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Dog Limping: Potential Reasons and Remedies

People sometimes assume that a dog isn’t in pain if it isn’t screaming out or whining. However, a limp is a clear indication of pain and a warning that your dog is unwilling to bear weight on the injured leg.

Dogs are typically energetic, active members of the family, which makes them prone to accidents. These can include systemic infections, fractured bones, and strained muscles.

If your dog is limping, it’s time to take him to the vet. Depending on how serious the issue is, they might want you to keep an eye on your dog at home for 24 to 48 hours while you rest him. If your limp doesn’t get better or gets worse, they’ll probably want you to make an appointment.

It is crucial to keep in mind that in this situation, over-the-counter pain relievers should not be used. Dogs can safely take aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol), but overdosing can cause bleeding issues and liver failure. Do not take these drugs without first talking to your veterinarian.

Dog Limping: Potential Reasons and Remedies

Why Your Dog Is Limping Can Only Be Determined by a Vet

To find out why your dog limps, the veterinarian must perform a complete physical examination. An examination from head to toe should involve taking your dog’s vital signs, feeling its lymph nodes, listening to its heart and lungs, manipulating the achy limb, and watching it while it walks. In order to identify potential reasons, it is critical to identify which limb and which part of the limb is afflicted.

Dog limping has a very wide range of causes. Infectious ailments like Ehrlichia and Lyme disease, inflammatory disorders like panosteitis, vascular disorders like blood clots, and orthopedic issues like fractures are some of the broad categories that encompass soft tissue strains or rips (ligaments, tendons, and muscles). These can be further separated into front and back limbs. A torn cranial cruciate ligament is one particular issue that can only occur in the back limb, however the majority of lameness issues are comparable in the front and back legs.

With a history and your dog’s age and breed, you can frequently determine the triggering cause (this is called the signalment). For example, panosteitis, a typical inflammatory illness of the breed, would be a strong suspect in a German shepherd puppy with acute onset of shifting leg lameness. If an elderly dog suddenly became lame in one leg and could not bear any weight, this could be a sign of a bone malignancy such as osteosarcoma and a fractured bone. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a common tick-borne infection, could be the cause of a young limping Coonhound with a history of tick exposure, fever, and abnormalities on bloodwork.

Evaluation and Management of Limping Dogs

Your veterinarian may offer a variety of tests, such as bloodwork, tick disease testing, and/or x-rays, depending on what they discover. The optimal course of treatment will also be decided by them.

Additionally, your veterinarian will advise resting your dog. There won’t be much exercise involved—leash walks will only be taken to use the restroom. Icing or using heat can be helpful in certain situations. The cause determines the appropriate course of action.

Things to Keep in Mind If Your Dog Is Having Limbs

Consult your veterinarian right away if your dog starts to limp, give them some rest so they can heal, and refrain from giving them over-the-counter medication without first talking to them. There are many different reasons why dogs limp, and your veterinarian should be able to assist your dog based on a comprehensive medical history and physical examination.

If you are interested in more information or would like to know more about our Posh Dog Knee Brace you can contact us via our contact form or visit us on Facebook.


A Dog Chiropractor: What Is It?

To reduce discomfort and increase range of motion, a dog chiropractor can adjust your dog’s joints.

A dog chiropractor would palpate the dog’s spine, limbs, and even the skull to look for anomalies in the way the bones join together, much like they would during a human chiropractic session. Your dog’s comfort level, nerve function, and the way that joint works can all be affected by even minor misalignments, or “subluxations.”

The subluxated joint is then adjusted and the bones are moved back into position by the dog chiropractor using precise manipulations. One common focus is the spine.

Dog Chiropractor

Does My Dog Require a Veterinary Chiropractor?

When they observe their dog limping or feeling sore all the time, most dog owners take their pets to see animal chiropractors. If your dog participates in high-impact activities like flyball or agility, you could choose to schedule a preventive dog chiropractic appointment to make sure their body is operating at peak efficiency.

Getting a veterinary diagnosis is crucial if your dog is experiencing discomfort, lameness, or lethargy. Make an appointment with your veterinarian so they can assess the cause of your dog’s discomfort or lack of self-awareness. Why does this matter? Because a variety of health issues can appear to be similar at first glance but may require quite diverse approaches to treatment. Dog chiropractic care, for instance, will help a limping dog with a sore back, but an antibiotic is necessary if the dog has Lyme disease.

If your veterinarian certifies that dog chiropractic is appropriate for your dog’s condition after you’ve determined what’s wrong, you can pursue this course of action.

What Is the Price of a Dog Chiropractor?

Like any medical service, the price of a visit to the dog chiropractor can vary significantly based on a number of factors, including your location, the practitioner’s credentials, and your dog’s size and personality. Typically, the first appointment is between $100 and $200, and follow-up consultations are between $50 and $80.

