Vital Feed

Older dogs and those with injuries or balance issues can have trouble moving around the home, especially on slippery surfaces like tile or wood floors.  Some dogs react to slippery floors by not wanting to get up or walk - they lack confidence and will elect to "stay put" rather than risk slipping.  Pets that are nervous about moving around can become even weaker by...

There are many causes of hind leg weakness in dogs and the exact cause is often difficult to establish – even for veterinarians. Senior dogs often show weakness in their back legs. This usually develops gradually over time. Dogs tend to get aches and pains as they get older – just like we do. Some causes of hind leg weakness...

The excerpt below is from an article by Drs. Gayle Jaeger and Sherman Canapp on carpal and tarsal injuries in dogs first seen in Clean Run Magazine in 2008.  Though it's an older article, it is well-organized and still relevant.  Carpal (front leg wrist) and tarsal (back leg ankle) injuries are common in larger and more active dogs but can occur in any...

Orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation go hand in hand, say surgeon David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, from Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, and rehabilitation specialist Matthew Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, from Veterinary Surgical Centers Rehabilitation in Vienna, Virginia. These former coworkers explain why it’s important for surgeons and rehab specialists to work together...

Ten years have passed since WDJ explored “conservative management” – the nonsurgical treatment – of knee ligament injuries (see “Saying ‘No’ to Surgery,” February 2010). Since then, although surgery remains by far the most widely used knee injury treatment, consumer demand for complementary therapies, including the use of custom-designed knee braces, has grown.  Nearly all veterinarians have experience with canine...