Among the many things my girl enjoys is snow! We were really looking forward to the snowstorm, running across the field, free and unleashed. Little did I know that after hopping around, digging in the snow, and fetching snowballs, Chicca would not be able to make it up the stairs once we got home.
Did we overdo it? Could it be the road salt, or maybe a muscle sprain? Lots of thoughts were crossing my mind. First step: restrict mobility and identify the injury location (left hind). Meanwhile, I set up the crate and had a ZenPet BuddyLift handy.
Next, I planned on restricting activity since we live in a townhouse and needed to manage her weight (shed that ~6 lb winter coat). I also reviewed her nutrition and supplements to help manage inflammation and pain at home. Had I observed more pain and discomfort, of course I would have driven her to MedVet in Manassas in a heartbeat - they were amazing to us before!
To manage inflammation, I continued her Springtime hip and joint supplements, which include MSM, chondroitin, and Boswellia, as well as Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels, Dr. Mercola Organic Curcumin, Northwest Green Lipped Mussles and Fera Collagen mixed with Solutions Pet Products Texsauce. For pain management—regardless before bedtime—I gave her CBD Dog Health Ease with Turmeric and Frankincense. Covering all my basis until I could assess the severity of her injury and seek medical care.
48 hours later - I contacted Dr. Julia Nagel, CVA, cAVCA, CVNN, CPEV at JanVet Mobile Veterinary Services for a clinical assessment. She offers chiropractic, acupuncture, and cold laser therapy mobile services. The diagnosis: Left partial CCL tear/strain. I figured we could attempt a modality to support her healing should she find her a good candidate which we did cold laser theraphy. The morning after, still some limping but definitely improvement. I could tell by her eyes and wanting to play more and refusing to go in the crate. In addition to the above in home inflammation management, Dr. Nagel also suggested bone broth which we added Solutions Pet Products Pork Jiggles to her diet. All the above has contributed to her slow recovery and I know we still have ways to go. Baby gates are back in the house and no more flying down the stairs or diving into bed.
7 years and yes, I am aware she is getting up there. I know breed plays a factor. Recently, Dr. Laurel Marley, DVM at Willow Animal Hospital shared the following:
Holistic Supplements and Herbal Medications for German Shepherds and Dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy (adapted from Dr. Roger Clemmons, DVM, PHD, DACVIM)
Article to read: https://ivcjournal.com/integrative-management-degenerative-myelopathy/ All German Shepherds (regardless of DM positive status):
- Vitamin B 50 mg daily
- Vitamin E - 400 IU for dogs <2 years old; 800 IU for dogs >2 years old
Grateful for our proactive vets, Dr. Nagel's stress free home visit and looking forward to following up with our primary veterinarian, Dr. Lori Blankenship, Ph.D., DVM, CVA at Animals First Veterinary Services, in a couple of weeks.
PT is next and can't wait to go back and see our friends at Aquatic Paws
