Healing Cosmo With Conservative Management

2011-02-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

Beyond a year:

Cosmo is doing wonderful. He walks, runs and plays. He does not need his brace. He is back to his old self. We do monitor his activities closer now but feel that he is healed. I would say he regained 95% use of his leg. The only reason I do not say 100% is because some days he is a bit stiff in the morning. This could be arthritis.

I highly recommend Conservative Management!

2010-10-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Cosmo is doing great. I hesitate to yell it from the rooftop, but Cosmo is walking just fine. He is playful and happy. The only sign of injury is the occasional popping noise. Granted, My knees pop every morning when I get up so I am not worried about the noise.
I am VERY thankful that we went the conservative management route. Despite being a large dog, it did work. Cosmo was spared the surgery and that is always a good thing.

2010-08-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Cosmo is walking completely normally now, without the use of the brace.
There is still an occasional popping noise but it reminds me of my own knees cracking when I get up off the ground. He runs and plays and acts as he did prior to his injury.
I am thankful for all the help and advice I received along the way. I am VERY thankful that we did not put him through surgery.

2010-07-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

I am hesitant to post this (as I would hate to jinx us) but Cosmo is doing GREAT!!! A few days ago, he ran and ran. He ran without pain. He ran with excitement. He was the playful & joyful dog that he was before his injury.
Is he 100%? Not quite but he is almost there. He is at the point where when he decided to run we did not stop him. He is not wearing the brace. He is very stable without it.

2010-06-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a month of no problems. Cosmo uses his brace when he goes outside and we take it off when he is inside. He loves wearing the brace because he knows it means freedom (going outside to play).
He still swims daily and we still give him the same suppliments.
I am very pleased with his progress and our decision NOT to go ahead with surgery!

2010-05-09T07:29:00.001-07:00

Cosmo is continuing to improve. The brace has become part of his daily routine. He is swimming a lot and has lost some weight.

2010-04-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

By the time we video taped Cosmo, he resumed walking normally.
He is back to using his brace most of the day. He is walking on all 4 legs with the brace.
I am going to try to include the video.

2010-04-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

I emailed Orthopets about what was going on with Cosmo.
They called me and they want me to send them a video of Cosmo walking with the brace. They want to make sure the brace is fitted correctly. I will have to get Addison to do it. LOL. I have never video taped anything.
Cosmo is resting on his bed today with a big juicy marrow bone. He is still limping and seems willing to simply rest today.
We may put off video taping until Friday.

2010-04-14T06:41:00.001-07:00

I feel like the brace caused an oops moment but I just do not know for sure.
Cosmo is limping today. We have removed the brace and are limiting Cosmo's activity. We plan on reintroducing the brace with the beginning schedule (2 hours at a time) in a few days. I do think that having Cosmo swim without the brace is the way to go. It allows him more movement of the leg. In a couple days, we will allow him back in the pool, minus the brace.
I want to believe that the brace is protecting the leg while it heals. I just am unclear why he started walking off kilter and what caused him to fall yesterday. Without any answers coming from Cosmo, we will just keep plodding along and making adjustments as we go

2010-04-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been happy with the Ortho brace. Now, I am not sure. The past couple days, Cosmo seems to be walking off kilter in it. We kept him off it for awhile and he seemed fine. It isn't wearing funny or rubbing wrong. Today he fell with it on. He is currently resting on his bed. I don't know, maybe it is not the brace. Maybe he is overdoing it. I just wish the dog could talk and tell me what he feels. I was confident that we were progressing nicely. Now, I am thinking we are suffering a set back.

2010-04-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

Cosmo is doing great! The brace was well worth the expense! I highly recommend the brace.

Cosmo in his stifle brace

2010-03-16T11:46:00.001-07:00

2010-03-15T11:19:00.001-07:00

The brace arrived. He is not sure that he likes it. He tried to bite it.
We took him for a walk and it 100% makes him more stable. When I get some time, I will post pictures.

