Lola is a German Short Haired Pointer – very active, spins and bucks like a bronco 30 or 40 times a day!

When she was about 7 she started favoring one back leg, not even weight bearing at times. We took her to the vet when this went on for a couple days and he said it was a ACL tear and recommended surgery. When informed we would have to keep her calm for many weeks we were overwhelmed – there is no keeping this dog calm so post op would be pretty difficult. I read about it online and talked to some people whose dogs had surgery and who still have a lot of pain due to arthritis. We decided to take a wait and see approach using Glucosamine and Rimadyl.

Within 4 months she was her old self – truly amazing! Then two years later she started limping again. We took her to a new vet who specializes in holistic medicine. He offered surgery, but said he thought a wait and see approach was okay, too. He squeezed Lola’s leg and showed us it wasn’t really painful and that the arthritis is minimal. He said she seemed to be favoring it like it was a “trick knee” rather than from pain.

He encouraged us to take her off Rimadyl, but to keep Glucosamine and add Fish Oil. He told us that he thought adjusting her spine through chiropractic measures would be worth trying. He adjusted her spine and she hopped up and started running around like her old self. We brought her back in 3 weeks and then in another 3 weeks for two more adjustments even though she was acting perfectly normal after her first visit.

It has now been 6 months and she has continued to be her crazy, spastic, spinning and jumping self. We are very happy that we gave her those months to recover the first time. Her quality of life is amazing, I believe better than if she had gone through the pain of surgery and certainly it was less costly than surgery! I encourage everyone to see a holistic medicine vet before making a decision on surgery.

Conservative Management for Knee Ligament – Lola is a post from: Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries

Following a CCL repair surgery or during the Conservative Management process, your dog is likely to experience a significant amount of pain related to the injury to their knee ligament. For surgical pain or injuries that your pet my be dealing with, there are some holistic alternatives which are extremely effective in dogs.

• Acupuncture – Acupuncture has been shown to both relieve pain and relax your pet, helping him or her cope with stress better.
• White Willow Bark – White willow bark is an herbal remedy that can take the edge off minor pain, but should NOT be used on cats.
• Arnica – Arnica is a homeopathic remedy that can be powerful for post-surgical pain, or pain from injuries. For severe pain a typical dose of arnica is the 1M or 10M potency, but for exact dosages and directions, please consult your holistic veterinarian. Arnica is applied topically, so you will need to take precautions to ensure your dog does not remove the arnica from their skin.
• Calendula Officianlis – Herbal or homeopathic gels containing calendula officianalis are wonderful for putting on incisions. They help with pain, itching, and irritation; many humans use them on their own surgical incisions with much success, and the relief is often immediate and unmistakable. Dogs tend to leave their incisions alone much more readily when they are treated with calendula.
• Fish Oil – Fish Oils containing Omega-3 Fatty Acids can be very helpful in reducing inflammation in dogs. One daily dose of 1000 mg is sufficient to aid any discomfort related to inflammatory processes, including arthritis.
• Yucca – Yucca can be helpful for dogs with inflammation and arthritis. Yucca root can be found in a tincture that can be placed in your dog’s food, and it should be used daily for maximum effectiveness.

There is nothing holistic about suffering or pain, and if your dog is in real distress, you may want to explore other pharmaceutical options for pain management; this is especially true in the case of dogs that develop chronic pain post-operatively due to arthritis. Many of the holistic techniques mentioned above can go hand in hand with conventional veterinary medical treatments. For example, if your dog has arthritis or similar conditions, acupuncture can be powerfully effective in combination with allopathic medications, and the drug Adequan actually rebuilds cartilage and lubricates and cushions your pet’s joints. Let the NSAID handle the pain, but continue using alternatives to help heal and support the body.

We all want to do what is best for our pets, and making sure they are comfortable throughout the surgical process is important in their overall recovery. Be sure to attentively listen to your dog’s needs and be open to pursuing other avenues with regard to pain management to assure the best outcome for your dog.

If you want information on buying natural supplements or homeopathic treatments for dogs, please visit our – Homeopathic, Alternative and Natural Medicine Guide

Holistic Alternatives to Pain Management in Dogs is a post from: Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries

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.

The truth is, all dogs that sustain a cruciate ligament tear or rupture are at an increased risk for arthritis, no matter at what point surgery (if ever) is undertaken. There is no evidence that dogs who recover using Conservative Management (CM), and dogs who recover with surgery show any differences in the development of future arthritic problems. Proper restriction during recovery and avoiding high-risk activities after recovery, together with weight control, good nutrition, and joint-supporting supplements are what minimize the chances of future arthritic problems – not immediate surgical intervention.

Does CCL Repair Surgery Lessen Arthritis Risk? is a post from: Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injuries