Panzer completely ruptured his ACL in his left leg in Sept 2014. Panzer is a 5-year-old Doberman who weighs around 105 lbs. He’s lean and loves to run the fence line and turn on a dime…thus the ACL tear.

His surgery was a success! He gained back all of the muscle in his left leg and was doing great….then the unthinkable happened. One year later, Panzer tore his lateral meniscus on the same leg he had his TPLO on. I let him outside to pee one morning and he came back in the door “toe-touching” with his left leg. During an arthroscopic procedure, the surgeon determined that Panzer had a severely shredded lateral meniscus that needed to be cut out. The surgeon told me that this is a very rare tear and the probability of Panzer returning to 100% was up in the air.

It is now 4 months post surgery. Panzer is still toe-touching and not utilizing his leg even 15% of the time. He will try to use it while he is walking or jogging but not when standing. He is on Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl, and Adequan. I am also doing laser therapy and acupuncture. I have seen multiple docs about this issue and they all say “it is what it is”….basically he has to live with the extreme arthritis that is now built up in his left knee. I can’t seem to find anyone who has had any experience with this type of injury and the recovery prognosis. Any feedback from individuals that have  had similar problems with their dogs in this regard would be greatly welcomed.

The post Panzer – Lateral Meniscus Tear appeared first on Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries.

Simba got his surgery done at a vet that specializes in knee surgery so we decided to do his TTA surgery there. Simba stayed over night at the hospital and came home with us yesterday. He is not eating his food (Simba is on a raw food diet) but ate a small amount of tuna with his medicine today. 

The bandage is still attached and we are scheduled to see the surgeon for his suture removal in 9 days. Simba was restless so I was up with him giving him an ice pack along with Tramadol medication. He seems better in the daytime; he even put his full weight while we went out for a quick pee!

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My Australian Shepherd, Shadow, is 7 years old now. He has always been a very active dog, so needless to say, the last four months have been crazy. 

On October 13, Shadow was hit by a car; luckily the guy was barely moving 5 mph or this would’ve been way worse. Shadow’s right front leg was degloved from the wrist joint down, ruptured his medial collateral ligament, and fractured his ulnar process. I rushed him to the vet where he stayed for four nights. Keep in mind that I am a teacher, fresh out of college, so my pay currently is pretty crappy. No other veterinarian would even look at my dog’s case because of the nature of the injury.

Putting him down was simply not an option. Not for a foot injury. I was in shambles while talking to the orthopedic surgeon. He said Shadow needed debridement surgery and pins inserted into his ligament and then a second surgery to remove the pins. These two surgeries would have cost me more than $5,000. I didn’t have that money. Just in the week-long stay and wound care I depleted my minuscule savings and maxed out a credit card for a lovely amount of $1,250. The surgery would’ve been an additional $2,600…YIKES.

This wonderful orthopedic surgeon did me a massive solid. He knew I would never be able to afford that second surgery. He knocked $900 off the debridement AND he sutured the ligament back together and to surrounding tissues as it was ripped from the bone at no additional cost. I was given a debridement surgery and a ligamentous surgery mixed together for $900 cheaper than the original surgery. He said there was a 50/50 shot that it would hold. It held!

Post surgery, Shadow had a soft cast, splint, and collagen-based wound care with a two week round of antibiotics. It took 10 weeks for a scab to form over the wound and the smell thus far was atrocious. He was given Tramadol for pain and Trazodone for sleep. During this time, since the odds for his ligament holding were definitely not in his favor, I began him on fish oil and glucosamine/chondroiton supplements. I kept him rested and confined. Since he usually sleeps in the bed, I slept on the floor by him so he wouldn’t jump.  

The surgery worked. He was able to fix the ligament. Shadow rarely limps and can run full speed again. He needed weekly wound changes and monthly x-rays which was a financial strain, but it was worth it. My sweet baby is back in action. I am very thankful for how this turned out. Shadow is my kid and my best friend. I bring him everywhere with me. He’s also a remarkable service dog. He has taken such good care of me that me not taking care of him was not an option.

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My Roxy girl is 2.5 yrs old and weighs 55 pounds. I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago because she was throwing up. She was diagnosed with Giardia and pancreatitis. She stopped throwing up immediately after being treated. A few days later I took her for a hike, our favorite activity. She came back limping on her back paw and had blood on her front paw. I took her in for emergency care as this happened at 8pm on a Friday. She needed stitches and they said she had a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (CCL).

So in less than one week’s time, she had four different things wrong with her. She has a consultation appointment 3 weeks from now. I’m totally undecided as to how to treat her. I’m trying not to let costs get in the way of my decision. I just want whats best for her. I know I wouldn’t want to be operated on.