2010-03-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

Cosmo is doing remarkably well with Conservative Management. He is walking. He would be running if we allowed him. He cannot because the knee is still healing. It will be a few more months before it is healed enough for him to be more active. The brace is being made and we expect to receive it in about 10 more days.

2010-02-25T17:23:00.000-08:00

Cosmo has been doing great. The trouble is keeping him calm when he feels well enough to run and play.
He tried to jump in the pool today. Luckily, I was able to stop him. He swam for half an hour. Afterwards, he wanted to run and play. I had to make him go inside. I am so afraid of a set back. I am happy he feels better. I just do not want to have him re-injure himself.
I am looking forward to getting his brace. Not that he won't still have restrictions....I just think I will feel a bit calmer.

2010-02-21T14:49:00.000-08:00

All I can say is making a cast of a unsteady, wobbly, antsy, overgrown lab is very
VERY Hard!
I did not get pictures of the process. I couldn't get pictures. It required all 4 of us to get it done.

Here are pictures of the finished cast that will be shipped out tomorrow morning to Orthopets.

2010-02-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

The casting tape arrived. We will be making the cast on Sunday. I will try to get photos but it may be after the cast is made. We need to make it fast, so Cosmo will stay still long enough.

We are traveling to Disney tomorrow. My daughter will be dancing there at 11:00 AM. She belongs to a dance company. Our son is staying home to watch the dogs.

This week has been about the same. Cosmo swam 20 minutes a day. He is using the leg more but we are still determined to get the brace. We want to prevent any re-injury. We are pleased with the improvement that he is making.

Oscar, our cat, is recovering from his abcess.

2010-02-15T08:54:00.000-08:00

Orthopets emailed that they would send out replacement tape. Hooray. Hopefully we can get the cast mailed back to them soon.

Cosmo is very energetic today. I spent the morning telling him that he could not get on the recliners. His mattress is right next to them but for some reason the recliners are tempting him.

He is finally settled down, chewing on a new bone.

2010-02-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

Well, we had an issue with the casting tape. It was hard as rock and, no matter what we did, it would not soften. We were unable to create the cast. I emailed Orthopets to see if they can send replacement tape.
I hope this doesn't delay our order by too much.

Cosmo swam 20 minutes today. He is doing about the same.

2010-02-14T07:59:00.001-08:00

This is what we are ordering:
ACL BRACE
USES
- for use after common surgical repairs such as a lateral structure repair, Extra capsular procedure or a "tight rope" procedure- used for support of the stifle joint for long term protection and stability for those who aren't pursuing surgical treatment

DESIGN
- absorbs, stores and returns the forces produced from cranial tibial thrust- provides control and support- allows dog to perform normal activites- allows joint to bend and strengthen- helps avoid loss of muscle mass during recovery- lined with a foam padding to provide maximum skin protection from irritation or abrasions- waterproof

FRAME
- available in composite plastic or carbon fiber

2010-02-12T14:44:00.001-08:00

Cosmo walked to the french doors this afternoon and whined. I told him he could go out (thinking he needed to go potty). He has been very good about walking slow during potty breaks. If you tell him "go slow" he goes extremely slow.Anyway...I let him out and he walked right to the pool and got in. He swam into the middle and started swimming laps. I had not planned on taking him swimming. The water is cold! We had a cold front come through this week. I guess, he decided that if I didn't take him he would take himself. I let him swim for 20 minutes before I made him come out.

2010-02-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a wonderful web site.
It features a vast amount of information, from swim therapy (I highly recommend swimming for a dog with a knee injury!) to links to sites that cover injuries & treatments.
http://www.rummysbeachclub.com/

2010-02-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

Rough week: NOT for Cosmo. In fact, he is doing quite well. the casting kit arrived today and we will be making the cast this weekend. I will post pictures.

Our cat, Oscar, was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He is 17 years old. I took him to the vet for an abscess and found out about the cancer. I am trying to be calm. After-all, he has shown no symptoms of the cancer. Right now, I am focusing on geting his abscess taken care of.

