Mar 17, 2023
Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal condition that affects dogs, particularly large and giant breeds. It occurs when the hip joint does not develop properly, leading to pain, limping, and difficulty in movement. While some dogs may be genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia, there are several steps you can take to prevent the onset or progression of this condition:
1. Choose the right breed: If you're considering getting a dog, do your research on breeds that are prone to hip dysplasia. Consider adopting a mixed breed or a smaller breed to decrease the risk of this condition.
2. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity can put unnecessary strain on your dog's joints, which can lead to hip dysplasia or worsen the condition. Ensure your dog maintains a healthy weight through proper nutrition and exercise.
3. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps to strengthen your dog's muscles and keep their joints flexible, reducing the risk of hip dysplasia. However, avoid high-impact activities like jumping or running on hard surfaces, which can cause joint damage.
4. Provide proper nutrition: Feed your dog a well-balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs. Consider supplements that support joint health, such as glucosamine and chondroitin.
5. Regular check-ups: Regular check-ups with your veterinarian can help detect hip dysplasia early on, when it is more treatable. Your vet may recommend X-rays to assess your dog's hip joint health.
6. Consider surgery: In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to treat hip dysplasia. This may include joint replacement or surgical procedures to correct joint abnormalities.
7. Hip hound brace: A canine brace stabilizes a dog’s hips while supporting the hip joint. The neoprene panels of the hip brace wrap snuggly around the upper hind leg to provide compression around the pet’s joint. This compression helps reduce swelling and promote healing.
By taking these preventative measures, you can help reduce the risk of hip dysplasia in your dog or manage the condition if it does occur.
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Mar 09, 2023
What is a torn ACL in dogs?
You’re probably familiar with the term ACL from witnessing a player injured in a football or soccer game. But what is a torn ACL?
ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament, and it is an important stabilizing structure in the human knee. Dogs have a very similar ligament, technically called the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). Even though “anterior” and “cranial” are basically synonyms, the term is different between humans and dogs. Both indicate a location closer to the head. But “anterior” is used in humans and “cranial” refers to the same direction/position in animals. This is CCL tear in Dogs.
Because most people are familiar with the term ACL and they have similar meanings, ACL is often used more than CCL.
How is ACL Tear Diagnosed?
Cranial Drawer Test:
The examining veterinarian positions the thumb and forefinger of one hand on the femur, and the other hand is placed on the tibia. The femur is held in place while the other hand shifts the tibia backward and forward.
In a normal, stable joint, there will be little to no motion ie. instability. The rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament allows the tibia to slide forward. Therefore, a positive cranial drawer test is indicative of cruciate ligament damage.
Tibial Compression Test:
Another test that is used to diagnose dog ACL injuries is the tibial compression test. In this assessment, one hand is placed around the end of the femur, with the index finger extended over the patella. The other hand grasps the foot and flexes the hock (ankle). If the tibia moves forward, it is an indication of ACL damage.
For the best diagnosis, you must seek the advice of a veterinarian who is familiar with diagnosing CCL Tear in Dogs.
How Can I Prevent Another CCL Tear in My Dog’s OTHER Knee?
Since your dog has injured one hind leg, they are having to compensate on their three other “good” legs. This compensation puts their other legs, back, and joints at greater risk of injury. It is estimated that 30-50% of dogs who tear one ACL will tear the other ACL within a few years.
So what can you do for your dog?
1. Provide your dog with the essential nutrients
It is never too late to start your dog on a quality joint supplement that will provide them with the essential nutrients to keep their joints strong and healthy.
2. Use dog brace when your dog recover.
A custom-fit knee brace is a good way to help support their injured knee and give it stability while they’re healing. Knee braces help keep their knee and surrounding joints in place while their body does the ‘heavy lifting’ and heals itself.
Dog Torn Acl Brace
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Mar 07, 2023
Carpal hyperextension injuries in dogs produce a breakdown of the ligaments that position. The joint starts to drop and get closer to the ground.The injury can produce a non-weight bearing lameness that progresses to a point that demonstrates the broken-down appearance of the carpus. The lameness usually persists and leads to significant arthritic changes in the affected joints.
How to treat Carpal Hyperextension in Dogs?