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Hey there! It is with great pleasure that I share Periwinkle’s success with her “traditional” knee repair surgery. Winksy is a 6-ish year old pit bull terrier or mix.

I am sharing this story 3 years after Winksy’s surgery because I wanted to give the repair time to succeed or fail, so to speak. My lovely, lively Periwinkle was about 3 years old at the time of her repair & now at 6+ she is still living a very happy, fulfilling life with crazy-legged forest adventures & long walks.

Winks has always been one happy, wild mama living life to the fullest. Like so many of you, we were just devastated at the news of her degenerative knee issues & I was truly worried sick to my stomach over the mass of choices out there. Additionally, I am a dog trainer in the Portland, OR area so Winks is not only my sidekick in life but also in work. If you are reading this & currently making a decision about which surgery, which doctor, or whether to do a surgery at all, my empathy is strongly with you. We toiled over these decisions for months before we finally landed on the traditional repair. There is so much information out there & lots of big choices to make. We initially tried conservative management with no success. Ultimately, we went the surgery route & are very happy with the surgery & doctor we worked with. We would do it again in a heartbeat. 

The torn ligament tissue was removed from both of Winksy’s knees & a dissolving nylon medical wire was wrapped around both knee joints to stabalize the joints. The wire, as stated, dissolved over 3-4 months post surgery when the joint had some stabilization. Both knees were repaired simultaneously so Periwinkle went through one anesthesia & one recovery process. It easily took Winksy 6 months to be at a point where she was walking very strongly again.

We did rehab at a doggie swimming pool here in Portland. We also followed the rehab guidelines from Dr. James, which you can sign up for here – http://dogkneeinjury.com/cruciate-rehab-guide-popup/ Winksy is still taking a joint supplement Glycanaid from Top Dog Health & takes fish oil.

I want to be very clear that Periwinkle has had great success with this surgery. At this point, her knee is entirely stabilized from scar tissue alone. She has NO foreign bodies in her knees. Her bone was not altered. She is all dawg! Periwinkle goes hiking with me for 1 – 1.5 hours once or twice a week & goes on daily walks for probably an hour. She is in excellent shape & living a dog’s life!

If I were able to put my 2 cents out there, I would say, “Go with your gut!” Go with what works for you & your family considering your beliefs & budget. All surgeries have a success rate. Pick the surgery you believe in & MOST importantly, pick a surgeon you believe in. We went with a surgeon we really believed in who also believed in his work. We were not comfortable with the TPLO (which is very popular in the Pac NW) because of budgetary restrictions, the supposed need to alter bone when the ligament is the issue (WTF?), the likelihood of the metal being painful during cold winter months, & the fact that if something goes wrong with the TPLO, Periwinkle might have to have a second surgery to remove metal from her bone. It just didn’t feel right to us. That being said, I know many dogs who have had successful TPLO surgeries, & some who haven’t. Both of the dogs I know who have had the ExCap surgery are successful cases.

Good luck! My heart goes out to you!

The post Traditional Extracapsular Repair – Periwinkle appeared first on Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries.

I cannot praise this website enough and thank you to everyone who has contributed. I feel qualified to give my 100% endorsement to using the conservative management method because I have experienced both TPLO surgery and opting out of surgery and following the CM method. There is NO WAY that I would ever recommend the TPLO surgery route to anyone.

My first dog, Durango, a black Lab, got a ruptured ACL at age 6. The vet recommended TPLO surgery (cost over $3,000) and since I knew no better I agreed. The surgery went ok but it was a long and painful recovery for my poor little girl and a year or so later she ruptured her other knee and again, since I knew no better, I just trusted the vet to perform another surgery. Durango always walked with a limp after that and got arthritis in both legs. On rainy days she could barely walk.

So….more recently when my 7-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog had a knee injury and I had her checked at the vet (a different vet now, because this is about 10 years later and we live in another state), of course the first and only thing this vet recommended was TPLO surgery (about $3,000). This time, unlike last time, I was not in a position to be able to pay $3,000 and I just cried when I left that office. UNTIL…..I got home and searched frantically for another option. Thankfully I found this site and Tiggerpoz site and was blessed to find the conservative management approach to help my dog. I followed it every step of the way and Annabelle recovered. But, you might have guessed within about 6 months she injured her other knee, which is very common among dogs with knee injuries, since they favor the good leg.

Again, I followed the CM approach and today (over a year later, don’t have the actual dates handy) she is actually chasing squirrels again!!! This is a (just turned) 9-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog who has more energy and is more active than she was before the surgery…..it’s a miracle and I have this site and these people to thank!!!!!

