Knee issues

Canine Full CCL Tears: Treatment Options for Full Cruciate Ligament Tears

Darn, your dog’s cruciate ligament has ruptured completely. “A full tear,” explains the vet, causing a bolt of hot lightning to shoot up your spine. Is it time to panic? If finances are a problem, maybe (more on this a bit later). The best thing to do is face facts and adopt a ‘knowledge is power’ attitude. What is the…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Physical Therapy for Full CCL Tears

After surgery, physical therapy for full CCL tears should begin upon removal of the sutures, at 10-14 days post-op. You should get instructions from the surgeon on what to do during those first two weeks. Physical therapy for full CCL tears weeks 2-6 During weeks two through six, the dog should start to bear weight on the limb and take…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy: My Two Cents on TPLO Repair

The tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery is considered the mainstay treatment for cruciate ligament tears in dogs. The purpose of the surgery is to stabilize the knee joint by altering the joint anatomy, namely the tibial plateau angle. Is TPLO a good option for your dog? Introduction It’s been over ten years when I first heart the term. When…

by Jana Rade

Small Dog Knee Injury: Junior Stops Bearing Weight on his Hind Leg

Ruptured cruciate ligaments are a common injury in large breed dogs but small dogs can hurt their knee too. In small dogs, the injury can sometimes resolve with conservative management–rest and medication. Junior’s story Junior is an active, nimble senior dog–a little rocket. Age didn’t slow him down much. During one winter,t though, he suddenly stopped using his left hind…

by Jana Rade

Dog Knee Injuries: Why The Second CCL Often Goes Too

Have you ever wondered about the impact of improper use of an injured limb on the rest of the body and how other areas are affected? Dog knee injuries are no exception. The canine knee or “stifle” is the most problematic joint in the dog. Source: The Dog Health Handbook The stifle is a complex joint starting with the rounded…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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