How to prevent cruciate ligament injuries in dogs?

A sprint, stumble, or a fall is not the reason behind the cruciate ligament injuries. You cannot make your dog cautious and concerned about this problem. All cruciate ligament injuries have a couple of things in common. These things are; not keeping a healthy diet, weekend warrior syndrome, being overweight, and a couple more.

You can do the following to prevent cruciate ligament injuries in dogs, and help them have a better quality of life.

A good diet

Meat isn’t the only good food for your canine. When you want to keep your best buddy safe from cruciate ligament injuries, the best thing you can do is to offer them a healthy diet. A diet that contains protein for muscle repair and healthy growth will be a huge favor for them.

The use of food items rich in omega 3 fatty acids like fish helps your buddy ward off joint issues and arthritis symptoms. Good food helps the dog stay away from the causes of cruciate ligament injuries and enacted life expectancy with enhanced mobility.

1. Daily exercise

When you keep their muscle flexible and strong, the chances of cruciate ligament injuries are minimal. Two walks a day is the recommended exercise for most dogs. You can consult your vet for the agility requirements of your dog and act accordingly.

Usually, vets recommend more walks and exercises for larger breeds. But for the smaller breeds, a single walk a day is enough.

2. Do not cause weekend warrior syndrome

If you do not take your dog to the dog park, on walks, or for agility exercise on the weekend, things are bad but not that bad. But when you take the same dog for exercises and walks only on weekends, you initiate weekend warrior syndrome. This condition is worse than not taking your dog for exercise.

This habit of 5 to 6 day rest and single day extreme workout can also result in cruciate ligament injuries. The dog’s muscles are not flexible and ready to bear the pressure, resulting in strain or injuries.

3. Maintain healthy weight

Being overweight is also one of the causes of cruciate ligament injuries. When you have a dog with obesity or more than the recommended weight, muscle and joint strain is the must, even with random walks and indoor play.

The overweight dog is prone to cruciate ligament injuries, various medical conditions, and issues. Choose a healthy diet and take your dog to exercise daily for a healthy weight and life.

Over to you – How to prevent cruciate ligament injuries in dogs?

To prevent cruciate ligament injuries in dogs, you must be vigilant to the early signs and symptoms of joint pain and muscle strain that could lead to progressive injury resulting in permanent damage.

How long can a dog live with hip dysplasia?

Technically there is no set standard or measures to predict the expected age of the dog after developing hip dysplasia. This condition isn’t lethal, but it badly affects your dog’s quality of life. But when this issue is diagnosed in early childhood or early stage, the dog gets increased chances to live a life closer to normal.

In many cases, mild hip dysplasia doesn’t show any sign or symptom, and you realize the condition when a lot of damage has been caused. Regular vet visits and a vigilant eye on symptoms are necessary.

What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia?

Canine hip dysplasia is an orthopedic condition with some issue(s) with the ball and socket of the hind leg joints. The ball grinds in the socket rather than moving smoothly. This situation can make the dog lame, but the excruciating pain is a must. It could also result in arthritis.

Signs of Hip Dysplasia

If your dog doesn’t like to do exercise and climb the stairs for no apparent reason, you must pay attention to this situation. The dog will not walk or run normally, and there will be a change in its gait. This is your cue for a vet visit for hip dysplasia.

Some subtle signs don’t even let you realize the gravity of the situation. A dog might show the following signs in case of hip dysplasia:

· Flinching when putting the burden on the rear leg

· Whining and growling

· Tucking of tail

· Unusual gait

· Decreased interest in playing activities

· Getting froze in the morning

· Difficulty in getting up

How Hip Dysplasia Impacts a Dog’s Life

Hip dysplasia will result in excruciating pain and decreased mobility. Both will result in a decreased quality of life, and your dog will be prone to obesity. It will make your dog overweight, and the resulting diseases can reduce life expectancy. But with the help of exercise and a balanced diet, you can reduce the impacts of side effects.

Causes of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Various factors can lead to hip dysplasia in dogs; according to the studies, the most common ones are:

1. Genetics

2. Environmental factors

3. Improper nutrition

4. Too much or too little exercise

5. Obesity

Treatment for Dog Hip Dysplasia

Early diagnosis is extremely helpful in managing this issue and increasing the quality of life of your pet. Hip dysplasia doesn’t kill your dog, and there is no way it can shorten the life span. But the resulting obesity and reduced quality of life can negatively affect their life expectancy.

According to the condition of the dog, the vet can prescribe any of the following methods or therapy:

1. Healthy diet

2. Surgery

3. Stem cell therapy

4. Specialized exercise

Does my dog have hip dysplasia?

Your dog cannot tell about the pain and disease the poor soul bears. You are to look for the symptoms and take the dog to the vet for diagnosis and medication. The question does my dog has hip dysplasia will require you to have a deep understanding of the signs and identify the change in your dog.

The following list of signs and symptoms will save you a great deal of effort studying the material and help you identify hip dysplasia in the early stage:

The decreasing urge for physical abilities

This is your cue if your dog shows an unusual loss of interest in playing and physical activities. If your dog is lethargic and doesn’t want to climb stairs, this is a sign that the dog is suffering from the pain in the hind leg and that pain is mainly caused by hip dysplasia.

Difficulty in moving

This brewing problem is when the dog finds it difficult to sit down and stand upright. The dog cannot move around normally, and the pain will not let the poor soul come to you right away when you call or want to take your dog out.

Hind leg lameness

The most evident symptom of hip dysplasia is the lameness of the hind leg. Mostly it is a single leg that the dog finds difficult to use usually. When you see the dog is not using a leg, take your dog right away to the vet and get a complete diagnosis.

Leg muscle growing weak

You don’t need to ask if my dog has hip dysplasia if you see the thigh muscle shrinking and the dog cannot use the leg. When the dog tries to run or walk, the weak leg stays up in the air, and there is no use in it; go to the vet right away.

Whining with pain

Before whining, the dog will start experiencing freezing frenzies in the morning. This is your cue if your dog gets up in the morning and is frozen for no apparent reason. The dog will take some time to get up and then start to move.

After that, the dog will protect the hind leg and not let your pet touch the hip area. If you still don’t do anything, the bearable pain will turn into agonizing affliction, and the poor soul will start whining and crying.

Unusual walking and running

Many pet owners call it bunny hop when your dog has hip dysplasia symptoms. The pooch will hop and try not to put more pressure on the hind legs. This change in gait is easy to identify, and you should take your dog to the vet right away for a diagnosis.

The bunny hop is not the symptom only of hip dysplasia; if the dog suffers from muscle strain, cruciate ligament injury, or arthritis, the change in gait will also be evident. But still acting according to the symptoms and taking your dog to the vet will save them from a great deal of pain.