I want to spread this news so that vets will stop trying to make money off surgery that is not necessary. My vet was not happy with my decision but now cannot deny that the CM works. Unfortunately I still don’t think this is what he will recommend to his other patients for the obvious reasons. Sad but true.

THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION….IT HAS TRULY CHANGED MY LIFE. I hope my 2 different experiences can help someone else decide what is best for their dog.

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I joined this community because my 3-year-old Lab, Jackson, was just diagnosed with a partial cruciate ligament tear. The vet receommended surgery, and said it didn’t need to be done right away, but eventually it would. After going home upset at the though of putting my poor baby under the knife, I began researching other options. Conservative management was something I had never heard of, but it seems like the right choice for us at this point. 

Jackson is not in pain, he can bear weight and he’s just a crazy 3 year old. The only time he limps is after a big run…which has been extremely limited. We have restricted his exercise to just walks–no off leash play/running. I massage his leg in the evenings and he will be starting hydrotherapy and laser treatments in the next week or so. I will be adding omega 3 supplements to his diet. Treatment isn’t cheap, but a lot less than the quoted surgery. I will keep everyone posted with our progress and hope this heals….thanks for reading!

The post Beginning Conservative Management – Jackson appeared first on Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries.

My 9-year-old 64 lb Kaylie became critically ill in June 2015 and was diagnosed with canine systemic lupus (which acts very much like human lupus) but luckily I found a wonderful internal medicine vet  who is very knowledgable in this area. Through immunosuppressive drugs–Prednisone and Imuran among them–she has been in remission since mid-summer 2015, though she still requires careful monitoring as well as regular lab work and vet visits.

Four weeks ago she slid off the bed and yelped, refusing to bear weight on her left hind leg. A drawer exam confirmed a CCL rupture. This was a terrible setback for her as she is not a surgical candidate due to the Prednisone and her diminished immune system. I researched non-surgical treatment and decided to try a stifle/knee brace through Animal Orthocare. They were expeditious in making her a custom fitted brace. We are using it intermittently along with a lift harness, weight reduction, restricted activity, morning Tramadol, and started on Glucosamine/Chondroitin. We are now 5 weeks post injury and she is putting weight on her hind leg even without the brace on and seems pretty comfortable, though her leg does quiver when walking with or without the brace–not sure what to make of that.

She will be off Prednisone in a few more weeks and if a couple months go by and she does not relapse with the lupus, she may be a surgical candidate; however, I am leaning strongly against surgery as she will be immunosuppressed for the rest of her life, so I’m very worried about the increased risk of infection with a surgery. I will keep you all posted as we go along.

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I am writing to share Maggie’s story because when I found out about her injury I scoured the internet for stories relating to cruciate injuries and this website was my saving grace! We adopted Maggie at 8 weeks old as a rescue pup from New Mexico. We are avid hikers so Maggie was always hiking with us. At about 4 years old after a hike up a local mountain, Maggie would not get up from her doggie bed. I picked her up and instead of putting weight on her back legs they kind of slid out from under her. The next day she was completely normal and so I just figured she was tired. This was the most frustrating part of this ordeal for us. Because Maggie would be slow to get up after a longer than normal walk, but be completely fine the next day, it was hard to believe the vet when he said she would need a $3,500 TPLO surgery.

Once we realized that Maggie did indeed have a torn CCL (after more than 4 vet visits with just as many diagnoses) I researched and researched alternatives to TPLO surgeries. I just couldn’t see spending our life savings on two surgeries (both of Maggie’s knees needed to be repaired). I eventually came across Buck’s story on this website. As we are from Fort Collins I made an appointment with the vet from this article and I am so thankful that I did! Maggie had the traditional repair on both knees by Dr. Mike at the Pet Wellness Clinic. So far to date I can report that Maggie has exceeded my expectations from the surgery. We are about 1.5 years away from her last knee surgery. We don’t take her on long hikes up mountains anymore, mostly because we have a growing family and we don’t go on big backpacking trips like we used to. But we do take her on shorter hikes and she handles them very well. Maggie has had other issues, including a rare disease called Myasthenia Gravis and Megaesophagus, and the staff at PWC has gone above and beyond to help Maggie through her various illnesses.

I wanted to share Maggie’s story because I think it’s crazy to ask pet owners to spend so much on TPLO surgeries when the traditional repair can be effective in larger breed dogs and also less invasive to your pup! My advice would be to try to find a vet who still performs the traditional surgery in your area!

The post Traditional Repair – Maggie appeared first on Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries.

An exciting new surgical option has been developed for treatment of canine cruciate injuries. It is called Simitri Stable in Stride®, invented by Dr. Neil Embleton and Dr. Veronica Barkowski in Alberta, Canada.