Medical management is often unrewarding, so carpal hyperextension injuries are best treated surgically. This involves making an incision over the damaged joint, removing the articular cartilage from the affected joint and other joints nearby to allow the bone across the joint to fuse. The bones can be held in place to allow this fusion to occur (arthrodesis) by a metal plate and screws, pins, or even placed in a cast alone.
Your dog will receive injectable pain-killers (analgesics) during the period of hospitalization, and will probably be sent home with oral medications to reduce pain and inflammation.
What can you do for your dog at home?
Your dog will usually be in a splint or cast, regardless of the surgical fixation technique. You will need to keep the bandage clean and dry. The toes at the bottom of the dressing should be checked daily for swelling, pain or discomfort. If the bandage gets wet, creates sore spots at the top or bottom, begins to smell, or seems to bother your dog, it will need to be changed.
Strict rest is important for the first six to eight weeks following surgery. Follow-up X-rays of the surgery will be arranged with your veterinarian to assess the healing, to time removal of the cast or splint, and to set up a program for gradual increase in exercise.
Depending on the type of surgery performed, your dog will not have complete range of motion in the carpus or even no motion whatsoever.
When your dog have the mobility, Carpal hyperextension dog brace could provide stability to the recovery joint. It help your dog to gradually walk and exercise.
Extra Supportive Dog Carpal Brace
Designed for Carpal Hyperextension
Two options for metal strips
Professional sports fabrics
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Carpal Hyperextension Dog Brace
Large area velcro
Support the weak legs due to Carpal Hyperextension
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Mar 03, 2023
Arthritis in dogs is a condition that causes joint pain, and one that will afflict most dogs as they age.
What is Dog Arthritis
It is usually a result of the ongoing wear and tear and instability in the joints.
Arthritis can affect one or more joints anywhere in the body; however the most common joints affected in dogs are the hips, knees, shoulders and elbows. Most of these joints depend on a layer of cartilage acting as a cushion which also provides a smooth surface so the adjoining bones can move freely over each other. This movement is assisted by the lubrication provided by synovial fluid in joints.
With arthritis the cartilage deteriorates and the synovial fluid loses its lubricating properties so that movement of the bones becomes less smooth, leading to discomfort and reduced mobility.
6 Strategies to Ease Your Dog’s Arthritis Pain
An integrative, multimodal therapy regime can maximize your dog’s comfort and well-being and minimize the potential side effects of certain therapies. Here are a few strategies that have been found to be beneficial:
1. Massages and body work
Many arthritic dogs appreciate muscle massages, which stimulate blood flow to atrophying muscles. Certified canine massage therapists are available in most areas of the country; many are willing to show you their techniques. Warm compresses over sore joints can be soothing, but make sure you keep your pup from getting burns from excess heat.
2. Acupuncture and Eastern medicine
Many arthritic dogs can be made more comfortable and more mobile by acupuncture. Alternative veterinary practitioners sometimes prescribe formulations of Chinese herbs to support the benefits of acupuncture.
3. Exercise
Maintaining mobility through reasonable exercise is important, regardless of a dog’s age and the extent of their arthritis. (I’m convinced that what kept a certain red Dober-gal of mine going to 15-plus years was her daily quarter-mile walk down the driveway, albeit at her own pace.) A dog with mild, early arthritis can and should get more exercise than a senior dog with severe cartilage erosion.
4. Therapeutic laser treatment
Class IV therapeutic laser is a form of low-level light energy treatment that can greatly improve arthritic conditions in dogs. The treatment stimulates blood flow to tissues, decreases inflammation, and increases muscle relaxation which promotes faster healing and reduced pain to targeted areas.
5. Joint supplements
Countless joint supplements are available to promote healthy cartilage and joint health. These contain varying combinations of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel, and other chondroprotective substances. Many veterinarians and pet parents have found that a small number of these products seem to be helpful.
6. Dog brace
Dog braces provide continual support, helping dogs with arthritis walk with reduced pain. Lovepluspet rear leg support for dogs help to shift your dog's weight off of their good leg and back onto their injured leg so they can walk evenly again. The stability to the joint would help dog leg arthritis to heal.
Rear knee support for dogs
For dogs with injured rear legs and unable to stand.
Suitable for Arthritis of the dog rear leg.
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Rear Hock arthritis support for dogs
High quality nylon won't rub or pinch your dog's skin.
Easy to put on and take off
Provide stability to the hock
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