CALLING ALL LABS, RETRIEVERS, BOXERS, AND ROTTWEILERS
What Dog Owners Need to Know About CrCL
It is not uncommon for certain dogs to struggle with conditions over the years that are simply related to their breed. In our practice, we often see dogs who are suffering from a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL). The CrCL is a ligament in a dog’s knee that is similar to the ACL in humans. This ligament stabilizes the dog’s knee joint and keeps their femur bone from moving forward compared to the tibia. When the CrCL tears, walking becomes a painful challenge. If left untreated, CrCL injuries lead to damage to the surrounding cartilage and degenerative arthritis, which intensifies the dog’s pain. Though sometimes caused by an accident, most CrCL ruptures are the result of long-term degeneration and simple anatomy. Some dog breeds are more predisposed to this kind of injury than others, especially large, athletic breeds like Labradors, golden retrievers, shepherds, boxers, and Rottweilers. Dogs suffering from a CrCL rupture will limp and avoid putting weight on their back leg. There may also be a loud clicking sound when the dog moves should the cartilage of their knee become damaged. A veterinarian will need to examine and X-ray the dog to confirm whether the CrCL is damaged and begin creating a plan for recovery. Though CrCL ruptures are troubling, painful injuries, good solutions exist for recovery. One effective treatment is a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). TPLO changes the biomechanics of the knee joint, adjusting a portion of the dog’s tibia and preventing the femur from sliding forward, thus stabilizing their knee. Compared to other treatments for CrCL tears, dogs who receive this surgery tend to have a much better prognosis. After a period of recovery, most dogs who undergo TPLO are able to return to the active lifestyle they enjoyed before. Worried your best friend may have a ruptured CrCL? Give The Animal Clinic of Kalispell a call at 406.755.6886. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the sooner you can get your pet out of pain.
Being adopted by a vet has some real perks. Dr. Clark helped me get as healthy as I could be. Honestly, at the time, I thought that it would be nice to at least enjoy my last few months in comfort. But today, I feel great! Dr. Clark has joked that I’m probably going to live forever, and sometimes it really feels that way. I still have allergies and can’t walk as well as other dogs, but I’m the life of the party. In addition to Rose Ann and Dr. Clark, there are two other dogs in my new pack: a golden retriever and another springer. They’re good dogs, though they aren’t nearly as smart as I am. There’s also a cat running around, and he likes me too.
Every day, I’m happy to have a family I love so much. It’s a good life, and you know what? Sometimes being an old dog isn’t so bad after all.
– The Maui
Directions
1. Preheat oven
to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside. 2. Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin purée, peanut butter, and eggs on medium- high until well-combined, about 1–2 minutes. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky. 3. Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3–4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto prepared baking sheet. 4. Place in oven and bake until edges are golden brown, about 20–25 minutes (baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the treats). 5. Let cool completely.
406.755.6886
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