Choosing an Animal Chiropractor

Seek out a chiropractor with certification from the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) or the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). This guarantees that the chiropractor for dogs has received specialized training in the anatomy, joint, and spinal manipulation of dogs.

Animal chiropractic certification can be obtained by veterinarians and qualified human chiropractors holding a doctor of chiropractic (DC) degree. A human chiropractor needs specialized training to work with animals since human and canine joints and bones fit differently. It could be painful and even irreversible to try to adjust a dog in the same way that a human is adjusted.

If you are interested in a Posh Dog Knee Brace contact us via our contact form or visit us on Facebook.


Braces for Dogs with a Torn ACL

The best ACL/CCL brace for a dog is custom-made and sturdy.

Absolutely, custom-made braces can be a great solution for dogs with a torn ACL (also known as the cranial cruciate ligament or CCL). Here are some points to consider when looking for a brace for a dog with a torn ACL:

Braces for Dogs with a Torn ACL

Why a Custom Brace key points:

  1. Custom Fit: Custom-made braces are tailored to your dog’s specific measurements, ensuring a snug and supportive fit. This is crucial for stability and comfort.
  2. Quality Materials: The best braces are made from durable and lightweight materials, allowing your dog to move without too much restriction while providing the necessary support.
  3. Professional Guidance: When getting a brace for your dog, it’s best to work with a veterinarian or our Vet Tech at Posh Dog Knee Brace. They can ensure the brace is fitted correctly.
  4. Purpose of the Brace: Understand that a brace for a torn ACL is not a cure. It’s a supportive device that can help stabilize the joint, potentially aiding in pain management and improving mobility during recovery and rehabilitation.
  5. Follow-Up Care: Using a brace often involves a period of adjustment and follow-up appointments to ensure it’s working effectively. Make sure you’re prepared for the maintenance and check-ins required to ensure your dog’s comfort and recovery.

Your dog’s veterinarian might suggest surgery if he/she tore his/her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). That may cause stress for your wallet, your dog, and you. You may be wondering if you can give your dog appropriate comfort and care while using an ACL dog brace in order to avoid surgery for your dog’s torn ACL. Indeed you can, but only if you get your dog a quality ACL brace, like our Posh Dog Knee Brace.

If you’re wondering if your dog has an ACL tear, the symptoms of an acute rupture are quite typical. Usually, the dog yells and stops bearing any weight on its rear leg when it is running and playing. The dog will frequently still walk around but may sometimes run on three legs and hike up or hang the injured limb.

Dog ACL Torn Surgery

For the majority of cruciate tears, surgery in the form of a tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO) is the best course of action; however, ACL braces are also showing to be an effective remedy.

Dog owners who participated in a study comparing TPLO surgery and custom stifle orthotics reported high levels of satisfaction with both procedures. The phrase “custom stifle orthotics” was used in the study. You might be tempted to order an all-dog cloth brace online in an effort to get one quickly and at a low cost. Your dog doesn’t require that in order to support its torn ACL. Your dog requires a specially made brace composed of durable material. Although many excellent companies make custom braces for a dog with an ACL tear, Posh Dog Knee Brace is a good option to take into consideration.

Restoring stifle joint stability is the aim of treatment for your dog’s torn ACL. The famous “drawer sign,” which happens when the veterinarian holds the femur in place while the tibia can be pulled forward like a sliding drawer, is caused by your dog’s unstable stifle due to the loss of an intact ACL/CCL. It’s a sign that the CCL has ruptured. Pain results from this laxity, which also promotes the growth of osteoarthritis.

No Fast Treatment for Dogs’ Torn ACLs

It follows that neither braces nor surgery are a quick fix. A brace may occasionally be recommended by a veterinarian to aid in your dog’s recovery following surgery or be recommended as a alternative option instead of surgery as well.

Whichever approach you decide on, consult your veterinarian or one of our Posh Vet Tech for advice and direction as you help your dog heal as well as to ensure that you have the right diagnosis.

If you think a brace might be a good option for your dog, contact us today via our contact form or call us at 509-412-3065. You can also visit our Facebook Page.


Torn Cruciate Ligaments in Dogs

Hey guys, this is Nikki lead Veterinary Technician with Posh Dog Knee Braces.  Let’s talk about the cruciate ligament, and what it does for us.  As the name states, the cruciate ligaments form a cross behind the dog’s knee.  The Cranial Cruciate Ligament in dogs is the same as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans.  This is made up of many different fibers that work to attach the femur to the tibia, which keeps the tibia from moving. 

This is why in order to diagnose a CCL rupture, your veterinarian will do what is called a “drawer test” in which they check the movement and shifting of the tibia.  If the ligaments are healthy, there should be no movement, or positive drawer sign.

