I’ve had many questions come through this site through both comments emails asking whether or not dog knee braces work for securing the stifle (knee) joint after a cruciate ligament tear. From a vetrinary standpoint, there are pros and cons to wearing the knee brace.

Pros of using a dog knee brace:

• Huge savings in cost
• You obviously aren’t going to put the dog under for surgery, this is always a risk

Cons of using a dog knee brace:

• The knee brace will not actually help to repair the torn cruciate ligament. Once torn, a ligament will need some sort of surgical procedure in order to be fixed
• Could further damage the knee/stifle joint by not repairing it

At the end of the day, all the knee brace will do is provide the stifle joint stability that would otherwise not be there. That and make your dog look silly. Just kidding, trying to keep a little humor, I know how hard it is when your dog suffers an injury and loss of mobility. When weighing the options of using a knee brace for your dogs torn cruciate, its best to consult your veterinarian and discuss your dogs lifestyle. Is your dog active? will you be able to restrain your dog? Is your dog overweight? Is your dog old or young? Does your dog have any other health problems? There are a ton of issues that should be considered prior to making the decision to use a knee brace over surgery.

My recommendation: If your dog has a lot of years ahead of it, go the surgery route. If you’re unable to afford surgery for your dog, maybe use a brace in the interim as you save for surgery.

Related Posts

• Canine Knee Surgery on Both Knees at the Same Time
• Cruciate Ligament in Dogs, Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament (Crucial)
• A Majority of Canine Injuries Occur on the Weekend – Here’s the Reason Why

Dog knee injuries are a tough issue to deal with, as we all want the best for our dog, but when it comes to dog knee surgery, not everyone can afford it. We all want the best for our pets, however the truth of the matter is that dog knee surgery is very expensive, and unless you have the money or a way to finance it, the surgical route will not always be an option.

One of the questions that I get asked most frequently (through email, and comments) is, “Are there any non-surgical options to repair a torn ACL/CCL?”

The direct answer is NO, because unlike muscle pulls and sprains, a torn ligament can’t be repaired without surgery. As the title of this post suggests, we will be looking into “management” options for dealing with a torn cranial cruciate ligament when surgery isn’t opted for, or just isn’t an option due to cost or other hardships.

The key part in managing a non-surgically repaired CCL is being “conservative”, meaning the dog should cut back drastically on activity, and limited and restricted when alone, because when dogs aren’t being watched, many of them will find a reason to run around, or jump and bark at things.  If you think that you’ll be able to restrict your dogs activity level, then conservative management may be an option for you, and the use of supplements can definitely help.

Choosing a Supplement
When you’re trying to pick a supplement for your dog, you’re obviously going to want the best. If you’re like me, you’ll research everything before trying one, so hopefully this short list will help you out. These are supplements that we recommend based on our use of it and/or the use of other products by the same manufacturer.

One of the biggest problems with a torn knee ligament is inflammation, swelling and stiffness. These products aim to help with that.

• Nupro Joint Support for Dogs (Silver)
  This product is great because it contains both Glucosamine and MSM, both help with joint stiffness, and MSM has been shown to help with inflammation and some studies have showed it to reduce pain.
• Cosequin DS Anti-Inflammatory
  Cosequin is known as an anti-inflammatory and many surgeons recommend that a dogs take this daily after knee surgery. Cosequin has manyy benefits and is recommended for any dogs with inflammation or joint pain. A 4-6 week period should typically be enough time for the owner to tell if there is an improvement in mobility.
• Joint Treats® (60 Soft Chews)
  Healthy and beneficial for dogs of all ages. Can be used as treats or as daily supplements. I’ve heard of people using these supplements for dogs with hip dysplasia.

The above supplements are two of the better ones that we have found. There are also some other options in terms of oils, such as Salmon Oil, Flax Seed Oil and even Olive Oil. One of the main benefits of adding these types of oils as a supplement is that it will help with the dogs skin and coat.

If you’re looking to try conservative management as a treatment option, the above supplements should definitely help with mobility, range of motion and possibly inflammation. If you’ve used these products, or others, please let us know how they worked for you!

Update

I was just made aware of another product by one of our members. It isn’t necessarily a supplement, but rather an anti-inflammatory analgesic. Try out Traumeel Gel – 50gm Tube. It’s a cream or rub that addresses inflammation and is commonly used in dogs, cats and horses.

Update 2

ARTHROPLEX for Canines (180 Capsules) was just recommended by one of our readers. Each Arthroplex capsule contains Glucosamine Sulfate (225 mg), Green-Lipid Mussels (90 mg), DL-Phenylalanine (75mg), Boswellia Serrata Extract (35 mg), Bromelain (35 mg), Vitamin C (100 mg).

If you have any other product suggestions, supplements or otherwise, let me know and we’ll post them on here as well.

Related Posts

• Conservative Management as a Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Treatment Option
• The Best Supplements for Dogs with Knee & Hip Problems
• Save Money by Ordering Pet Medications Online for a Dog Knee Injury