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Stretching Exercises
Stretching exercises are so important prior to surgery and including after surgery. Stretching your dog helps with a number of conditions including the following:
- improving motion in the joints prior to surgery and after surgery
- increasing the flexibility
- preventing adhesions between soft tissues and bones
- improving muscle and other soft tissue extensibility which prevents further injury to joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments Continue reading
Pre – ACL Surgery
One very beneficial therapeutic treatment we can do for our dog while awaiting surgery is provide a chondroprotective. Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan by injection and an oral glucosamine and chondroitinsulfate is very helpful before surgery but should be stopped 24 hours prior to surgery.
Getting your dog used to a hydrotherapy pool or a hydrotherapy treadmill is highly recommended. By getting them used to it before surgery they will not injure themselves getting aquainted to it after surgery. If there is access to a land based treadmill that is also helpful.
Most dogs have had a rupture of the ligament well before the diagnosis. Most osteoarthritis is already in progress by the time the vet diagnoses it. Any weight-bearing exercise on an unstable stifle will only accelerate the progression of the arthritis. Continue reading