I felt overwhelmed at first. It is a lot to try conservative management on a huge Lab and then to add another animals injury/disease into the mix....arggh!!!!!

Yesterday was bad. Today, I am in move forward mode.

I am sharing a couple of my favorite pictures of Cosmo & Oscar. They love to cuddle.

2010-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

The casting kit for the brace is on its way. Should be able to get it with-in next couple weeks. Cosmo is still walking on all 4 legs. I am looking forward to the brace giving him more stability. I still have sticker shock. The casting kit is $70. The brace will be $600. Wow! Thank God for tax returns!

2010-02-06T07:02:00.000-08:00

Cosmo is continuing to use his leg a bit more each day. I have researched braces and decided to order one from Orthopets
http://www.orthopets.com/
While they are pricey ($575+) I believe it will give Cosmo the stability to be a bit more active, while still recovering from his injury. We like the idea that the brace is custom made to fit Cosmo's leg, instead of an ill fitting generic brace.
The first step is we are ordering a casting kit so we can cast his leg.

2010-02-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

I have decided the internet can be a mixed blessing. While I appreciate being informed, too much information can cause sleepless nights. I have been researching all I can on surgery options. While we are going to give CM time to work, I want to have a plan B. The trouble with plan B is I find a lot of negatives. Plan B can cause long term issues more severe than the current injury.

Please God do not let us need plan B!

Cosmo IS showing improvement. I hope that it continues. The swimming is making him stronger. He is used to his routine. He seems to enjoy his bed. It has become the hang out spot. Either Bailey or the cats can be found on the bed keeping him company.

My motto "Slow and steady wins the race"

2010-02-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

No big changes today. I did take Cosmo off the pain medication. He swam for 15 minutes. He seemed eager to swim longer but I did not want him to over do it.

The strained left leg seems to be back to normal. We are back to dealing with the original injury, the CCL tear in the right leg. I am happy about that. The idea of both legs injured at the same time was overwhelming.

I called the company that makes Cosequin DS. I wanted to keep him on the 4 pills a day dose but needed to know that it was OK. The bottle says to reduce to 2 pills after 4-6 weeks. He is doing well on the 4 a day, so I do not want to change. They assured me the dose is fine. They basically stated that some people prefer to lower the dosage due to the expense.

He is taking: Cosequin DS 4 pills a day (2 morning/2 night)
Fish Oil 2 pills a day (1 morning/1 night)
No more pain medication (only want to give as needed)
Still massaging the leg twice a day

2010-02-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

This morning Cosmo was walking...real walking...on BOTH legs. Yes, he was slow. Yes, we still have a long way to go. BUT he walked!

2010-01-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

I left bright & early this morning for Jessica's dance competition. Cosmo ate & went out in the dog run before I left. Hubby & Addison were home with him all day. They let him use the dog run instead of using the harness. He seems fine. He only went out 2X. He is using both legs more and more with each passing day. He didn't get to swim today. I just got home. I think a day off is probably a good thing.
We moved the mattress into the media room, as that is where everyone is. He wanted to get on the recliner so that prevented it.

2010-01-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

Cosmo was up early and very active this morning. He got up off his bed and was actually walking on his two front legs (almost a hand stand)! We got him settled down and resting.
This afternoon, he walked outside for a bathroom break.
I am reading a lot of people use Metcam for medication. I am going to look into this.
He swam again this afternoon. I think that is the highlight of his day. Poor dog.
It is hard to think that we have a long ways to go. I am going to try to concentrate on day by day. I am seeing daily improvement. We are going to take this slow and steady. I am terrified of him having another set back!

