The cranial cruciate ligament is found in the knee and prevents abnormal rotation of the joint. It’s just like the ACL in humans. When there is a rupture of this ligament, pets experience different degrees of lameness in the hind end — it’s typically not an acute injury but stems from chronic degeneration and ultimately leads to lameness from a seemingly minor incident (e.g., chasing after a deer, running in the yard, doing normal activity). Overweight pets are more predisposed to having knee problems. Abnormal conformation can also predispose to injuries.

So what should you do if your pet is lame? Take him/her to your primary care veterinarian or Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital to have the problem evaluated. On physical examination, the veterinarian may find “cranial drawer,” a term that refers to abnormal movement in the knee after a ligament rupture. Some pets have such strong musculature surrounding the knee that they may require sedation in order for the abnormal movement to be felt. Next, the vet will likely recommend radiographs (X-rays) of the knee to confirm the diagnosis.

So what happens if your pet has been diagnosed with a cranial cruciate rupture? Most pets do best with surgery. Some smaller pets can recover with conservative therapy, which includes pain medication and strict exercise restriction for several months. Larger pets most often need surgery, and several different surgical options exist, depending on the size of the pet. Even with surgery, however, the pet will have to be exercise-restricted, but with surgery the recovery period is often shorter and the overall improvement is often better.

Now when we talk about strict exercise restriction, we mean STRICT. No running, jumping, playing, chasing, being off leash, jumping on the bed, or roughhousing. As our pets start to feel better, they likely will want to run and jump, and exertion that comes too early in the recovery process is one of the main reasons for surgical failure. Also, pets that are diagnosed with cruciate ruptures are more likely to rupture the cruciate in the other knee as well; this chance is increased if they are not exercise-restricted appropriately. So keep your pet as calm as possible; sometimes it can be hard and seem like forever, but being vigilant will be more likely to pay off in the end.

Another tip to help during the recovery process: Do not allow your pet to lick at the surgical site, which can prevent proper healing — you may need an e-collar (a cone that goes around your pet’s head) to prevent licking. Another reason for surgical failure is infection, so also be sure that your pet is taking all medications prescribed by your veterinarian.

Another important recovery step for many pets following a cranial cruciate ligament rupture is weight loss. Taking off even just a few pounds will improve the recovery period for some overweight pets and decrease the likelihood of experiencing problems in the other knee as well. Weight-reduction plans can also reduce the risk of tearing the cruciate in the first place, especially in some of our predisposed dog breeds, including Labradors and Rottweilers.

If your pet has been diagnosed with a cranial cruciate rupture and you have any questions, please give your primary care veterinarian a call or give us a call here at Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital.

© 2013 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

Luckily the majority of skunk-sprayed animals will be fine, except for having a potent smell for days or even more than a week. After being sprayed, most pets will act as if they have been blinded and will have increased tear production and often a generalized red color to the eyes. Often a pet in this condition will paw at its face and nose. The best first step to treatment is rinsing the pet’s eyes with saline solution — the same solution used for contact lenses.

The next thing to do is attempt “de-skunk” the smell of your pet. Despite many rumors, tomato juice DOES NOT do the trick, and using this method will merely leave you with an animal that smells like both skunk and tomato juice. The best thing to use is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap or dish detergent, with the following recipe:

• 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of liquid soap or dish detergent

Mix the three ingredients and apply liberally while washing your dog, then rinse with fresh water. You can repeat the washing several times and let the solution sit on the dog for 5-10 minutes each time. Unfortunately, the mixture is not stable once it is combined, so you will need to make a new solution each day you apply it. Be very careful to avoid getting the solution in your pet’s eyes, and try to keep your pet from drinking it (although drinking it will only upset his/her stomach, but likely will not do any real harm).

If you think there is any chance the skunk could have bitten your pet (especially if your pet killed the skunk), we recommend a rabies booster vaccine. Rabies is not spread through the spray, but generally only through saliva and blood. Your daytime vet can boost your pet’s rabies vaccine if you are concerned, as this is not generally an emergency.

Skunks are most active at night and move slowly. They are attracted to outside pet food bowls (just like raccoons and opossums), open garbage containers, and unsealed compost piles — so try to get rid of these kinds of attractions or protect/cover them, if possible. If you let your pet outside at night, use a leash if you suspect a skunk is on your property. Skunks usually try to give plenty of warning prior to spraying, so if you see one outside or startle one during a walk, you may have time to get away prior to being sprayed. Even baby skunks as young as 8 days can spray, so avoid the impulse to get too close, regardless of how cute they may seem. Skunks are active most of the year, but usually more so in the warmer months. While not true hibernators, they can go through a dormant stage for several weeks during cold weather.

A condition known as skunk toxic shock syndrome, which is VERY rare, occurs when some of the compounds in a skunk’s spray (thioacetates) destroy a pet’s healthy red blood cells. An animal experiencing this syndrome initially presents with weakness and pale gums and progresses to vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and anemia. While very rare, keep this syndrome in mind if your pet develops these symptoms hours or days after being sprayed, and have him/her examined by your regular veterinarian.

Hopefully this information will prove helpful if your animal is sprayed by a skunk, and it might even save you an unnecessary trip to the emergency room.

© 2013 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

Spoiled food and fats in the compost pile can also cause gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes bloody). Moldy dairy products such as cheese, moldy nuts such as walnuts or peanuts, moldy grains, and pastas are often the culprits behind these kinds of issues.

Apart from food found in compost piles, moldy refrigerator food thrown outside or in the trash can also potentially expose your dog to toxic molds. If you suspect that your pet has gotten into a compost pile or moldy trash, please take him/her to a vet immediately. Depending on whether the pet is showing signs of toxicity, your dog may be made to vomit. We never recommend the inducing of vomiting at home, due to possible complications. For instance, if your pet isn’t stable, he/she could inhale their own vomit or bloat. At the vet, a dose of activated charcoal is also often given to help absorb toxins from the GI tract.

Most dogs with this kind of mold toxicity likely will be kept in the hospital on IV fluids and given muscle relaxants to address any tremors, until the tremors cease. Antibiotics are also sometimes used to treat any diarrhea. A hospital stay can range from one day to several days, depending on how much mold your pet consumed and how quickly they were treated by a veterinarian.

Just like anything else, with mold toxicity, prevention is key. Keep compost piles in areas out of reach of your pet, or keep the material in a secure composting container. Also, don’t throw food away in inside trash cans. Most outside trash cans are much sturdier, and some are made to be difficult for a dog to open — even if the can is overturned. Finally, avoid throwing moldy food from your refrigerator in your backyard.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.

© 2012 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.