Torn Cruciate Ligaments in Dogs

Torn Cruciate Ligaments

Trauma or degenerative disease to the ligament can damage some of the fibers that make up this ligament.  Sometimes you may be told it is a “partial” or a “full” cruciate ligaments tear, however, this is impossible to fully know without going into the joint arthroscopically, or having an MRI done. 

We can’t know if the ligaments are simply diseased and stretching more than they should, or fully ruptured which then puts strain on the meniscus.  With a trauma, these fibers tear all at once, causing pain and inflammation, and more acute symptoms.  Degenerative disease is like a fraying rope, those fibers break over time, and you may not notice the subtle signs.  Or your dog may limp here or there, but not all the time.

Unfortunately, most ruptures in a dog are the result of long-term degeneration, where things get weaker and tear over a period of time.  Genetics are one of the reasons for degeneration, these breeds include Labradors, rottweilers, boxers, west highland terriers, and newfoundlands.  There are more breeds, but these are the most common.  Some family lines can be checked out, and I would encourage asking about any history on a future puppy in one of these breeds.  It can be detrimental to have a healthy 2 or 3 year old dog with bilateral CCL tears, and we do unfortunately see that. 

Another factor to think about would be early spay or neuter.  I have another blog on this subject if you would like more information, but to summarize we should not be spaying or neutering until a dog has reached maturity.  By doing so, we cause the tibia to continue to grow, which can change the angle in the knee stretching the ligaments.  At least a year as a minimum, some large breeds should be 2 years before sterilizing. 

Fraying of the ligament can trigger a lot of internal things, such as pain and lameness.  Usually with degeneration, there is already osteoarthritis present.  The goal here is to stop the movement of the knee, either with a surgical procedure or the less invasive knee bracing options.  Bracing will stop the movement of the tibial thrust, as well as acting as a shock absorber, allowing a patient to fully weight bear with the brace on.  This will help  with getting back to walks and a happy lifestyle. 

The more osteoarthritis present, the less successful a patient will be with surgery.  As the majority of cases are degenerative, bracing seems to be one of the better solutions.  Please email us with any questions, and check us out on Facebook. Let’s help improve his life and yours with our Posh Dog Knee Brace. Custom Crafted Dog Knee Brace, is much more effective than a ready to wear or a soft dog ACL/CCL brace. You can contact Posh Dog Knee Brace via phone at 509-412-3065.


Best Activity Level With a CCL Tear

Today I would like to talk about recommended activity levels with a brace or CCL tear.  It is still important to remember that this is not a race.  Recovery from a CCL takes time, which is why we use a gradual increase in activities.

CCL Tear

Initially, we start with walks and light physical therapy and massage.  Gradually, we can increase activities, such as adding hills or inclines to the walk, sit stands, more muscle building activities.

Not Recommended for CCL Tear

It is not recommended to let your dog run off leash while in recovery.  This can lead to injury of the other leg potentially.  Braced walks are meant to be nice and slow, not a jog.  The goal is to have your dog placing full weight down on his leg.  If you walk or run too fast, they will skip and not place full weight on the leg.

We will get to a point where your pup can play off leash, but ask first, and take things slow.  Feel free to email or send in a contact request with any questions, we are happy to help!

Give Your Dog a Big Hug From Us!

Nikki, Posh Lead Veterinary Technician

Looking for more information about our Posh Dog Knee Brace contact us via our contact form or visit our Facebook Page.


Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair for Dogs:  4 Options

Hey guys, this is Nikki Lead Veterinary Technician with Posh Dog Knee Braces.  Today, let’s talk about Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair (CCL/ACL) tears in a dog, and what your options are.  First of all, if your dog is limping on the hind leg, be sure to get a diagnosis from your veterinarian before making any decisions.  Once that takes place, be firm with your Veterinarian if needed and ask for the exact diagnosis.  If they feel that your dog has a Cranial Cruciate Ligament tear, or CCL tear, then you do have some decisions to make moving forward.  Let’s go into the options, and the pros and cons, as well as long term expectations.

First off, depending on your veterinarian, they may refer you to a specialist to verify the diagnosis.  This is completely up to you, but do know that if you go to a specialist, they are typically surgeons, and will not be happy without scheduling your dog for surgery.  Please know that you can say no.  I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to take a breath, and go over all options before signing that dotted line. 

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair for Dogs

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair for Dogs Option 1: 

Choosing to do just conservative management, with no support or surgery.  This seems to be gaining momentum and popularity, because obviously options can cost money.  There are supportive things to do, such as keeping your dog in a kennel, leash walks outside, supplements, acupuncture, laser, prp, ect.  While this option is better for the budget, it is not for the busy owner, or owners with small children and other pets.  While it sounds great, reality is that there is a great chance your pup will continue to re-injure their knee.  At some point, the door will open, and your dog will want to run. 

