The Holidays are a very busy time of year, for us, and for our pets. Many of us will tend to have people over to visit during The Holidays, and just like us, our pets also get excited to see new people. Whether you are preparing for, recovering from, or trying to conservatively manage a torn/ruptured cranial cruciate ligament, it is important to think of your pet first and foremost before having any house guests. While it is important that you make your guests comfortable, it is imperative that you make your dog comfortable and make sure that he/she isn’t put in any situations that could further injure the knee (pre-op) or re-injure it (post-op). Here are some simple guidelines that might help you in preparing your home and dog for holiday visitors.

1. Make sure that your dog is restricted. Most dogs love to greet guests when they come in the door, and many dogs get excited and stand on their hind legs – DO NOT even put your dog in a situation where this could happen. Keep your dog in a pen. Depending on your situation, you may want to:
   1. Put your dog in another room, away from all company and activity.
   2. Put your dog in a crate in a location where he/she can see and hear most of the activity that is going on in the house. This will help keep the dogs spirits up.
2. If your dog is penned up, make sure that your guests know that he/she is injured and not to rile him/her up.
3. If your dog is penned up, ask your guests to go visit with and pet him/her. Dogs love company, just like we do.
4. We don’t feed our dogs from the table, nor do we encourage it, but we do make exceptions when our dog is crated up and unable to interact. Remember, dogs have a great sense of smell, so just imagine how much they want some of that turkey and gravy!

Hopefully these small tips help you and your pet make it through the busy holiday season!

Photo by turtlemom4bacon

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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:

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