My dog has a torn knee. What else can I do for her recovery?

A torn cruciate ligament in the knee is not something you need to rush to surgery for. I'm a rehab veterinarian and I usually recommend rest, anti inflammatory medication, and short leash walks for potty only. If she is improving over the next few weeks then she may recover well without surgery. If there is no improvement or she starts using it, then gets worse again then I do recommend surgery. It is very important to prevent any jumping and no explosive movements. Basically Gumbo needs to be leash walked only for up to three months for her to recover without surgery. Also if you have a veterinary rehab clinic near you taking her for treatment there would assist her recovery without surgery. If you have additional questions please request a consultation with me and I can answer them. This is the most common injury I see in my practice. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Gumbo.

I'm sorry for Brody's injury. It sounds like he had ruptured his cranial cruciate ligament. Surgery is the ideal treatment but when that is not possible, crate rest is strongly recommended. Every time Brody steps on that leg he is injuring it further. If he tries to run and jump or play on it he will injure it even more. So 4-8 weeks of cage rest is better than a lifetime of chronic pain and lameness. There are things you can do to try to make it easier on him. Toys or chews that may interest him but that he can't swallow large pieces of. Make sure he can be out with you on a leash when possible instead of a cage. If he is super anxious or fighting the crate you may need to discuss anxiety or sedation medications with your vet. Here's an article that explains CCL injury a little bit more. I would recommend starting Brody on a supplement such as Dasaquin to try to limit arthritis effects in his knees. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1975

Typically these surgeries are pretty routine when performed by qualified individuals. The most common complications associated with them include pain, inflammation, implant failure, and infection. The most important thing to remember post surgically is to follow the instructions given to you regarding cage rest, leash walking, passive range of motion exercising, and general care of the surgical site. If you do all this, the chance of complications will be very small and the chance of a successful experience will be very high. I'm sure everything is going to be just fine! Hope this helps answer your questions.

Poor Chile! It sounds like your vet did exactly the same treatment plan that I would have done. I would make sure that the vet tested his knee to ensure he hasn't torn his cruciate ligament. This is usually require a surgical repair but due to his age, I would probably recommend to just keep him confined and let the scar tissue develop around the knee to help stabilize it. I would continue strict confinement and the pain meds. If it isn't improving, I would have your vet recheck him. I would also consider getting him on some joint supplements like dasuquin or flexadin. I hope this helps!

I’m a Rehab veterinarian and have found braces and wraps do not stabilize the knee. Leash walk only for potty breaks like you are doing is all you want to do physically. Please give the medication as directed. If there is a rehab facility in your area they can help you with laser treatments for pain and some conservative exercise. If she does too much activity on the other rear leg that CCL can tear also. Surgery is indicated in a dog of that size and age. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Moyer.

Rest, rest, rest. A vet can also prescribe some anti-inflammatories and give you a dose of glucosamine to help. Water exercise like swimming is a great way to keep the joint lubricated while taking stress off the joint. Make sure she doesn't become overweight. Please do not give any medications over the counter until you talk to your vet. Kisses to Stella!

Where surgical treatment is not an option then the alternative options are: pain relief medications; joint care diets (hills); strict weight management; physiotherapy; acupuncture; chiropractic care and possibly steroid injections. It is important to assess her quality of life and comfort levels to ensure she is not suffering undue pain