Someone will forget, your dog looks like he is dong better at 3 months, and in he comes with the leg hiked all the way up to the groin.  Sound familiar?  This can be a tough cycle, and the bones in the knee are still able to move, causing pressure on the meniscus as well increasing your dog’s chance of arthritis down the road.  So, can a knee heal with conservative management alone?  Possibly, but there could be long term issues if you do not do passive range of motion, PT, and exercising along with CM alone.

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair for Dogs Option 2: 

This is by far my favorite option, from years of experience working with orthopedics.  Using an orthotic Brace in conjunction with PROM and PT, as well as supplements and support.  Now I am not talking about the cheap over the counter neoprene braces that have a spiderweb of straps connecting to the harness or back, those are no better than just letting the knee recover alone. 

I am talking about a custom made premium orthotic brace, such as the Posh Dog Knee Brace.  Posh Brace fully stabilizes the knee, allowing for range of motion and squatting, while also acting as a shock absorber for the meniscus.  This is going to help give a smoother recovery, and allow that scar tissue to form without a lot of re-injuries.  Thus, this is one of the safer options, and definitely still less than surgery.

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair for Dogs Option 3:

Tightrope, lateral suture, or extracapsular repair.  This is the cheapest of the surgical options, and should only be used on patients under 30-40lbs, as the suture has double the chance of failing in larger breed patients.  This method usually is in the $2k-$3k ballpark range now, and is literally using fishing line/or suture to wrap around the knee joint to keep things in place.  There are several ways this can and usually does fail.  The crimps can come off, the suture can break, the suture can slip, ect. 

These patients are immobile for months, and do get a lot of atrophy in the joint.  This seems to be sore to recover from, and without a brace post op, your dog is going to need to be kenneled for weeks to months, to allow for scar tissue to properly form.  This technique is similar to if you braced, however, without the full stabilization and support, and double the cost.

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair for Dogs Option 4:

 TPLO or TTA surgery.  Both of these will be suggested by your vet or surgeon, usually first.  They both entail cutting of the tibia bone, and re-alignment using a plate and screws.  This is permanent, and there is no going back if something doesn’t go the way it was meant to.  I always save this for my last option, as it is extremely invasive, expensive, and does not give a guarantee of working.  Too many patients have had lifelong lameness due to choosing this option, and are not able to recover fully. 

There are many weeks needed for kenneling, so the leg will atrophy.  This also causes overcompensating on the good knee, which again increases the chances of another CCL tear in that leg.  If surgery does go well, and you are able to do a full Physical Therapy Program post op with a professional, your dog may have a good outcome, but this is not without risk.

Please email me at poshintake1@gmail.com if you would like to ask more questions about Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair, CCL/ACL tears in dogs, and what the best options are for your pup.  You can also contact via our forms or visit our Facebook page.


Fantastic Article About Cruciate Injuries – Written By A REAL DVM: Dr. Will Falconer – MUST READ

We’ve been following Dr. Will Falconer DVM, for over 6 years. His site Vital Animal is a very rare resource for any Pet parent who wishes to learn how to achieve the healthiest and extended life for their Fur child.

This is a MUST read article about cruciate injury causes and treatment.


We call Dr. Will a bona fide: hero. He tells the truth about REAL Veterinary care and about cruciate injuries causes and treatments.

Learn the heath care tips which your allopathic vet may not know, or may not have told you, by subscribing (free) to Dr. Wills newsletter. Dr. Will has deveoped an array of hugely beneficial, free, and also some inexpensive courses, all of which are very relevant REAL health care tips that we feel any Pet parent needs to investigate. His mission is unequivocally: to allow you and your beloved Dog or Cat to share as many years of unrequited love together as possible.

Cruciate Injuries
Sick dog lying on a blanket. Treatment of injured hind legs of a dog



The extraordinary info he has shared with us through the years has saved us several thousands dollars, and a lot of worry, in learning how to truly care for our beloved Dogs and about cruciate injuries causes and treatments.

This Animal Hero has been a Veterinarian for almost 40 years, with 25 years of Homeopathic care. To quote Dr. Will:

I’ve learned that prevention is indeed important, but not done in the usual way promulgated by conventional medicine. You’ll do well to be very, very cautious about what’s offered under that banner in conventional veterinary practices across the globe. It’s a clear case of caveat emptor: Let the buyer beware.

In an increasingly turbulent and treacherous sea of [dangerous] “allopathic” medicine, see how Dr. Will can be your safe haven, a veritable life raft, for you and your Dog. Dr. Will personifies the quintessence of the word: Doctor.

Even if you never get a Posh Brace, you must check this exceptional and iconoclastic DVM out.

Dr. Will, thank you for your decades of unbridled dedication to helping our Animal children live a long and healthy life!

If you are interested in purchasing or brace visit our Store. Or if you need more information about cruciate injuries causes and treatments please contact us anytime.

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