2010-01-29T06:07:00.000-08:00

Cosmo woke me again this morning. It is funny because he used to sleep in Jessica's room and was never up this early. Now he wakes me and wants his breakfast bright & early. He is "walking" more like a limp or hop combo. He used the pet door to go to the bathroom. It is attached to a very short dog run so he cannot run in it. I am not sure if he should be going by himself. I know using the muscles is a good thing (with limits), He has a strain in the other leg, so I worry about him ending up like Monday (unable to even stand).
We took him out this afternoon and he immediately headed for the pool. He swam for 10 minutes again. We use the towel as a sling to get him out of the pool. I prefer getting that wet over the new dog sling.

The Details

2010-01-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

On December 4th, 2009, Cosmo was diagnosed with a CCL tear in his right leg. A dog’s CCL is similar to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans.

He was playing tug of war with our other dog, Bailey. They were playing quite rough and afterwards we noticed that Cosmo was limping. He had strained his left leg prior so we were hoping that it was another strain. The next morning he refused to put weight on the right leg. The vet x-rayed both legs. Since this was the other leg, we wanted to rule out other problems (x-rays do not show a tear). The diagnosis was a CCL tear in his right leg. We decided to go ahead with Conservative Management, as surgery was not an option we wanted to consider. Our vet is onboard with helping us with this approach. If we are not successful, we will have to move forward with surgery. I have read way too many horror stories (with the surgery) so I am going to do my best to make this work for Cosmo. Conservative management is always an option for a strained or partially torn cruciate, or if surgery is not an option. Conservative management can include strict rest, physical therapy, acupuncture, knee braces, and supplements.

Fast forward to this week. We had Cosmo limited in his exercise but not enough. He had a major set back. He took off in a run in the back yard and that caused strain to the left leg. It is not unusual for dogs with this injury to injure the opposite leg.

On Monday, January 25th, I visited the vet and got Rimadyl for pain medication. He will be on it for 2 weeks. Cosmo could not get up unassisted. We moved his bed (a Serta twin mattress that we bought him in December) to the living-room. He stayed on it the entire day. We took him outside (using a towel as a sling) 3X for potty breaks. It was a very sad day.

Tuesday: He came into my room to wake me (limping but walking). I went into the kitchen with him and got his breakfast. He ate and laid on his bed. I started giving him meaty marrow bones as a treat. He started swim therapy. We took him in the pool for 10 minutes. He swam back and forth to the end of the pool. He was so happy to be playing in the pool. We used the towel sling to get him in/out of the house.

Wednesday: He went through the pet door to go the bathroom. I woke up hearing him come inside. The day went similarly to Tuesday. The pet sling I ordered arrived and it much easier to use than a towel (see link below).

Today: Once again he went out through the pet door. He only uses it in the morning. He didn't seem to enjoy swimming today but he still went in for 10 minutes. He does not seem as wobbly but we will continue with supporting him for at least 2-3 months. I do not want another set back. He likes his bed in the living-room. That is where the most action is. Since we homeschool, the kids & I are with him most of the day. They take turns hanging out with him. Bailey (the other dog) likes to cuddle with him on the bed.

I am starting this blog for a few reasons:
~To keep track of his progress
~To help provide resources that I have found on Conservative Management

I will try to post often with updates.

Food/Supplements:
Currently, Cosmo is taking Cosequin, Rimadyl, & Fish oil supplements. He eats regular dog food and additional protein in raw meaty marrow bones (from the butcher) and the occasional hard boiled egg. He is a purebred Black Lab and we are trying to help him lose weight. He currently is approx. 135 pounds. I want to get him down to 100. The weight loss will help in his recovery (take some of the pressure off his legs)
We also use Traumeel Anti-inflammatory Analgesic to massage both legs daily.

Our Current day at a glance is: 3-4X potty breaks, swim therapy for 10 minutes, 2X leg massages, the rest of the time is spent hanging out on his bed with various toys or his meaty marrow bones.

Links:
Alot of information on Conservative Management:http://www.2ndchance.info/cruciate.htm

and http://www.tiggerpoz.com/

The Sling/Harness we are using:http://www.k9caddie.com/

A group Yahoo that has other pet owners dealing with the same thing:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ConservativeManagement/