One way I found to save some cash when Tucker had his CCL repair was to order his medication and other pre and post surgery needs (like Kong toys, bully sticks, and pet bedding) online.  I purchased his collar, glucosamine and chondrointin supplements, pet pads, and special treats using PetCareRx.  My veterinarian even ok-ed his antibiotic orders through their site, easily saving us a couple hundred dollars!  Their web interface is really simple to use, and there was not a single product I needed that I could not find on their site.  I highly recommend using them if your dog is going into surgery or is recovering from surgery, their prices are absolutely unbeatable.  Plus, any order over $35 qualifies for free shipping – I have NEVER seen that on any of the other pet sites out there.

Ordering Pet Medication Online is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

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’re interested in learning more about holistic, naturopathic and alternative veterinary treatment for dogs, there are a handful of excellent books out there written by homeopathic veterinarians. Below are a few of the guides I’ve found helpful when looking to treat my dog using natural methods like homeopathic medicine, naturopathy, chiropractic and accupuncture.

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

Holistic Alternatives to Pain Management in Dogs is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Not surprisingly, surgery is almost always advocated by surgeons . It is likely that surgery does help reduce the amount of arthritis that occurs, but in a long term study of cruciate ligament surgery in dogs in Australia, about 50% still had detectable arthritis in surgically repaired joints and about 10% of dogs were persistently lame despite attempts to surgically stabilize the joint. Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) has become the top choice for surgical CCL repair among many orthopedic veterinarians, and it can be done in both large and small dogs. Supporters of TPLO will say its good choice for the situation in which there is a bilateral cruciate rupture since it seems to be a strong repair procedure, but there are many instances where dogs have done equally as well with either TTA or a traditional repair.

One benefit of doing a traditional extracapsular repair, in addition to saving a few thousand dollars, is that you still have other options for repair if for some reason the traditional repair fails. If you are choosing surgery for a dog with a double CCL rupture, make sure to research each procedure carefully before blindly going along with a procedure you know nothing about. TPLO, TTA and traditional repairs are all very different procedures, and each carry their own set of risks vs. rewards. The best way to find out what is right for your pet is to do as much research as you can and find a veterinarian that is willing to discuss your many options for surgical intervention.

If surgery absolutely isn’t an option, there is a very good chance that in a few weeks, to a few months, you will find that your dog is doing OK without any type of surgical intervention -especially if you can manage the weight loss. There are a number of great resources both on this website and the web with instructions on how to succeed with CM.

CCL Injury in Both Back Legs is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Swimming is an excellent non-weight bearing activity, but only after the incision site itself has had time to heal. All therapies should always be cleared through your veterinary surgeon, prior to their implementation. If you have access to a pool and a dog that loves to swim, this can be a great way to help them regain lost muscle mass while working on ROM exercises in a zero resistance environment (decreasing the likelihood of injury).

Some owners have also chosen to go a more holistic route with their dog’s post operative therapy, seeking out the assistance of a professional skilled in acupuncture.  The use of animal acupuncture, and similarly acupressure, in a dog recovering from ccl repair surgery may help alleviate post op discomfort, which can help your dog to heal more quickly from surgery.  A growing number of veterinary clinics are now integrating western techniques such as acupuncture and massage into their practices, with many offering these services on site.  Acupuncture and acupressure can be used in conjunction with ROM exercises and hydrotherapy under the supervision of your veterinarian.

The long term prognosis for animals undergoing surgical CCL repair is good, with clinical reports of improvement in 85-90% of the cases. Unfortunately, degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis progresses regardless of treatment. Long term outcome includes a decrease in activity over time, an increasing level of disability, an adverse response to cold weather, and stiffness after inactivity related to progressive degenerative joint. Weight loss, an exercise regime of daily moderate activity, and the use of joint supporting supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin can help to improve these adverse clinical symptoms.

Physical Therapy After CCL Repair is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

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

Maintaining your dog’s body weight at normal, or slightly below normal, levels will reduce the load placed on the injured joint, and may help to improve its function. This will allow your canine to strengthen the joint without adding any additional strain, adding stability and range of motion. Restriction of activity for at least 6-8 weeks after injury is a key part of successful CM. After about 2 months of little to no exercise you may begin reintroducing your pet to weight-bearing activities such as short walks, making sure to avoid any extremes in activity. Controlled walks and exercise will help to maintain and strengthen muscle mass while avoiding re-injury; owners need to be careful to limit their dog’s play during this time as there is an elevated risk of injuring the other leg while the originally affected leg heals. The use of anti-inflammatory medications during this time will help to limit painful episodes and encourage healing.

Conservative Management in Cranial Cruciate Injuries is a post from: Dog Knee Injury