Comments on: PetMeds® Cruciate Ligament Rupture or Tear in Dogs and Cats http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:21:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2913 Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:43:41 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2913 I would usually give CM 4-6 months. If no improvement by then then surgery would be needed. ..Also consider yucca intensive by azmira from 1800petmeds as well as myristin and myristaid by EHP products. I would usually give CM 4-6 months. If no improvement by then then surgery would be needed. ..Also consider yucca intensive by azmira from 1800petmeds as well as myristin and myristaid by EHP products.

]]> By: Kerry http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2910 Kerry Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:29:52 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2910 Hi, my 85 lb lab tore his ACL 6 weeks ago. Our local vet said to rest him up and see how he does. He actually got to the point where he had no noticable limp, doing VERY well on conservative Management. Then 3-4 weeks into Cm we had an "opps" moment with him and another one of our dogs. he could not put any weight on leg. He saw another vet(ortho surgeon) who of course said he needed surgery.(TTA) We are still doing CM while i continue to research and he is doing much better, weight on leg sometimes.I have decided if we do surgery i wont do TTA, will go with the old school fishing line traditional. I just can't get around the breaking bone to repair ligament if there is an alternative. He has been on a great glucosamine supp(syn-flex) fish oil, vic c, msm, hyrolanic acid, homecooked diet to monitor his weight which has gone up due to confinement. How long can and should i continue with CM (if good results contine) before i decide to go with surgery? I hate to go 6 months on CM then end up having to do surgery anyways and then we have 6-12 restricted activity. My understanding is arthritis will occur wether i have surgery or not. I am also getting him the A Trak Brace which i have heard great success with (most who didn't like it had a problem with fit and the company has a crappy return policy) any thoughts? Hi, my 85 lb lab tore his ACL 6 weeks ago. Our local vet said to rest him up and see how he does. He actually got to the point where he had no noticable limp, doing VERY well on conservative Management. Then 3-4 weeks into Cm we had an “opps” moment with him and another one of our dogs. he could not put any weight on leg. He saw another vet(ortho surgeon) who of course said he needed surgery.(TTA) We are still doing CM while i continue to research and he is doing much better, weight on leg sometimes.I have decided if we do surgery i wont do TTA, will go with the old school fishing line traditional. I just can’t get around the breaking bone to repair ligament if there is an alternative. He has been on a great glucosamine supp(syn-flex) fish oil, vic c, msm, hyrolanic acid, homecooked diet to monitor his weight which has gone up due to confinement. How long can and should i continue with CM (if good results contine) before i decide to go with surgery? I hate to go 6 months on CM then end up having to do surgery anyways and then we have 6-12 restricted activity. My understanding is arthritis will occur wether i have surgery or not. I am also getting him the A Trak Brace which i have heard great success with (most who didn’t like it had a problem with fit and the company has a crappy return policy) any thoughts?

]]> By: Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2713 Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:55:55 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2713 Ideally surgery is the best choice as early correction of this condition lessens the amount of future arthritis and degenerative joint disease. However in my experience and opinion, I have seen some dogs, particularly small dogs respond well to rest and anti inflammatory and supplement therapy. Many pets will regain function over time, however there is an increased liklihood of more severe joint disease down the road. I would give it 4-6 weeks of rest and supportive care and see if any positive change. If not then you can always go for surgery. Also may help to get second opinion from vet in your area, preferably a veterinary surgeon. Ideally surgery is the best choice as early correction of this condition lessens the amount of future arthritis and degenerative joint disease. However in my experience and opinion, I have seen some dogs, particularly small dogs respond well to rest and anti inflammatory and supplement therapy. Many pets will regain function over time, however there is an increased liklihood of more severe joint disease down the road. I would give it 4-6 weeks of rest and supportive care and see if any positive change. If not then you can always go for surgery. Also may help to get second opinion from vet in your area, preferably a veterinary surgeon.

]]> By: Lauren http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2709 Lauren Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:18:33 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2709 My dog Ollie was diagnosed with a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament today. He hurt his leg yesterday playing in the snow. Our doctor (who we do not have a relationship with because we just moved) diagnosed Ollie very quickly and said surgery is his best option because he is only 5 and he could handle it. She gave me a quote of $3100.00 and told me I should schedule surgery within a month because it is possible the other leg will go and they won’t do surgery if both of them have been ruptured. I have been reading as much as I can on this and I have heard pros and cons to the surgery and also pros and cons to a natural treatment. So my question is, would it hurt to give Ollie the opportunity to try to recover on his own before making the choice to do the surgery? Lauren My dog Ollie was diagnosed with a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament today. He hurt his leg yesterday playing in the snow. Our doctor (who we do not have a relationship with because we just moved) diagnosed Ollie very quickly and said surgery is his best option because he is only 5 and he could handle it. She gave me a quote of $3100.00 and told me I should schedule surgery within a month because it is possible the other leg will go and they won’t do surgery if both of them have been ruptured. I have been reading as much as I can on this and I have heard pros and cons to the surgery and also pros and cons to a natural treatment. So my question is, would it hurt to give Ollie the opportunity to try to recover on his own before making the choice to do the surgery? Lauren

