Many veterinarians will try to pressure owners into immediately proceeding with surgical intervention to repair a dog’s damaged cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) by saying early intervention will decrease the likelihood of arthritic changes to the knee. There is some truth to this - restriction of the knee joint after injury does help to minimize the progression of arthritic tissue in a dog with a CCL injury, but the necessary amount of restriction can be reached with conservative techniques as well as surgery. Restricting your dog’s activity following a cruciate ligament injury is your best defense against arthritis, and no owner should ever be made to feel as though surgery is their only option. Read the rest of this entry »
The first few months following a CCL repair surgery can be trying for both you and your dog. It is important during this time to provide your dog with adequate stimulation to prevent them from falling into some of the naughty behaviors exhibited by bored dogs. So instead of feeling guilty that you have to keep your best buddy crated or in a pen, find games, activities, and toys you can enjoy while your dog is on the road to recovery. You will want to choose items that do not require much movement, but will provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment. Here are a few of my favorite toys and treats for a dog recovering from surgery: Read the rest of this entry »
In dogs, the cruciate ligament tends to undergo degenerative changes that weaken it prior to rupturing. This very different from ACL injuries in people, where rupture is often associated with a traumatic injury as a result of an accident or incident while taking part in activities like skiing or playing football. While the human ACL and canine CCL are analogous with regard to function, this fundamental difference in onset of injury helps to explain why treatment options in dogs are quite different to those in people. Read the rest of this entry »
Jun 17, 2008 | 0 | CCL Risk Factors, Anatomy, Symptoms
It is not unusual for dogs who have a cranial cruciate ligament rupture in one leg to develop one in the other leg. It is a little unusual to have two severe ruptures at the same time, but it does occur, especially in large breed dogs or overweight canines. Generally the signs of this type of injury will manifest itself in the dog with an impaired gait, shaking while walking, and/or dragging the back legs. It is not unusual for veterinarians and pet owners to think that partial paralysis is present or that the severe lameness is due to spinal disc disease because of the severity of the presentation. Read the rest of this entry »
Jun 15, 2008 | 1 | Non-Surgical Options, Weight Management, Extracapsular Imbrication Technique, Conservative Management, Surgical Options
Before bringing your dog home from CCL repair surgery, you will want to make sure everything is set before their arrival. If you have already been practicing CM (conservative management) prior to surgery, odds are your home is already adequately prepared for the return of your canine patient, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Below is a list I have compiled of ways to consider dog-proofing your home while your pet is recovering from cranial cruciate ligament repair (CCL) surgery. Read the rest of this entry »
Jun 12, 2008 | 0 | Dog Proofing House, Checklist, Recovery
NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. These medications are most often prescribed to dogs for pain, inflammation and to aid in fever reduction. NSAIDs are most commonly used for the symptomatic relief of arthritic pain in geriatric pets. Aspirin and ibuprofen are well-recognized human NSAIDs, and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has approved specific NSAIDs for use in pets with osteoarthritis. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of prostaglandins, the body chemicals that cause inflammation, and can be highly effective for controlling discomfort in arthritic and post op pets. Read the rest of this entry »
Many dogs will not have a bowel movement for the first 4 to 5 days after surgery, so if you fall into this category, do not worry. There are a number of reasons why a dog will not have regular bowel movements after surgery including fasting prior to surgery, not eating well during an overnight or extended hospital stay - they frequently do not eat well when they go home because they are fed highly digestible food that produces little stool while hospitalized, and pain medications that contain narcotics (such as tylenol with codeine, tylenol 3, tylenol 4, morphine, fentanyl, tramadol) can have a constipating effect. Read the rest of this entry »
Jun 06, 2008 | 0 | Recovery
Each veterinarian seems to have their own theories regarding how soon physical therapy should be started after ccl surgery and what techniques work best. Other veterinary surgeons will write off physical therapy all together, preferring for the dog to remain quiet for the first 6-8 weeks after the repair, gradually returning to exercise. While it is always best to go along with the instructions of your vet, I do want to point out that studies done by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons have shown that dogs beginning rehabilitative therapy within 48 hours of the procedure tend to heal faster and have greater range of motion than dogs without any physical therapy. Read the rest of this entry »
Whether your dog has undergone a TTA, TPLO, or traditional extracapsular imbrication repair, the steps following surgery are generally the same. Whether your dog stays the night at the vet’s after surgery, or head home with you the day of the procedure, the first few days following the CCL repair should be dedicated to making your dog feel as comfortable as possible. Be aware that your dog may have lost his appetite as a result of the surgery, so have stocks, rice, chicken, pumpkin and other whole foods readily available if he refuses his regular dog food. It is advisable to give oral pain medications to your dog with some food in their stomach, so it is really important that you can get something into their stomach, even if it is only a bit of stock or piece of beef - something is better than nothing. Read the rest of this entry »
Cranial cruciate ligament tears and ruptures can happen to any dog (or cat for that matter, although it is not nearly as common), but there are certain risk factors that make particular breeds of dogs more susceptible to this type of damage. CCL injuries are one of the most common orthopedic injuries in dogs, and is the most common cause of degenerative joint diseases in the stifle joint, like arthritis. While there is no way any dog can completely avoid their risk of CCL injury, there are a number of risk factors owners should be aware of, especially if they suspect their dog may have injured their stifle (knee). Read the rest of this entry »
The first few months following a CCL repair surgery can be trying for both you and your dog. It is important during this time to provide your dog with adequate stimulation to prevent them from falling into some of the naughty behaviors exhibited by bored dogs. So instead of feeling guilty that you have to keep your best buddy crated or in a pen, find games, activities, and toys you can enjoy while your dog is on the road to recovery. You will want to choose items that do not require much movement, but will provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment. Here are a few of my favorite toys and treats for a dog recovering from surgery: 
Each veterinarian seems to have their own theories regarding how soon physical therapy should be started after ccl surgery and what techniques work best. Other veterinary surgeons will write off physical therapy all together, preferring for the dog to remain quiet for the first 6-8 weeks after the repair, gradually returning to exercise. While it is always best to go along with the instructions of your vet, I do want to point out that studies done by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons have shown that dogs beginning rehabilitative therapy within 48 hours of the procedure tend to heal faster and have greater range of motion than dogs without any physical therapy. 
Whether your dog has undergone a TTA, TPLO, or traditional extracapsular imbrication repair, the steps following surgery are generally the same. Whether your dog stays the night at the vet’s after surgery, or head home with you the day of the procedure, the first few days following the CCL repair should be dedicated to making your dog feel as comfortable as possible. Be aware that your dog may have lost his appetite as a result of the surgery, so have stocks, rice, chicken, pumpkin and other whole foods readily available if he refuses his regular dog food. It is advisable to give oral pain medications to your dog with some food in their stomach, so it is really important that you can get something into their stomach, even if it is only a bit of stock or piece of beef - something is better than nothing. 