We’ve been managing Sampson’s partial ACL tear conservatively. The common term I keep hearing is Conservative Management.
Simply put this means we are giving Sampson the time and support he needs to try and allow his body to heal the tear without surgery. Translation = lots of rest, limited physical exercise, traditional and non-traditional treatments and medicines.
Traditional – Sampson is currently taking Tramadol and Carprofen. The Tramadol is for pain while the Carprofen is an anti-inflammatory, he’s also taking Ligaplex II (supports tissues and joints and encourages connective tissue healing.)
Non-traditional – Sampson is also taking Kola Gotu (an ancient herb, used for healing minor injuries) and a Chinese herb called Xiao Huo Luo Dan (stimulates circulation.)
He’s had some Accupressure as well as Cold Laser Therapy.
What’s not to love, I get this nice cushy place to rest and mom and Emily give me love and treats. I don’t feel cold at all.
His exercise has been extremely limited. We’ve barely walked all winter and when we have it’s been very short and very slow.
I’m happy to report that so far it appears to be working. Sampson had an appointment with our vet last Thursday and after examining him, she feels his injured knee is as stable as his uninjured knee. She’s allowing us to increase his walks just a bit, to allow him some play time with Delilah (3 to 5 minutes) and we have begun the process of weaning him off the anti-inflammatories. If he does well on the reduced dosage, we will continue to wean him off the Tramadol and Carprofen. He will remain on the LigaPlex II and the Kola Gotu for a while longer.
She’d also like him to begin some physical therapy to help build up his muscles. (Someone please text me or hit me up on Facebook and remind me to make this appointment, I totally spaced it yesterday.) He is also scheduled to see the Holistic Vet on April 1st.
He will remain on leash walks for the foreseeable future. I want to make good and sure that he’s healed thoroughly before we give him complete and total freedom.
On our first extended walk this past weekend we took them around the block and I noticed about three houses from home, he had really slowed down and was panting a bit. We will have to work on building his stamina up again and helping him get back in shape.
Someday I’ll get back to you, I promise.
When we weighed him at the vets last Thursday he was at about 89.5 pounds. I’ve cut back on their food a little and I’m hoping once we can start walking regularly again, we can help him drop a couple more pounds.
Even though it’s been a tough couple of months, and I know we still have a ways to go, I’m really glad we decided to treat his partial ACL tear this way.
How about you? When your pet is injured or ill what type of treatments do you prefer?
Great job on sticking to the rest, I’m such a bad person and it is say as I do and not as I do. Glad to hear he is doing well and I hope he continues to do well and will be out and about running in no time.
You have had a rough time that’s for sure. I am glad to hear that the vet says his knee is healing and to increase the walks! That’s great! Slowly but surely things will get back for you.
Thanks for the update!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
All sounding very good. Building the muscles back up is the most important thing.
I have been there and done that with a partial tear with my last dog. It was tough to hold back a racing car on a leash, but worth it. She healed and had 16 happy healthy years.
Don’t forget to make the physical therapy appointment.
That is great news and we think you are right to take it slow and make sure you feel things are OK and then just lengthen the walks gradually. Always better to be err on the side of caution. Onwards and upwards. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Monday.
sorry that should be
Best wishes Molly
Excuse my stupid staff.
Its great that he’s healing. Since we are doing pretty much the same thing with Teach I like taking the path of no-surgery. Teach went on his first walk since being injured almost 2 months ago and he did didn’t bad. Limped a little after he rested some at home but bounced back fast with no limping the next morning. Like you all we’re taking things slow and steady. Good luck!!!!
Hope we never have to take it easy for that long. We have trouble being quiet for a week or two. We aren’t real into the holistic thing, so whatever the vet suggests is what we usually do. Our vet is good and doesn’t believe in drugs for everything, so we feel comfortable with what they tell us.
Excellent news. I hope he continues to improve. 🙂 Even our dogs are a bit out of shape from this crappy winter.
WE like your method. Slow and Steady win the race. RIGHT?
You seem to be doing everything right. Surgery is such a drastic step to have to take when the body can heal itself.
Luckily we haven’t had to deal with anything like this yet. But if we did, I would do everything, like you, to avoid surgery. I think a combination of traditional and holistic treatments is the best way to go. I’m glad it’s working for Sampson, though I’m sure it’s not easy to try to balance everything out.
It sure sounds like you’re doing the very best you can for him. Glad to hear something, or all of it, is working. 🙂 Taking it slow before allowing him his off-leash freedom seems prudent. It would be just awful if you did all that hard work and he re-injured himself again.
its sounds like you have a good plan for Sampson
retro rover
Oh, I’m sorry to be reading this after reading your post just now on Facebook. 🙁
So, does a full tear mean the conservative approach is out?
As for us, you may have seen me say it before on my blog, but we like an East-meets-West approach. When Abby had cancer we did what I called ‘halflistic’ treatment, because it wasn’t wholly holistic – we blended holistic herbal treatments with traditional Rx’s.
Hang in there!
Glad to hear about the progress he’s made! One day at a time and easy does it right? Make that appointment!! A reminder! He’s in great and loving hands thanks to you!
So glad to see an update on Sampson and that he’s doing so well. Is there any possibility of water therapy near you? We did that with Tucker after his ACL surgery and it was absolutely amazing. btw, Tucker absolutely hated water, but stoic dog that he was, he put up with it.
Hi Y’all!
My Humans are all for acupuncture. They used it on the performance horses and they get acupuncture themselves. I got rest when I hurt my leg and it healed just fine.
Sorry, I won’t get to hook up with y’all until really late tomorrow, and I haven’t been able to comment lately. I’ll tell y’all why tomorrow.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Great job, when BD developed a limp I took him to the vets and we tried rest. Annoyingly I was asked to take him back, but as the limp had stopped the ex thought there was no point, and as he’s his dog my hands were tied. He seems fine, but I now watch him like a hawk and am going to start slipping him joint supplement stuff when he’s staying at mine!