Dr. Embleton has almost 30 years of experience in treating canine cruciate injuries and has performed at least six thousand repairs, conservatively. He is certified in AO/ASIF techniques, spinal surgery, arthroscopy, TPLO, and total hip replacement. After performing close to 2,500 TPLO surgeries, Dr. Embleton started to question the goal of geometry-modifying procedures. “I began to think about what the role of the cranial cruciate ligament was and how we could reproduce its function and maintain joint biomechanics in as least an invasive method as possible. That process began 6 years ago. The result was the Simitri Stable in Stride® implant,” he said.

Simitri Stable in Stride® is a three-part, modular stifle (knee) stabilizing implant. It is designed to provide continuous translational and rotational stability while minimally affecting stifle kinematics and biomechanics. It is this symmetry between the two main objectives of cruciate repair techniques–stability and kinematics–from which the name Simitri is derived. Other surgical procedures would often result in one objective or the other, but never both. Simitri has changed that. No osteotomy (cutting bone) is performed and joint architecture is preserved. The implant is made with surgical grade stainless steel femoral and tibial plates and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) sliding articulating insert. Dr. Embleton explains in detail how it works in this interview with Dawg Business:

A=femoral plate, B=tibial plate, C=articular insert

“The femoral plate has a ball and stem which interconnects with the tibial plate via an 8 mm travel channel within the articulating insert. The implant is attached to the medial (inner) side of both the femur (thigh) and tibia (shin) using six cortical locking screws. The implant does not go into the joint and, no bones or muscles are cut during the procedure making it a less invasive option.

Joint biomechanics (function) are not significantly altered during the procedure. Once implanted it provides immediate and continuous translational and rotational stability while allowing the joint the freedom to flex, extend, compress, expand and move side to side in as normal a manner as possible.”

Dr. Embleton and Dr. Barkowski focused on evidence-based results as much as possible during the development process. “Implant design engineering was done using CT scans and CAD software, the implant design was tested and refined using 3D computer modelling and biomechanical testing. Finally, cadaver work was used to establish the surgical procedure before going anywhere near a live patient,” Dr. Embleton said.

Dr. Barkowski has been practicing veterinary medicine for nearly 30 years as well. While her main area of expertise now is soft tissue surgery, she was instrumental in the development of the Simitri implant and the surgical technique, said Dr. Embleton. She was especially involved with developing the method used to accurately position the implant during surgery based on measurements obtained from the preoperative radiographs.

While it is difficult to compare Simitri with other existing surgical procedures due to such stark differences in technique, results from Simitri clinical trials are promising. So far these trials have shown that after Simitri surgery, dogs regain normal range of motion, which has not been shown in studies of any of the current procedures.

Postoperative lateral view

The initial study of the first 66 Simitri cases indicated very similar complication values compared to what is currently reported for TPLO and TTA surgeries; however, the types of complications encountered were significantly different and generally less serious than TPLO or TTA, Dr. Embleton said. Because Simitri is less invasive than other procedures, osteotomy-related complications (eg. higher rates of infection) are nonexistent. Minor complications such as incision site breakdown, swelling, and bleeding can be expected to occur at similar rates after any procedure.

Simitri is designed to provide stability in the knees immediately after surgery and remain stable throughout the entire phase of stride (both weight bearing and non-weight bearing), unlike other surgeries. With TPLO and TTA, for example, the knee is purported to be “dynamically stable,” which means it is stable during only the weight bearing phase of stride. The full stability in Simitri knees may protect the joint from further damage, especially to the menisci (cartilages). “To date we have not seen any dogs develop clinical signs of meniscal tears after Simitri surgery,” Dr. Embleton said.

Postoperative AP view

After 175 cases of Simitri surgery performed by Dr. Embleton, there has yet to be a documented case of postoperative infection. Rejection of the implant is also unlikely as both surgical grade stainless steel plates and the UHMWPE are both highly biocompatible.

Although dependent on age, breed, degree of preexisting disease or injury, and rehabilitation effort by the owners, most Simitri dogs return to their preoperative activity level within four months. Ideal rehabilitation includes controlled exercise, massage, and passive range of motion exercises, all of which are designed to strengthen the hind end and increase ROM of the ankle, knee, and hip. Because there is no cutting of bone or muscle during the procedure, postoperative restrictions are not as onerous, said Dr. Embleton.

Simitri is an option for any dog (without neoplasia or a known infection) that fits the currently available implants, which fit most dogs between 44 and 79 lbs (20-36 kg). A smaller design is also available that should allow dogs as small as 22 lbs (10 kg) to be treated. Implants for dogs larger than 80 lbs are currently in the design process and will hopefully be available by the end of this year. Simitri is an option for dogs of any age as well. In fact, “Simitri is ideal for older patients,” Dr. Embleton said. “Our oldest patient treated to date was 14 years old. He was walking within 24 hours of surgery.” The longest cases of Simitri knees have been out for over three years now.

