to her, and she began to bounce back and wag her tail. 

Post Surgery; Week Four to Six

There is still no jumping, running, or stair climbing allowed. Only short-leash exercises about 20 minutes in length of slowly increasing duration are still allowed; however, more emphasis will be placed on balance and body position, and they may be allowed out for longer times. Their rehabilitation program may be altered or added to during this time, depending on how well your dog is recovering, how severe the cruciate tear or rupture was initially, and the health of the joint, again this is a case where you know your dog best. We could see days where after 5 minutes she had done enough and other days she wanted to be out for her full 20 minutes. The vet advised us to find a good surface hill for her to walk up a couple of times each time she was out as this would build her muscle. By week four, although your dog (and you!) is still confined to one room, they should start feeling much better and experiencing less pain.

Post Surgery; Week Six to Twelve

By this point, exercise can usually be increased to longer walks on a short leash with the potential of your dog being allowed out in your backyard. If all is well, they may engage in short trots (if advised). If the extra activity increases pain and discomfort, let your vet know so their program can be readjusted. This period focuses on increasing their exercise tolerance and strengthening their core.

Post Surgery; Twelve Weeks and After

The return to normality and a fully functional knee is in sight! Depending on veterinary advice and the progression of your dog’s recovery, they should be able to be let off the leash and allowed to run around and climb stairs. As a rule of thumb, your dog is expected to be engaging in their previous level of exercise by around 12 weeks.  During the 4-month mark, they can rejoin their friends at the park and play. You can remove all the baby gates and restrictions in your home and live as you usually would pre-surgery. Although freedom has returned, mindfulness still needs to be applied, and issues with pain, lameness, and interference, such as licking at the knee, still need to be monitored and reported.

The recovery process after ACL surgery imposes a significant commitment from owners, requiring both patience and dedication. Emphasising the importance of celebrating small milestones during recovery can help maintain motivation and encourage a positive outlook. Owners who acknowledge their pet’s progress, no matter how minor, may find that it reinforces their bond and fosters a supportive recovery environment.

Sharing experiences with other Miniature Schnauzer owners can provide valuable insights and support throughout this journey. Online forums and local support groups can offer a platform for exchanging advice, sharing success stories, and finding encouragement during challenging times. This sense of community can be instrumental in navigating the complexities of recovery.

Finally:

Remember to stay in touch with your veterinarian for follow-up on the surgery and to ensure your dog remains in good health for a quick recovery. Organisations like Miniature Schnauzer Rescue Ireland & Miniature Schnauzer Fundraising Group are valuable resources for pet owners, offering guidance and assistance for both new and seasoned Schnauzer owners. Their commitment to raising funds for veterinary care and adoption services highlights the importance of community involvement in ensuring the well-being of these dogs. By tapping into these resources, owners can find the support and information they need to navigate the recovery process effectively. 

The Future:

As you can see, Tory IS going strong! Whilst the journey has been challenging, through the right advice and following the right amount of recuperation, your beloved furry WILL be back to themselves, enjoying life and being an integral part of your family!!