Holistic help with dog

[serryjw]

that has tore her ligaments around kneecap that is swollen. Besides rest and other recomendations?

[BrklynLiberal]

1. ice! arnica.... chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine

http://www.allourpets.com/holistic/cranial-cruciate-ligament.shtml

http://www.naturalcanine.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TNC&Category_Code=AJ

http://b-naturals.com/Spr1998.php

a great website for holistic pet info
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/healthypets.htm

[Jeanette in FL]

2. Here is what I would do

Ice the knee every couple of hours and wrap the knee with an ace bandage or vet tape. I would also give her/him some supplements such as arnica, MSM, Glucosamine Chondroiton that you can get at the health food store. Try to keep her/him off it as much as possible.

[serryjw]

6. Thanks everyone.....

passed it on to friend

[Vanje]

3. For working/competing border collies with cruciate ligament injury,

Surgery is needed to get them back to work.

[BattyDem]

4. Get it wrapped by a vet

Don't let it go ... the cruciate ligaments can tear even more. If you catch it early, it will usually heal after being wrapped for a couple of weeks. Otherwise, if the tear becomes too severe, it will require surgery.

My dog had to have the ligaments in both his rear legs replaced. He blew out one knee and seven months later, blew out the other. :-(



Here's some more info:

http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/ccl/

http://www.westonkaanimalhospital.com/cruciate.html

http://www.southpaws.com/topics/cruciate.htm

[mahina]

5. Does it click when she tried to walk?

That's what happened to my dog.
If so you need to see a good vet right away. Hoping she is well soon!

Thank god my son is big and strong and could carry her, otherwise I would have ahd to be really resourceful about getting her outside to pee. She is a golden retriever and no way in hell could I carry her safely.

[BattyDem]

7. I just went through the "clicking" thing ...

My dog had his right cruciate ligament replaced in July 2004 (the left one was done in December 2003) and in February, his knee started clicking when he walked. He would also limp occassionally. I thought the ligament tore again, but my vet couldn't find anything wrong with it so I had to take him to an orthopedist. She told me that his kneecap shifted out of place! Weird, huh?

Anyway, we couldn't let him jump or climb stairs. Luckily, he's only 16 pounds, so carrying him up the stairs wasn't a big deal. He's been taking glucosamine every day since his first surgery. The orthopedist also put him on anti-inflammatories. It took a couple of months, but the swelling went down and the kneecap finally shifted back into place, so no more surgery was needed. :-)

I don't know what it is with my dog and his knees ... he must be having some wild parties when I'm not home! :P