As far as geographic availability is concerned, there are several vets in both Canada and the U.S. who are now performing Simitri surgery. Dr. Embleton and Dr. Barkowski hope that Simitri will become more widely available as awareness and knowledge of the procedure grows in the veterinary world. “We now have pre-surgical planning guides and a step-by-step surgical guide to assist surgeons in performing the procedure. We are also considering offering wet labs and I am willing to help any veterinarian at any time,” Dr. Embleton said. The implant itself is manufactured in the U.S. and is available worldwide.

 
There is still a long way to go in the evolution of canine cruciate injury repair techniques, but Dr. Embleton is optimistic about the future. “This may sound strange coming from a surgeon, but my hope is that one day we can use nonsurgical means to treat, or better yet to prevent, cruciate ligament disease,” he said. While it will probably be many years before that option is available, he believes that immediate stability throughout the stride is the key to success in cruciate surgery. “I don’t know if the Simitri implant is the answer that we have been looking for, or just the direction we should be following. I do know this: we now have a new way to look at an old disease.”

Dr. Embleton would be happy to hear from dog owners and their veterinarians. For questions or more information, you may contact him directly at stifle.simitri@gmail.com. Veterinarians can also contact New Generation Devices for more information about the Simitri implant.

The post New Emerging Treatment: Simitri Stable in Stride appeared first on Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries.

Three months ago in February, my Scottie Terrier, Sophie, tore her CCL. She is 22.5 lbs and 7 years old. She had x-rays and saw two different vets, one being an orthopedic who recommend the band surgery. He manipulated it and said it was completely torn (not sure if he can really tell?) Anyway, I made the mistake of not restricting her from activity (I also live in a 3-story) and 3 months later, I decided it was not any better and then I went and consulted with another orthopedic (he recommended a TTA). After scheduling her surgery, I continued to be very scared and nervous to say the least about her having surgery. So I cancelled it after much reading and research. I’m still not sure if I made the right decision.

So it’s been a week now and I have started restricting her, with limited walking, and no running, jumping, or stairs. I am still trying to find out if I should do water therapy with her (wading and swimming) and the proper way to do it with her. I made her wade in the water yesterday and then I felt awful because it was hurting her the rest of the day and she started hopping back around. I would appreciate any suggestions out there and have I made the right decision in not doing surgery? Will my baby heal? Thanks so much.

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MacDuff is an almost 15-year-old terrier mix who weighs 21 lbs and is very healthy but 2 weeks ago he injured his back right knee and we’ve been told he needs a unilateral TPLO for $5,000 with an estimated 8 weeks of recovery. I initially said yes but then started wondering if that would be the best decision. He can walk on that leg, although at times he is a little less stable when he tries to pivot. He can lift it to pee and still shows his usual joy and happiness. We bought a dog stroller and have been conservative with his walks….brief to allow his “business,” no running or sudden movements, no stairs, and we lift him up and down into the stroller, onto the bed, etc. I am more and more wondering about taking a conservative management approach and would appreciate feedback. I love my boy so much and would do anything for him but I don’t want to subject him to painful, major surgery with months of possible recovery if there are other ways to help him heal. PLEASE HELP.

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Our 8-year-old Goldendoodle Lucy was at our dog boarder while we were on vacation and we received an email that she had injured herself running while off leash. We picked her up a few days later and realized it was much worse than what they had described; she was trying to walk on 3 legs, keeping her back right leg off the ground. We took her to the vet, who diagnosed her with a partial tear and wanted to do surgery the same day. We opted for conservative management and started weekly hydrotherapy. We also got a second opinion from a naturopathic vet who agreed that it was a partial tear but felt that she would heal on her own.

She seemed to be doing better until one night we heard a crunching noise that seemed to come from her leg and she was back to hopping on 3 legs again. We went back to the naturopathic vet the next morning and she felt that the ACL had fully torn and that we needed to see a specialist about the possibility of surgery.

We were so upset because this is what we’d been trying to avoid. It had now been 3 months since she first injured herself and so we got an appointment for the specialist and I noticed that he was focusing on her back while he was examining her. She was extremely uncomfortable when he pressed on her lower back and in her groin area and she whimpered during the exam. She wasn’t showing too much pain when he examined her knee and decided to take x-rays to see if that would show anything. The x-rays came back with no arthritic bone changes and no fluid build up so he was pretty certain that it wasn’t her knee at all. He told us that her groin muscle had been severely pulled and that it would recover completely with more rest and to stop the swimming since that was aggravating it. We rested her for 3 more weeks with short walks and she has made a wonderful recovery.

