Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Using home remedies
• Method 2 of 2: Using a Medical Alternative to Surgery

The tough, fibrous bands that connect the femur (thigh) to the tibia (shin) are called the cruciate ligaments, CCL, or ACL. Sometimes, high weight bearing activity or constant use of the ligament will cause rupture. However, rupture can also occur after intense training and running. Signs of ACL injury can include mild and intermittent lameness, unsteadiness, unwillingness to walk, and knee pain. While surgery may also be necessary, you can use home remedies and non-surgical treatments to help your dog recover from an ACL injury.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Using home remedies

1. 1 When it is safe to do so, discard the operation. Both surgical and non-surgical (conservative) methods can be used to treat ACL. A combination of both methods is usually beneficial for the dog. However, the type of therapy is recommended to vary according to body size, body condition, and the severity of your dog's lameness.
   • A dog over 20 kilograms may not be a good candidate for surgical procedures.
2. 2 While treating your dog's torn ACL ligament, reduce your dog's body weight. The ACL is designed to stabilize the leg and provide support during a weight load. High body weight is a risk factor and a major cause of ACL injury due to added stress. You can easily speed up your dog's healing process by reducing your dog's body weight. Try to reduce your dog's body weight with a combination of diet and exercise.
   • To reduce your dog's body weight, you need to reduce his calorie intake by at least 60%.
   • Don't cut your calorie intake right away, but feed your dog smaller meals throughout the day.
     • To minimize any digestive upset, try to accustom your dog to the new diet gradually. Make sure to monitor the results of your weight loss program regularly.
   • Be sure to include regular, but not vigorous exercise for your dog. Exercise can include walking or running.
     • In the event of severe ACL injury with inflammation, exercise should be postponed until you have passed on some NSAIDs to your dog to reduce pain.
     • If your dog has severely ruptured ACLs, specialized hydrotherapy (walking / swimming in water) is recommended.
   • Please consult your veterinarian for an appropriate exercise list based on your dog's clinical condition.
   • Due to the reduced pressure on the knee joint, your dog will be able to heal the ligaments faster.
3. 3 Try to restrict your dog's activities. Resting completely and limiting activities will give your dog's body a chance to heal. Lower inflammation at the expense of the rest will allow the body to heal itself naturally. Some veterinarians advise you to completely restrict your dog's activities, while others advise some limited exercise.
   • You shouldn't let your dog jump up to catch a ball or a flying saucer.
   • You can practice a short lead for walking with your dog.
4. 4 Try using a towel sling. Sometimes, using a towel as a bandage under your dog's thighs to support his weight can help speed up healing. Towel sling is commercially available, or you can make one easily with a bath towel or used baby jacket in your home.
   • To use a bath towel, you must fold a large bath towel in half and apply it to your dog's lower abdomen. By applying upward pressure while holding both ends of the towel, you can help your dog walk.
   • A commercially available sports band can also be used for this purpose.
   • If you are using an old jacket, you should cut off the sleeves so that the jacket fits the dog's belly.

