Labrador Retriever Forum
anyone ever seen or heard of this product?
I have a girl with a ACL and we are hoping to try and let her heal naturally before jumping into surgery.
these come in a pair so it would help support the good hock as well.
http://www.backontrackproducts.com/Dog-Products/Dog-Leg-Hock-Wraps/Therapeutic-Dog-Hock-Wraps-p288.html
This looks cool, but I don't think it will support the area around the stifle where the cruciate is actually torn. Looks to support really just the hock area not the stifle.
That wrap supports the hock ("ankle"), not the stifle ("knee"). The cranial cruciate ligament or CCL (the human term would be Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL) is in the knee. The wrap I've heard good reviews from others for is the A-Trac Dynamic Brace: http://www.woundwear.com/product3.cfm
If a partial tear rather than a complete cruciate rupture, a dog can recover without surgery. It just usually takes an initial 4-6 wk period of strict crate rest, then GRADUAL return to normal function over another 4-6 wks. Consider consulting with a physical therapist as well at that time for range of motion exercises, etc.
Just be aware if it is a partial tear and you can get the dog sound with crate rest, odds are it will become a full tear down the road and will need surgery then. I was able to avoid surgery for 2 years, dog was shown and winning, but then the ligament broke down completely (not due to anything the dog did) and there was no avoiding it.
Thanks for posting - I did not know something like this existed and I have a dog who injured a hock years ago who now has arthritis in it. This looks like it would support the hock well.
CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT DISEASE -David F. Merkley DVM MS
Cranial cruciate ligament disease has become the most common orthopedic condition affecting the dog. Data is not available for cats but it is not uncommon in the feline species. This condition not only plagues the athletic working dog, but the family pet as well. Certain breeds have a very high incidence and recently a genetic predisposition has been suggested. Genetic implications of this disease are being researched. It has far surpassed hip dysplasia as a debilitating orthopedic condition and as a financial burden to pet owners.
Diagnosis of cruciate ligament injury with stifle instability is proving to be very complex. For years we have believed the only test for stifle cranial cruciate instability was the “drawer sign”. We now know that cruciate disease is not usually an acute event with rupture as it is in man (quadraped vs. biped). It is now believed to be the result of degenerative changes that occur over time. It appears that the development of instability it is more chronic in nature and with initial stretching to mild ligament fiber separation. It appears that ligament degeneration with histopathological changes within the ligament fibers precedes overt clinical signs of instability and joint discomfort.
That initial presentation of discomfort and lameness that we see with no “drawer sign” may just be a stretching of the ligament or a mild tear (fraying of fibers). This may respond to rest or antiinflammatory therapy. A repeat of discomfort often occurs that may or may not be responsive to conservative therapy again. The process has started from an early stretch to a partial and to an eventual complete tear. This degeneration and stretching eventually allows synovial fluid entrance into the ligament with inflammation. It can then progress to partial fiber separation and tearing long before an acute event occurs. During this long process stifle instability is present (even without a visible drawer sign). You cannot detect this instability with the drawer test. Synovial membrane attachments are torn and osteoarthritis is developing. Articular cartilage is under attack by this abnormal stifle movement. By the time you detect the “drawer sign” osteoarthritic changes can be evident and often can be severe.
Conformation issues (straight stifle and steep tibial plateau angle) are also mentioned as predisposing factors to cruciate ligament degeneration and rupture. Since these issues affect both joints is has become increasing clear that bilateral disease is the norm and the second leg often follows with similar discomfort and degeneration issues.
The classic history that is received today on the stifle injuries that are seen is chronic long term rear leg discomfort (lameness) that often responds to rest and/or anti-inflammatory treatment (initially). It is recurring and often frustrating to pin point the painful area. Radiographic evaluation of the stifle early is not contributory to the diagnosis of cruciate disease. Early joint changes are mild and not detectable on radiographs. As the changes in the joint progress from this early lameness (instability), changes do occur that are subtle but very contributory to a diagnosis. The body responses to this joint instability (though mild) by building a fibrous medial buttress around the medial collateral ligament. This is often palpable early but can be very subtle. It can be very mild and you must compare to the opposite “normal” joint. You also can often detect increased synovial fluid in the affected joint on the lateral stifle radiograph. Again you must compare to the “normal” unaffected side to detect slight differences. Early arthritic change (patellar spike) can often be seen. You should also compare drawer sign for differences between the affected and normal leg. Combining all of this information can give you a good probability that you are dealing with cruciate disease as the cause of the rear leg lameness or discomfort. Stifle thrust is usually only detectable with significant instability (severe partial or total tear). With longer standing issues muscle atrophy on the affected limb becomes apparent.
This all is complicated by the fact that chronic cruciate disease is often bilateral and the two legs may be at different stages in this degenerative process. They may both have issues with one being farther along and “more” clinical.
Medical therapy (rest, NSAIDs, and physical therapy) in these early stages does not halt this process. You mask signs of the instability but it is still present and is causing damage. We are beginning to recognize that early surgical intervention may be necessary to correct this instability and halt this osteoarthritic progression. Early surgical intervention increases the chances of saving the medial meniscus from damage.
http://www.veterinarysurgicalspecial...entdisease.pdf
Excellent article, thank you!
Your welcome breeder!
Sorry, here's the full link:
http://www.veterinarysurgicalspecialists.com/positionpapers/cranialcruciateligamentdisease.pdf
You can find more scientific articles by searching for "Cruciate Ligament Disease". It's now believed that this is primarily a degenerative disease that may be caused by a gene mutation. The University of Minnesota is doing a study to find that link.
