Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
Extracapsular repair is an old technique, but it can work, and it is the least invasive surgical technique to date. It is not recommended for large dogs, but it can be done successfully. It is, however, more vulnerable during the post-op recovery. Thank you, Luanne, for sharing Sandy’s story. Sandy’s story Sandy’s conservative management of her ACL injury had to…
You might think of hip dysplasia as sore, arthritic hips. While it is true that arthritis inevitably develops, hip dysplasia means an unstable hip joint. You can learn more about hip dysplasia and how to prevent it here. Thank you, Angie Falcsik, for sharing Indy’s story. Indy’s story Indy’s story began about four years ago when Indy was just six…
Patellar luxation is hereditary and especially common in small and toy breeds of dogs. Affected dogs may also have other leg or joint problems. The patella (or kneecap) lies in a “track” on the front of the leg, where it functions in joint movement. It slides up and down easily as the knee bends and extends. In some dogs, the…
Obtaining and carefully following post-surgery instructions from your veterinarian/surgeon is essential for a positive outcome. Make sure you ask for a detailed, day-by-day recovery plan. You’d be surprised how often surgeons allow dog parents to go home without them. You can see an example of a cruciate ligament (ACL/CCL surgery post-op care plan looks like here. There are some…
Is there anything you can do to prevent cruciate ligament injury in your dog? Prevention is always the best treatment for any injury or disease. For example, recovery from a CCL injury will take anywhere from four to six months out of your dog’s active life, and an unstable joint will contribute to the development of arthritis. Further reading: Talk…