CCL Injury in Both Back Legs

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

Are CCL Injuries More Common in Certain Dog Breeds?

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 »

Jun 05, 2008 | 0 | CCL Risk Factors, Weight Management, Symptoms

Conservative Management in Cranial Cruciate Injuries

Conservative management is a non-surgical option for treating cranial cruciate injuries in dogs. Depending on the size of your dog, the severity of the injury and the duration of time since the onset of the CCL damage, your veterinarian may suggest CM in lieu of surgical intervention. Conservative management is focused around three basic principles:

1. Weight management
2. Exercise moderation/rest
3. Using anti-inflammatory medications

Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 23, 2008 | 1 | Non-Surgical Options, Anti-Inflammatory Medications, Weight Management, Conservative Management