If you’re unsure whether your dog’s knee is the actual problem area, I would recommend speaking to your vet about the possibility of a groin pull. He/she can examine for that at the same time. We are SO glad that we never went ahead with that surgery. Lucy would have been in pain for no reason at all. According to our vet, groin muscle pulls can be so bad that the dog will exhibit exactly the same symptoms as a knee problem, ACL tear, etc.

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Hydrotherapy comes from Greek words meaning “water healing,” and can be a great option for post-operative dogs, as well as for dogs suffering from hip dysplasia, the amputation of a limb, a spinal injury, paralysis, obesity, fractures, or arthritis. Hydrotherapy uses the properties of water — buoyancy, viscosity, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure — to enable a dog to move without stressing the joints. Due to increased resistance of the water, a 5-minute swim is roughly equivalent to a 5-mile walk. The benefits of hydrotherapy are many, including:

• increases circulation, flexibility, endurance, range of motion, and muscle strength
• helps improve immune function
• improves coordination and balance
• helps digestion
• decreases swelling and pain
• promotes weight loss and general fitness
• increases relaxation and confidence

There are several different types of pools used for canine hydrotherapy, including underwater treadmills, whirlpools, and dog pools. The type of pool your dog will use is dependent on factors like your dog’s comfort level and reason for therapy. Dog pools are most often used for beginners and underwater treadmills are used for dogs who are accustomed to swimming or who have joint problems. Most pools have a ramp for entry and exit and some also have harnesses and hoists to help get the dog in and out of the water. Your dog may also be required  to wear a life jacket as a general safety precaution. If this is the case, your dog will be first gently introduced to the jacket and then to the pool. Depending on their size, they may be either carried or lead into the water, which is usually between 80 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit and treated with chlorine or an alternate chemical. Some hydrotherapy clinics allow you to get into the water with your dog or they will have trained hydrotherapists who do the water work.

If at any point you feel uncomfortable, don’t be shy about asking that your dog be removed from the pool. Remember that your dog’s emotional and physical well-being is the priority. You know your dog better than anyone, and if you sense that your dog is in pain or is unsafe, speak up!

Hydrotherapy is a great non weight-bearing option for post-operative dogs, but only if the surgical wounds have completely healed. It is not recommended if your dog has any infections or infectious skin diseases, open wounds, heart disease, pulmonary disease, or any compromises to the ears.

It is also important to note that there is a big difference between going to a hydrotherapy clinic with trained professionals and simply letting your dog jump in your backyard pool. Without proper supervision or stabilization in the water, your dog may be putting pressure on the wrong areas of the body and may actually cause more harm than good. Before choosing a pool or therapist, think about what benefits you hope your dog will gain from swimming. Always consult with your veterinarian first to determine if your dog is a candidate, and ask what type of pool is best for your dog’s specific needs.

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What It Is

Turmeric, an herb known for its bright orange color, has long been used in its native Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries as a staple for not only cooking and clothing dye, but also as medicine. For thousands of years, Chinese medicine, for example, has incorporated herbal remedies as part of its holistic approach to health. Elements like nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle play large roles in this type of treatment, and it’s not just for people! Our dogs can benefit from herbal medicine just as we do.

The active ingredient in turmeric is called curcumin, which gives turmeric its signature orange hue and is also responsible for a multitude of health benefits. Perhaps the most significant benefit of curcumin as it relates to dogs with cruciate injuries is that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory and natural painkiller. It is also a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, which can be useful for disinfecting and treating wounds. So if your dog is recovering from surgery and is a bit swollen or in pain, turmeric might just do the trick.

Other benefits include:

• Contains powerful antioxidants
• Detoxifies the body
• Purifies and thins blood
• Supports heart health
• Stimulates bile production in the liver (metabolizes fat and removes waste from the body)
• Aids in stomach ailments, digestive disorders, bloating, and gas
• Helps relieve allergies
• Treats diarrhea
• Aids in the treatment of epilepsy
• Can help prevent and even treat cancer
• High in fiber and rich in vitamins and minerals

How to Administer

You can feed turmeric powder or fresh turmeric root directly to your dog by sprinkling it on top of or mixing it in with his/her food. But you might also try whipping up a batch of turmeric golden paste, which you can also add directly too his/her food, but includes ingredients that help absorption of nutrients in the body. It’s important to get high quality, organic turmeric because it is much more potent than non-organic. Golden paste recipes vary slightly, but here is a basic one for you to try:

-1/2 cup of organic turmeric powder
-1-2 cups of water
-1/3 cup of cold-pressed olive or coconut oil
-2 teaspoons of black pepper

Stir turmeric powder and 1 cup of water in a pot over gentle heat for about 7-10 minutes until you have a thick paste. You may need to add more water if it gets too thick. Add the oil and pepper (especially important for absorption so don’t omit!) at the END of cooking and stir well until all oil is incorporated. Allow to cool. Store in a clean glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also freeze a portion of the paste if you don’t think you will use it all in two weeks. 

