Nonsurgical treatment of CCL tearsAugust 17, 2018The message was from a colleague, a veterinary surgeon who was referring a Tosa Inu to Georgia Veterinary Rehabilitation Fitness and Pain Management, my rehabilitation-only practice outside Atlanta, for bilateral CCL tears. The owners had declined surgery for Mei Mei, a very lean 8-year-old 160-pound intact male who lumbered into my office with a significant limp in his left hind leg and short striding in the right hind. After confirming what my colleague had found—bilateral cranial drawers, medial buttressing, effusion, and a significant click on the left side—I discussed how to treat a torn CCL with the owners. As a board-certified rehabilitation specialist, I am the first person to recommend nonsurgical treatment for cases in which it is indicated, and in my opinion, this was not one of them. I have had great success treating torn CCLs conservatively in dogs less than 30 pounds or less active, older, and generally smaller dogs. Although not an active dog, Mei Mei certainly wasn’t small. However, Mei Mei’s owners were moving out of state in 11 days to an area with dozens of acres. He had not healed well from a mass removal on his hip the month prior and had chronic skin infections. Surgery was out of the question.
SPONSORED CONTENTYour Parasite Protection Recommendation, SimplifiedManaging parasite prevention doesn’t have to be complicated. Discover a single solution that protects against multiple threats. + Learn More
Opting out of opioidsAugust 24, 2016All too often we hear about celebrities such as Prince falling victim to opioid overdose.1 The story goes that Prince suffered from chronic pain and took the fentanyl on which he overdosed to “try to control the constant, excruciating pain from damaged hips.”2
Acupuncture group continues push for specialtyJuly 27, 2016The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture intends to reapply for official recognition after its petition was denied by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, which found “a lack of scientific basis” for an acupuncture specialty.
Why there is much to learn about cannabis, cancerDecember 2, 2015The search for plant-based cancer cures turns up exciting prospects such as curcumin (from the Indian spice turmeric) and medicinal mushrooms from Asia. Scientific research is highlighting myriad mechanisms of each of these promising plants, finding pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing benefits.
Got a spinal cord injury? Get acupuncture!November 2, 2015This past July, the National Institutes of Health released a report outlining results from a study showing how non-invasive electrical stimulation of the low back restored some function in men with complete motor paralysis.
How pesticide cocktails can taint 'natural' herbsNovember 25, 2014"Natural” plant medicines can both help and harm, but the more we learn about how medicinal plants are cultivated, harvested, stored and sold, especially in China, the more we realize the need for heightened scrutiny and regulatory enforcement.
'Feel The Feedback' in energy workFebruary 8, 2009Along the continuum of veterinary medicine, perhaps no alternative treatments stand further from drugs and surgery than do those nested under the umbrella of “energy work.”
