Introduction
Pet owners can help their dog to cope with an ACL injury by keeping the dog’s activity levels down, feeding the dog the right diet, and working with the dog through veterinarian recommended therapies.
Helping a Dog Cope with an ACL Injury
Reduce Activity Levels
Most dogs with ACL injuries require 8-12 weeks of restricted activity. It is difficult to keep playful and energetic dogs down for that long, but pet owners need to help their dogs maintain a low level of activity. Restricted activities are especially important during the first few weeks of recovery. Pet owners should help their dog during this time to get up and down, and walk outside to go to the bathroom. The dog should have a comfortable bed to rest on, and food and water dishes should be placed close to the dog’s bed.
As a dog recovers from ACL injuries, low-impact therapies such as swimming and moderate amounts of walking may be recommended by the veterinarian. To help their dog recover, pet owners will need to take the time to help their dog through these therapies. Dogs always welcome extra attention and affection to help ward off boredom from weeks of restricted activity as well.
Watch Diet and Weight Gain
It is difficult to keep dogs on restricted levels of activity from gaining weight, but extra weight can cause repeated ACL injuries to occur in both legs. Overweight dogs should be placed on a strict diet. Dogs that are not overweight, but recovering from an ACL injury, should have their weight closely monitored. In many cases, dogs that are recovering from ACL injuries eventually need to be placed on a lower calorie diet.