Dog Arthritis Treatment Prevention

Canine Ligament Surgery

Sporting Greyhounds often get ruptured cruciate ligaments due to knee strains when they run, this may also happen in domesticated Greyhounds as well. Ruptured ligaments are a serious injury and should be treated as soon as limping occurs.

Due to their extreme speeds, Greyhounds are more likely than other breed to twist or sever vital tendons. Veterinarians will diagnose such cases by holding the joint and manipulating it to find out the degree of available flexibility. The pup will need to be anesthetized for this procedure because it is extremely painful and the vet needs to know if there are any fractures to the stifle.

The treatment most advised by the veterinarians is a surgical repair of the site;  if untreated, damage to the meniscus will occur in a few weeks. Eventually leading to degenerative arthritis and a permanent limp for the Greyhound.

A Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy procedure or a Tibial Tuberosity Advancement procedure can relive the victim of any sustained injury. The TPLO paradigm levels the tibia top which is normally sloped downward, allowing  femur stability by keeping it from sliding to-and-fro. A metal plate is inserted with screws which allows for the healing of the bone. The latter method is done by cutting a section of the tibia and pushing it forward; a metal plate is attached to keep the new position. Once in place on the femur, the tibia can not move forward or down. With these procedures the vet does not have to enter the capsule or knee joint. Another alternative is going inside the capsule and replacing the ruptured CCL. A graft is done with either tissue from other parts of the dog or with a synthetic material. Any of the before mentioned practices will allay any pain.

Following surgery the Greyhound will have physical therapy and all exercises will be restricted in order for the healing to be successful. The rehabilitation time takes months of therapy and relaxation in a cage where running is not a temptation. The only activities will be walking during bathroom breaks. Even after surgical repair, he may never return to a full, athletic, recovery.