Bo our Rottie started with lamness in mid March of this year, she was diagnosed with cruciate ligament damage and put on strict rest, which worked untill we had to intoduce excercise. So it was back to strict rest and on lead in the garden for toilet needs.
We have been back and forth to the vets, they x-rayed her and it was thought she would need an operation, after having had some wonderful advice from another member on CD :-D and discussing it with our vet we asked could we give it a little longer before surgery.
Sticking to rest and very very slow build up her excercise. Which thankfully was going very well! :-D

Been to the vets today as Bo has a urine infection, and the vet said she looks good, if she continues to improve she will not need surgery. :-D :-D
Our vet has given us a rather large free sample of stride powder (sorry I know I totally long winded this post!, once I get going, see I am at it again lol) to try with her, has anyone ever used it, if so what did you think?
From our vet the stride is just under £47.00 for 500g, Bo would have 3 teaspoons a day with her food if she likes it.
Would love to hear your views and comments.
Thank-you
Diane.

Hi there just seen ur post and had to reply! My boy damaged his cruciate in March last year. The vets xrayed him and said it was probably a complete tear. We were very reluctant to have surgery as he is an akita and weighs 47kg. He is also 11 years old and has bad arthritis in his left hip and stifle, which he is on long term metacam for. We decided after many sleepless nights not to go for surgery, our main reasons were his age, arthritis, weight and the chance of him rupturing the other one.
Archie is doing fantastic now (touch wood) and after a couple of months of rest and little and often walks was showing a massive improvement. He is now back to his normal self and we are just very careful re exercise etc.
When this happened it took a lot of soul searching to decide whether to go ahead with the op and I feel i made the right decision, I know all dogs are different though. I also searched the internet and found little advice on the non surgery route for big dogs! I hope all goes well for Bo, Kylie x

Sorry forgot to say lol I never heard of stride powder, is this a supplement? Archie is on metacam which he has always been on for arthritis.

Hi Kylie,

> We were very reluctant to have surgery as he is an akita and weighs 47kg.

Thanks for your reply, Bo is 5yrs and she weighs 40kg, we were also hesitant about her having surgery I was petrified about her just having x-rays and she was only (I say only it felt like ages, and I was worried) an hour at the vets.

> Archie is doing fantastic now (touch wood)

I am really pleased for you, and I hope Bo continues with her good progress, as with your boy.

> When this happened it took a lot of soul searching to decide whether to go ahead with the op and I feel i made the right decision, I know all dogs are different though.

I totally understand and since May I have been panicking, should she have the surgery or not, and I am really pleased that so far Bo will not need it.

> I also searched the internet and found little advice on the non surgery route for big dogs!

Me too! Hence why CD is such a god send lol, you find a truck load of info on here and it is all from people with personal experiences.

Stride is a supplement for joints and so forth, Bo also has cod liver oil, another cd'er mentioned that I try this and synoquin.

> I hope all goes well for Bo

Thanks and the same for your and Archie. :-D

Diane xx

> the vet said she looks good, if she continues to improve she will not need surgery. :-D :-D

Brill :)

I've never used, or heard of stride power, but it's got be worth a try. I swear by joint suppliments since Busters massive progress on glucosamine - that & controlled, increased exercise has saved him from having an op for ED :)

>> the vet said she looks good, if she continues to improve she will not need surgery. :-D :-D
> Brill :-)

I know we are so chuffed!

> glucosamine

From what I have read up on it this is one of it's main active ingredients.

> that & controlled> , increased exercise

Couldn't agree more, definitely key.
With Bo it has been little by little increase at a very slow pace but really worth it! :-D

> increased exercise has saved him from having an op for ED :-)

It kind of makes you proud if you get my meaning. :-D

Only just noticed this thread, Vic my lurcher has had on off problems with the cruciate in his right leg (when he was about six months his paw went down a rabbit hole while he was going at full pelt), and when he first did it the vet thought he might need surgery. Luckily he came good again with complete rest and glucosamine supplement (can't remember what it was called) although it has flared up once or twice since, the best thing I found for when he could exercise again was swimming, the vet said he could do as much of that as he liked as it was non weight bearing, it was great for him to be able to get rid of his energy he's built up after being confined for the two weeks. Felt dead sorry for him having to be on the lead even in the garden to do a wee but he would have been tearing around like a fool otherwise

> the best thing I found for when he could exercise again was swimming

I really wanted to get Bo swimming but I don't think she is a keen water dog at all lol.
I have mentioned hydrotherapy to our vet, I think I will jog her memory, but then again I guess it all depends on whether Bo would be willing.

> Felt dead sorry for him having to be on the lead even in the garden to do a wee but he would have been tearing around like a fool otherwise

I know how you feel, Bo has not been out properly for such a long time, she gets so excited when she just gets a ride in the car bless her :-D

Glad to hear things have gone well with your boy too, I hope it continues. :-)

Diane

>> I really wanted to get Bo swimming but I don't think she is a keen water dog at all lol.
> I have mentioned hydrotherapy to our vet, I think I will jog her memory, but then again I guess it all depends on whether Bo would be willing.

my staff loves swimming but was initially unsure when in the hydrotherapy pool - probably linked to the lifejacket but it did her the power of good.  Defnitely worth a try if there is one near you.

> my staff loves swimming but was initially unsure when in the hydrotherapy pool - probably linked to the lifejacket but it did her the power of good.  Defnitely worth a try if there is one near you.

There is one a few miles away from us.
I have rang a few too but they all want a referral from our vets, I think another chat with the vet is definitely on the cards, especially as people who's dogs have had hydro rave about the fantastic benefits.

How many session's did your staff have before you noticed an improvement?

She was quite stiff after the first couple as she was using muscles she was avoiding using due to the discomfort in her leg.  I initially went twice a week and noticed a difference in her shape after a couple of weeks.  I was also able to see her range of movement increasing under the water although this wasn't as easy to see on land but quick improvements and it also got rid of lots of her energy as she wasn't allowed to run about off lead but this tired her out.

> it also got rid of lots of her energy as she wasn't allowed to run about off lead but this tired her out.

This is a perfect solution for her too, I hope she would take to it, Bo is currently only having 8 minutes a day on lead exercise on soft ground only, we managed to get it up to 13 minutes but we had a little set back so dropped it back down.

Thanks :-D