Cutting muscle out of a dog

[Spiffing]

Has anyone had any experiences with dogs having damaged muscle cut out?

My dog ripped his hamstring and abductor muscle a year yesterday and I have been struggling to get him sound since. He was back on 3 legs for the majority of the weekend with no exercise at all. He has seen the vets, osteopath and has a light therapy on it twice a day. This seems to work for a while and then he goes back to being lame.

The other treatment is for the damaged muscle to be cut out which may or may not work and will lead to reduced function.

He has only just turned 2 and is has had such a st life this part year that I am considering the operation even with the side affects and the risk of putting him through it with no improvements.

[Mr Gearchange]

Nothing helpful to add I'm afraid.

But you win most abstract and disturbing thread title.

[Spiffing]

It does sound like I'm going to link a story of horrific cruelty, I didn't consider that when I titled it.

[bexVN]

The only time I have seen muscle removed was in gsd's. Often contra indicated now but was a useful procedure for many dogs back in the day (we removed the pectinius muscle to free up movement in hip dysplasia cases.

Who have you spoken to about this procedure?

Try and find a physiotherapist who specialises in animals (there aren't many) rather than an osteopath as may be more appropriate in this case, combined with hydrotherapy.

The worry is that this should've have been done many months ago (you mention light therapy but it prob should've been more aggressive) so the muscle is likely to have atrophyed beyond full recovery but it's still worth trying alternatives to surgery. Surgery in this case would be a final treatment.

Edited by bexVN on Monday 16th January 12:40

[Spiffing]

Thanks Bex. I have spoken to my regular vet and a nurse who works at an Orthopaedic Veterinary Referral practise. She had the procedure done on her dog, it did not improve the condition but made the dog have a more limited range of mobility. I'm seeing my vet again on Weds so I think i'm going to ask for a consultation at the refferals just to see what the vet there advises.

[gd49]

Spiffing said:

Thanks Bex. I have spoken to my regular vet and a nurse who works at an Orthopaedic Veterinary Referral practise. She had the procedure done on her dog, it did not improve the condition but made the dog have a more limited range of mobility. I'm seeing my vet again on Weds so I think i'm going to ask for a consultation at the refferals just to see what the vet there advises.

I'd definately be seeing a specialist orthopod vet before having any sort of muscle removal. There's some condition where removal of parts of bones or joints can be beneficial but I'm not familar with any conditons which would benefit from removing parts of muscle.

[tenex]

Perhaps not quite the same, but I had a Cocker that suffered a compound fracture of the leg at a similar age. After very basic treatment (all that was available then) she ran around on three legs for long enough, then eventually got to four and only reverted to three when tired.
She worked all her life and the injury didn't really hamper her too much.
She was retired at age 13 because she went deaf and went on to 15 1/2.
Although unfortunate, there is no reason why a 'three wheel drive dog' cannot lead a full life.

[mr2mk1chick]

I'd definately get a referral as this is a specialist job IMO.
Also hydrotherapy should help with the existing muscle to get it workign to its best potential. physio and poss therapeutic ultrasound may be better, but usually early stages for muscle healing. a year later and nopw you are probably stcuk with what healing there was. need to look at therapy now i rekon.
hope it all goes well.

[Jasandjules]

Has the dog been swimming at all so that the muscle can be worked? There are a few grooming parlours who do this now.

As above though, I'd be looking to find a specialist.