It's been over a year since Missy tore her CCL’s. After feed back from members, speaking with a vet again, and researching on line I opted to not do the surgery. I treated her with salmon oil capsules, and Novox for pain.
I didnt restrict her movement but had her take the hunting season off and did no training for 6 months. Missy had the full run of the back yard and I let her do what she wanted. First 3 months no major improvement.
By 6 months she seemed to wrestle with the other dogs and showed great improvement only occasionally required anything for pain.
After 9 months no more pain meds except after training on planted birds for 30 minutes or less. By 11 or 12 months no indication of lamness after training that day or the next morning even without Novox.
Started hunting Mearns quail the first of December using her for less than an hour with a day or two rest in between. Yesterday she covered 5 miles per the GPS. Up and down the hills like there was never a problem. She managed to find me 3 coveys and retrieve 3 birds. I figured the real test would be what she would look like this morning.
Well she met me at the back door for her breakfast and was moving better than I was that early in the morning.
Im pretty pleased with the results. Possibly I was lucky and it may have just as easily not worked out, but I am sure please how things have turned out so far.

That's just a great dog success story. Congratulations on your treatment.

Phil I'm glad it worked out for you and especially for Missy.

Phil that's fantastic news ,she's a fantastic dog !!!!

Just thought I would bring this back to the top as an update.

Mearns quail season ended today but not before a great hunt yesterday.
3 years ago I would never have believed Missy would have had a day like this.
I guess the good lord must also love bird dogs
Yesterday afternoon Missy just would not quit and accounted for 11 birds. She is 11 years old and was absolutely on fire.
She is showing her age but her heart is still in it.
We decided to walk the road back for the last mile to the truck but Missy would not walk on the road with us, and the other dog.
She kept searching out the ravines beside the road and found us some real bonus birds. A single, a 7 and a 12 bird covey.
My hunting partner David whom sold me Missy and helped me train her wanted a picture for his scrap book.
I’m posting because I am so proud of her.

You have every reason to be proud of her! Great spirit and drive in that girl!





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I think you are right Phil, God must love bird dogs. Thanks for the great photo and congrats on the great close to your season. Please give Missy a scratch behind her ear for me. Job well done ole' girl.:bowdown:

Mearns are on my bucket list as are scaled. We only have bobs here in Maryland. Someday soon as my dogs are getting up there.

PhilC,
Congratulations, I am really glad your dog pulled through. My wife and I rescued a brittany in nov. 2017 and he weighed 69 pounds. My buddy that had a big brittany said he had more leg problems than his 3 other dogs put together. I keep trying to keep his weight down, but almost expect a shorter hunting life with him because of his weight. I hope he proves me wrong. I will remember this thread, thank you for starting it.

Thanks guys for the positive comments. Missy has accounted for a few hundred wild birds for me. I hope she has a few more in her. A lot of the areas we hunt are really tough on a dog. Just a few pictures of some of the areas they hunt.

http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/56240_600x400.jpg

If you look close and expand the picture you will see Missy about center and to the right.
On Point 180 yards from us.