How Do I Treat Soft Tissue Injuries in Pets?
The challenge in treating soft tissue injuries is not in the actual treatment itself, but the diagnosis of the soft tissue injury. Once the soft tissue injury is diagnosed and determined, a proper course of treatment may be pursued. Soft tissue injuries are difficult to diagnose and often require time and patience in determining the specific diagnosis. A thorough history, a deliberate physical examination, diagnostics such as MRI, ultrasound and...
Degenerative Myelopathy and How CBD May Help
What is Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs? Degenerative myelopathy, or DM, is a debilitating disease impacting the spinal cord or nerves that vets commonly compare to ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, in people. A good first place to understand what you're dealing with if your dog is diagnosed with DM is to understand what the name means. Degenerative refers to the fact that the disease causes one's spinal cord to decline...
Hip Dysplasia In Dogs
Hip dysplasia. These two words terrify large and giant breed dog owners, but the truth is hip dysplasia can happen to any size or breed of dog. This painful condition can drastically reduce a dog’s quality of life and is difficult for owners to watch. The good news is that embracing responsible dog ownership and educating yourself about potential health conditions like hip dysplasia can go a long way toward keeping your...
Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
Whether it’s humans or dogs, the iliopsoas muscles come up a lot in treatment of low back, pelvic, and hip pain. This can range from muscle tightness to muscle injury, with associated levels of lameness. The Iliopsoas The iliopsoas includes the iliacus and psoas muscles. Together they are the main hip flexors, meaning that they bring the knees to the chest. The iliopsoas muscle originates from the low back (psoas)...
Spinal Cord Disease in Dogs
What is Spinal Cord Disease? Spinal cord disease in dogs can be very concerning to pet owners, as the symptoms are often acute, and affect their movement or control of their bodily functions. When disease occurs within the spinal cord, dogs often present with difficulty walking, loss of coordination or balance, partial or total paralysis, and/or pain. The spinal cord cannot regenerate when damaged so diseases in this location are...
AN OVERVIEW OF CCL INJURY IN DOGS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
A CCL injury in dogs is the most common reason for canine orthopedic surgeries. Dogs tear or rupture their CCL (cranial cruciate ligament), also called ACL, through running, jumping, and heavy impact. A CCL injury can also be due to a congenital knee condition called patellar luxation, which is more common in small dogs. No matter the cause, a torn CCL is painful and can lead to permanent lameness when...
Orthopedic Outcomes Improve When Veterinary Surgeons and Rehab Teams Collaborate
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 for optimal patient outcomes. The surgeon says… For people who undergo...
Medial Shoulder Instability
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation play a crucial role in the management of medial shoulder instability (MSI) in dogs. MSI involves several components of the shoulder joint. The canine shoulder joint relies completely on soft tissue structures for stability and is hence an inherently ‘unstable’ joint. The components that are most commonly affected by MSI are structures on the medial side (closest to the midline) of the shoulder. These include the joint...