Method 2 of 2: Using a Medical Alternative to Surgery

1. 1 Use therapeutic methods. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are sometimes helpful to treat a torn ligament. The anti-inflammatory drug will relieve your dog's pain during the observation period. Various groups of NSAIDs are used in the treatment of ACL. Doses will vary depending on the level of pain and your dog, body weight, and body condition.
   • Often used NSAIDs are oxicam derivatives (meloxicam). They are used for pain relief for various types of muscles and skeleton.
     • Doses commonly used are: Meloxicam (Trade: Melovet®-5mg) @ 1ml / 25 kg, Firocoxib (Previcox®) @ 2.27mg / lb / day (5mg / kg), Carprofen (Rymadil®) @ 2 mg / lb / day.
     • However, the use of drugs in legislation may differ from country to country.
   • In general, low doses and short-term use are safe, while higher doses, long-term use may cause some side effects.
   • If your dog is suffering from side effects such as vomiting, lethargy, depression, or diarrhea, stop medication and consult your veterinarian.
2. 2 Try rehabilitation therapy. Rehabilitation therapy can speed up the healing of the ACL. This option includes a range of movement and mobilization exercises, water treatments, walking. If the condition improves, you can gradually introduce the stairs as an exercise.
   • Water walking or swimming will increase your dog's muscle strength.
   • You can find some veterinary hospitals that have the right equipment, including special tanks and hydrotherapy hot tubs.
   • Several other physical therapies may be helpful, including cryotherapy, laser therapy, and electrical neuromuscular stimulation.
3. 3 Purchase an orthopedic brace for your dog. An external orthopedic or knee brace can be used to support joints, but there is a limited amount of research done on the effects of this treatment. The purpose of using orthopedic support is to support the joints and ligaments, allowing you to experience relaxation of injured legs.
   • Supports are often made with stiff elastic materials and are secured between the thigh and lower leg to prevent unwanted knee movement.
   • Dogs that are advanced in age or too young for surgery are often ideal candidates for orthopedic support.
   • Braces can provide an alternative when surgery is not affordable for the wearer.
4. 4 Get some exercise. After your dog has regained some amount of mobility and strength, you can try some light exercises to try and repair the ligaments. These exercises should only be performed after approval by your veterinarian, or they may harm your dog. Experience shows that physical therapy can speed up your dog's recovery from surgery. However, this evidence does not suggest that physical therapy is a reliable alternative to surgery for most dogs.
   • Ask your dog to sit down. On a floor with a good foundation, have the dog sit and tuck the knee as close to the body as possible. Then ask your dog to stand up as slowly as possible, thus forcing it to shift its weight onto the affected leg. Do 5 reps, 3 times a day.
   • Offset weight. On a floor with a good foundation, with your dog in a standing position, swing your pelvis so that the weight is transferred to the affected leg. Start lightly and increase strength as you feel comfortable with your dog. Do 10 reps, 3 times a day.
   • Unilateral weight. Lift the intact limb off the ground. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Move your leg around and unbalance your dog if he / she tries to lean on one leg. Another way to do this is with an object (for example, a pencil) under the unaffected legs, in order to transfer the full weight to the unaffected leg, is only to do it under control.
   • Circles and eights. On a leash, lead your dog on the left side and then lead in a circle. This stimulates the effect of the weight on both legs and increases strength and balance.
5. 5 Try "Prolotherapy" to regenerate the ligaments. "Prolotherapy", also known as nonsurgical ligament repair, is a medical treatment for chronic pain. "Prolo" is an abbreviation for proliferation because the treatment results in the proliferation (growth, formation) of new tissue in areas where it has become weak. A widespread WMD (a substance that promotes tissue repair) is injected into the affected ligaments or tendons that cause localized inflammation, the healing process "turns on" and directly stimulates the growth of new collagen, strengthens damaged and weak ligaments and tendons of tissues.
   • Prolotherapy is mainly used to treat joint pain, and to increase the strength of the ligament joint by 30-40% in humans. Clinical results using Prolotherapy in dogs and cats appear to point to the same response.
   • When the tendons and ligaments become stronger and more capable of maintaining normal joint stability, the pain is relieved.
   • Prolotherapy is possible when considering working with partial tears, especially if your dog is older or cannot tolerate anesthesia.
6. 6 Look into stem cell restorative therapy. Regenerative stem cell therapy is a relatively new treatment.It has been used successfully to treat arthritis and other degenerative conditions in dogs, with very interesting results. However, this therapy requires minor surgery to collect the stem cells and anesthesia to collect and inject the stem cells.
7. 7 Know when surgery is needed. Once the dog is undergoing treatment, most veterinarians recommend a follow-up period of 4-5 weeks. After this period, your dog should walk well, or with a gentle limp. If the condition still remains the same, you should go for surgery. In most cases, light dogs can recover without surgery, while heavy dogs cannot.
   • It is important to know that even if the symptoms are good, there may be a small chance of developing secondary complications such as arthritis.
     • Arthritis is an irreversible change in a joint and an ACL injury can worsen its course.
     • In addition, your dog will load the other legs to support the weight of the affected leg. This can (in more than 50% of cases) gradually rupture the other legs of the ACL.