The boys and I have been back home from the vet’s office and eaten dinner.  I have a few minutes to update everyone on what happened with Maggie at the vet’s office this afternoon.  
About 2 weeks ago, Maggie was playing with Gavin outside and started limping.  

I was between pays and couldn’t get her into the vet right away but spoke with the vet and she was put on best rest for lack of a better term.

After the prescribed rest hadn’t worked, we brought her in to be seen and this is what we found out.  

First of all, before anyone gets twisted over waiting two weeks, Maggie was in no pain and this isn’t the first time this has happened. She’s a very, very intense dog and so a sprain or strain can take a week or so to heal.  It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before.  

This time however, she’s not getting better and that’s because she has completely torn her ACL. Basically, her back left leg just doesn’t work anymore.  

The good thing is that because it’s completely torn, there’s no pain involved but it does require a specialized surgery to repair.  

Unfortunately, that specialized surgery runs a whopping $6,000 on the low side and that’s just now practical or possible.  

The vet said that she’s not in any pain and there’s nothing inhuman about keeping her around, even without the surgery.  

The best thing we can do is really buckle down on the bed rest for Maggie and if she can do that, the injury can scar over and she’ll be able to use her leg again.  

For the next 14 days, she will live exclusively in her kennel, coming out to leash walk in order to use the bathroom.  That’s it. 

She will be on tranquilizers and anti-inflammatory during this time frame.  With any luck, she’ll just chill out and recover.  

Worst case, she’ll have a permanent limp or only use 3 legs.  Best case, everything  will scar over and she may limp from time to time but will regain use of her leg. 

😕