]]> By: Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2286 Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:09:59 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2286 I am not an expert in prolotherapy being only somewhat familiar with it. I dont think there would be any contraindications if there is no tear if prolotherapy done, as harmless injections into and around joint to promote healing from my understanding. I am not an expert in prolotherapy being only somewhat familiar with it. I dont think there would be any contraindications if there is no tear if prolotherapy done, as harmless injections into and around joint to promote healing from my understanding.

]]> By: Michele http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2269 Michele Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:34:16 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2269 Our cattle dog was just diagnosed with a ccl tear and we are considering prolotherapy..what is your opinion? Also what are the effects if it is a complete tear vs. a partial tear, and are there any contraindications if there is no tear? He is currently taking prevacox and will need to stop that and start tylenol if we decide to go ahead with the therapy. Cowboy has been taking DS cosaquin for nearly a year now as we thought the lameness came from his hip. This is not our regular vet who will do the therapy, and I am also going to ask her thoughts on the subject as well. His visit with an ortho recommended surgery...the long recovery had me shaken as he is an active dog, more correctly, he wants to be but can't be now. Thankfully he's still a happy fellow. Thank you for any information you can share. Our cattle dog was just diagnosed with a ccl tear and we are considering prolotherapy..what is your opinion? Also what are the effects if it is a complete tear vs. a partial tear, and are there any contraindications if there is no tear? He is currently taking prevacox and will need to stop that and start tylenol if we decide to go ahead with the therapy. Cowboy has been taking DS cosaquin for nearly a year now as we thought the lameness came from his hip. This is not our regular vet who will do the therapy, and I am also going to ask her thoughts on the subject as well. His visit with an ortho recommended surgery…the long recovery had me shaken as he is an active dog, more correctly, he wants to be but can’t be now. Thankfully he’s still a happy fellow. Thank you for any information you can share.

]]> By: Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2232 Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:52:29 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2232 Hi Andrew: You are indeed correct about diagnosis and surgical treatment. However in today's economy many clients cant afford surgery and in the trenches I have seen many pets with partial tears respond fine to rest and anti inflammatories and nutraceuticals. Yes they are more prone to arthritis down the road, but then even surgically treated dogs sometimes develop arthritis as well in these joints. I find many pets with partial tears do returrn to function in many cases but you are correct about ideal treatment. Hi Andrew: You are indeed correct about diagnosis and surgical treatment. However in today’s economy many clients cant afford surgery and in the trenches I have seen many pets with partial tears respond fine to rest and anti inflammatories and nutraceuticals. Yes they are more prone to arthritis down the road, but then even surgically treated dogs sometimes develop arthritis as well in these joints. I find many pets with partial tears do returrn to function in many cases but you are correct about ideal treatment.

]]> By: Andrew Coughlan http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2206 Andrew Coughlan Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:12:50 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2206 My own experience is that dogs with genuine cruciate disease patients respond poorly to nutraceuticals and we are ususally putting off the inevitable. I'm all for medical management if possible but it has not been my experience. certainly, partial tears an be difficult to diagnose and arthroscopy is usually required to confirm. Thes patients can make an excellent and rapid response to surgeries such as TPLO. best wishes My own experience is that dogs with genuine cruciate disease patients respond poorly to nutraceuticals and we are ususally putting off the inevitable. I’m all for medical management if possible but it has not been my experience. certainly, partial tears an be difficult to diagnose and arthroscopy is usually required to confirm. Thes patients can make an excellent and rapid response to surgeries such as TPLO.

best wishes

]]> By: Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2171 Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:53:45 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2171 You are very welcome. I am glad to help with this frustrating clinical syndrome of ACL rupture in dogs with supplements that can help in healing process. You are very welcome. I am glad to help with this frustrating clinical syndrome of ACL rupture in dogs with supplements that can help in healing process.

]]> By: Heartgard http://blog.petmeds.com/ask-the-vet/crucial-ligament-tears/comment-page-1/#comment-2169 Heartgard Thu, 30 Sep 2010 01:55:50 +0000 http://blog.petmeds.com/?p=1089#comment-2169 Wow, it's really gone on to become an epidemic? That's insane. The supplement recommendations you give are great Dr. Michael. I'll be referring a few friends to your suggestions. Thanks! Wow, it’s really gone on to become an epidemic? That’s insane. The supplement recommendations you give are great Dr. Michael. I’ll be referring a few friends to your suggestions. Thanks!

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