Cranial Cruciate Ligament ruptures:
A ligament consists of tough, fibrous tissue connecting two bones. In the knee, rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament allows the femur to slide back and forth over the tibia. The rupture first causes pain, then abnormal wear and tear leading to arthritis. This sequence of events occurs most frequently in overweight, middle-aged to older dogs. Depending on the severity of the rupture, treatment may consist of limited exercise and rest or surgical repair of the torn ligament. If your pet is overweight, weight reduction can speed recovery and possibly prevent further injury.
Patellar Luxation:
Patellar luxation is a dislocation of the kneecap (patella). The patella may dislocate toward the inside (medially) or to the outside (laterally) of the leg or may move in both directions. Patellar luxation may result from injury or congenital deformities. Both legs may be affected. The crippling effects of patellar luxation are related to the severity and duration of the luxation. The milder forms, especially in small breeds, show little or no signs. Severe cases cause more intense pain, with limping. Treatment ranges from rest to surgical reconstruction of the knee joint. Treatment is based upon the severity of signs and your pet's age, breed and weight.
Arthritis:
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. It can occur in any joint, including the spine and jaw. Signs of arthritis include painful or stiff joint movement, joint swelling, and a grating sensation during joint movement. Arthritis can also cause fever and redness of the skin over the joint. Causes of arthritis include degeneration from aging, inherited condition, infection, previous injury, blood diseases, allergic or immune-mediated diseases and cancer. Radiographs and laboratory tests are necessary to determine the type and extent of the arthritis. Arthritis is usually a controllable rather than a curable disease. Therapy is designed to minimize discomfort and delay or prevent progression of disease. A multi-modal approach is used in helping pets cope with arthritis. This approach uses rehabilitation, nutraceuticals, diet/weight control/weight loss and Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs).
Hip Dysplasia:
Hip dysplasia is a condition in which abnormal formation of the hip results in an unstable hip joint. As the affected dog ages, the hips gradually become arthritic and may degenerate to cause total crippling of the rear limbs. The exact cause is unknown but it is believed to develop because the skeleton grows faster than the supporting muscles. The imbalanced growth rate is influenced by heredity and diet. Other unknown factors may influence the development and severity of hip dysplasia. Not all dogs with hip dysplasia are affected to the same degree. The disease can be very mild and cause no signs at all or it may be severe and crippling of the rear limbs. While the disease usually affects both hips, occasionally it only affects one side. Hind leg lameness, a swaying or staggering gait, "bunny hopping" while running, discomfort on rising, reluctance to climb stairs or stand on the rear legs and reluctance to run or jump are all signs of hip dysplasia. Though this disease is most common in large breeds of dogs, it may occur in any breed. Treatment vary from rehabilitation to surgery with rehabilitation immediately afterwards, depending on the severity of the condition.