The amount of paste you give your dog depends on his/her size. A good starting point is around 1/8-1/4 teaspoon per day for every 10 lbs of dog weight (so 1/2-1 teaspoon for a 40-lb dog). It’s a good idea to start on the low side and see if you notice any changes in your dog over a period of time. Turmeric does pass quickly through the body so make sure your dog has lots of fresh water available to avoid constipation.

If you are using turmeric topically, you can mix the powder with a little honey and apply it directly to your dog’s skin. Keep an eye out, though, because he/she might try to lick it off!

One last thing: we mentioned earlier that turmeric thins blood. This can be good for preventing blood clots, but we don’t want blood to be too thin. If your dog is on medication, especially those that thin the blood, check with your vet for the appropriate dosage.

Where To Buy Ingredients

Turmeric – Kevala Organic Turmeric Root Powder

Coconut Oil – Carrington Farms Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

The post Turmeric for Dogs appeared first on Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries.

There are many ways to help your dog heal after surgery, such as acupuncture, massage, or turmeric paste. Another treatment you may have heard of is photonic light therapy, which uses a laser with red or near-infrared light to penetrate damaged cells at specific points on the body. A laser, in the simplest terms, is an amplifier of light, emitted in the form of photons (electromagnetic energy). The absorption and penetration levels of each photon is determined by its wavelength. When the photons, in the form of light, come into contact with biological tissue, part of it is absorbed, part is reflected or scattered, and part is further transmitted. The primary benefits of light therapy come from those photons that are absorbed, initiating activity at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Interestingly, damaged cells and tissues have been shown to have a significantly higher response to light therapy than healthy cells.

At its core, light therapy does three main things: increases healing, decreases inflammation, and decreases pain. But how?

Application of red light therapy stimulates mitochondria within a cell, which increases production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), all of which are involved in various physiological and pathological processes in the body. ATP, for example, sends signals to the brain to release endorphins and serotonin, which are both natural pain relievers. Other healing effects triggered by light therapy include:

• Increased oxygenation in the cell
• Increased cell generation and migration
• Increased circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Increased antibody production in the bloodstream
• Increased collagen production, which strengthens tendons, bones, cartilage, and skin
• Suppression of enzymes that cause inflammation

Red and near-infrared light can penetrate tissue because they are not blocked by blood or water as much as other wavelengths. This wavelength is also used in medical settings for people, treating things like burns, wounds, joint/muscle pain, and other injuries. We of course know now that light therapy can be used to treat certain ailments in animals as well. Over the past several years, new developments in technology have made it possible to administer light therapy to your dog in the comfort of your own home with smaller, portable lasers. If you don’t feel comfortable administering light therapy yourself, however, many veterinarians will do it in their office.

Improvements are often seen after only a few light therapy sessions, but may take up to 12 in chronic cases, before shifting to less frequent sessions. Some chronic conditions, such as arthritis, require ongoing therapy. While photonic light therapy may very well be a good option for expediting your dog’s post-surgery healing process, there are a few things to be aware of. Light therapy should not be used:

• On the eyes, as it may cause retinal damage
• If cancer is present, because the therapy could potentially stimulate cancerous cell activity
• If your dog has any kind of bleeding disorder
• Over the reproductive organs

As with any kind of treatment, always consult with your vet. He/she can evaluate your dog’s particular situation and help you decide if photonic light therapy is a good option for you.

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Blue is a 2-year-old pit bull who stole my heart the day I laid eyes on her. She was 8 weeks when we got her. She began to have problems with her hind right leg and when we took her for x-rays, they discovered the torn ACL. She was barely a year old. We were told she would eventually have to have surgery. They gave us pain meds and said to keep an eye on her. Well, here we are now, 48 hours after surgery. I am a worrier by nature!! I cried profusely when I had to leave her at the animal hospital for the procedure. However, the staff took excellent care of her. Yesterday when we went to pick her up the doctor showed us the before and after x-rays. I was very pleased. Blue has a long road ahead of her and as a parent I want to do what’s best for her. I need the support that you all offer.

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My dog Bella was also diagnosed with a partially torn ACL about 6-8 weeks ago. We have been trying a conservative approach. Our vet even gave me a lite sedative for her because she is so used to being so active. I have seen about a 20% improvement. She limps mainly when she first gets up but then walks it out. However, She has been on a very strict conservative regime. Only short leash walks and basically caged indoors. I am giving her the supplements and she’s on a grain free diet.

I am nervous because I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. She (and I) are depressed. We hiked everyday, she was an avid baseball outfielder for my son, and she was also a working dog in my yard to protect the house. She probably got 4-6 miles in a day.

She is an 80-pound poodle mix and just turned 5. Will she ever have a normal life again? I hate to put her through surgury which in NY cost about $6,500 but she is young and wants to be active again to play and do her job which she absolutely loves!!

HELP!!!! What should I do? Continue this path or go for the surgery?

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Initially we tried conservative management with my pit/shepherd mix Blu because I did not want to put him through surgery. We had some success with that for about a year until I got another dog and he reinjured it rough housing. We tried CM again but this time he wasn’t improving so we made the tough decision and my baby had TPLO on 9/29/16; tomorrow will be 6 weeks in.

He developed an infection week 1 and was put on 2 different antibiotics. He seemed to be improving
by week 3 and he was using his leg pretty regularly so we started him on physical therapy. The therapist said he was doing great and we were feeling pretty good about our decision until a couple days later when he stopped using his leg all together. We went to the emergency vet because he was lying on his pillow shaking and she said she thought he had an infection. Because he wasn’t responding to the antibiotics she thought exploratory surgery would be appropriate. I wasn’t about to put him through that unless the surgeon recommended it so we packed him up and drove back to where he had his surgery. We waited for 3 hours to see a fill in for the surgeon who was on medical leave. The Dr. tried aspirating fluid from 3 different spots in his leg but didn’t get anything so he thought he may have just slipped and hurt it and would be back to normal in a few days. We left with some Metacam and Tramadol relieved.

A few days later he was not any better and completely lame so we went and saw another vet filling in for the surgeon. This time the Dr. successfully aspirated fluid and put him on another round of antibiotics (Chloramphenicol) and said we would see a big improvement within a few days. A few days later he was improving slower than we were told so we took him back to the vet this time seeing the Dr. who did his surgery. The results had come back from the culture done during our previous visit and we were told he had a staph infection but not the resistant kind. The vet did x-rays, said everything looked good and we were given another week of Chloramphenicol. He said if that didn’t work they may have to take the plate out and then he sent us on our way.

About 4 days later he started using his leg about 50% and slowly improved from there for a few days so I was thrilled until this past Sunday he went completely lame again. He seems fine other than the fact that he’s not using his leg but I am taking him to the vet again this evening to be safe. I have read a lot of other posts on this site that are extremely disheartening and I am beside myself with worry. My question is has anyone had a similar experience and could it be he’s just recovering slower than most dogs? If there is anyone who can help ease my mind I would really appreciate it.

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My 6-and-half-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Juni, injured his left hind leg last Monday. He was jumping on and off from the couch and just like that, he started to walk with his 3 legs and had his injured leg up. He was not crying or mourning…But still, he was hopping like a kangaroo! We rushed him to our vet cuz I was freaking out! The vet had an x-ray done and told us Juni does not have any fracture or dislocation, but most likely he hurt his ligament. Thus, she prescribed us Rimadyl 25mg and told us to give him 2 weeks of resting. If it’s a ligament issue, for smaller dogs, they should be able to recover themselves (Juni is about 26 pounds, kind of a chubby guy and because he’s a corgi, he has shorter legs). So we went home with the prescription and gave him lots of rest.

For about a week, he got a little bit better that he’s putting some weight on that injured leg. But we were still worried that if it’s something more serious. So we visited another specialist, he took Juni in and did some examination without us presenting there, and came back and told us that Juni had a torn ACL and he recommended TPLO surgery. He was saying that Juni is not a small dog and kind of active (he is more of a medium size). So TPLO should work better for him. My husband and I were really scared and just made an appointment right away with the specialist for the surgery.

However, we came back home and did lots of research online, especially on this website and Tigger website, and we decided to cancel the surgery and give Juni another 6 weeks just to see if he could heal on himself. I’m always a conservative management person. He is on Rimadyl 2 pills per day, and we want to get that off soon. We just purchased a brace, a stroller, and Glucosamine supplement. We will also limit his activity during these weeks. This is gonna be a battlefield! We will fight for this together! Ever since this happened, I was crying when I saw him hopping like that. Seems like Juni was kind of discouraged as well! So we gonna make sure we all gonna be positive about it! I will be on a business trip for 2 weeks and won’t be back until the beginning of Dec, but my husband will be with Juni and keep me updated. So hopefully, when I get back, he will be able to walk as normal or better!

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