Testimonials

"We were given your Cruciate booklet and find it to be extremely helpful."

                                                                                     -Heather “Sadie’s Mom”  

                                                                                      (Cruciate Book)

"The Home Therapy Booklet provides a clear framework for the pet owner to follow in helping their dog heal faster.  Its easy step-by-step recipe to success truly helped to bring our family member back to health.  I would strongly recommend the TopDog Home Therapy Booklets."

                                       - Agnes “Brandy’s mom” 

                                         Dalmation (Post-op Cruciate)

"After Zeus’ surgery I was concerned about the amount of muscle loss that was visible.  The fact that he limped for a period of time prior to the surgery caused further concern regarding his ability to recover.

He’s a big, active, muscular dog and to see him unable to live his life as he had been was heartbreaking.  Since he has been in therapy, after six or seven sessions he is very close to his old self, very active and happy.  There is an obvious improvement in his muscle tone and he barely limps.  I know that when he completes his treatments he’ll be as good as new.

Thank you TopDog, for helping our very dear family member."

                                                                 - Jill Casey “Zeus’ mom” 

                                                                   American Bull Dog (Post-op Cruciate)

"Anyone who has had their animal go through the trials and tribulations of an operation is all too familiar with the stress, anxiety and uncertainties associated with surgery. This stress not only affects the owner, but also your pet. Educating yourself on how to assist your pet in his/her recovery is vital to their recovery.

Dr. J has a unique and innovative approach to alleviating many pet owners’ concerns regarding the welfare of their pet. His Home Therapy Program booklet helped Jack and I begin his healing process. It answered any questions and concerns that I had. Most useful to me was the daily calendar and visual and descriptive aids provided within this booklet. It is an extremely informative tool that most definitely decreased my worries, stress and uncertainties and helped Jack get back to being his nutty self sooner."

             - "Jack's" Mom
                Yellow Lab (Post-op TPLO)

"My dog Maggie responded very well to TopDog's therapy program. Her leg that had surgery became stronger than ever and she also lost weight and is now at her ideal body weight. TopDog is the best."

                                                                           - "Maggie's" Mom
                                                                              Newfoundland (Post-op TPLO)

"My dog was having problems walking and couldn't sit. Even with pain killers she couldn't use the stairs and was in tremendous pain. My vet wanted to do surgery to remove the head of her femur to reduce the pain. We came to TopDog as the last resort before putting her through surgery. She is 11 and I did not want to do it if I didn't have to. After a month and a half, TopDog reduced her pain meds in half and she is using the stair and running across the backyard."

                                                       - "Gracie's" Mom
                                                          Yorkie (Bilateral knee surgery and arthritis)

"Hello---my Lab had surgery on the cruciate tendon last August.  Being  acquainted  with your water therapy  methods through a neighbor of  mine, I got in touch with you  and got further  helpful information  from you about the procedure.    I ordered  two copies of your Home  Therapy Booklet because my daughter's mixed breed dog had the same  problem at about the same time.   My vet had a look at your booklet   and declared it very well done.

I don't know if there are other similar booklets on  just  Cruciate  surgery available. I feel that the surgery is so commonplace  now that  your  booklet should be published and reach the public ,  maybe through vet's offices.  ( A  friend in Australia just had her  dog in surgery for the cruciate tendon.)

A good feature   of your booklet is the stress on slow recuperation  through controlled exercise.  The photos  are extremely helpful   especially for PROM and stretching as well as the icing and moist heat  therapy.    The  details of slow controlled hill walking  such as  walking sideways are harder to adhere to and, in my case,  at least  one hill entered into any of our walks anyway.  Using the curb  and  figure 8's for exercising muscles simply didn't work and confused the  dog.   Explanations are explicit  and I liked the week to week  regime. The warnings  are good to note.

I found the PUPPY SQUATS easy to practice and may be good to continue  over extended  time??     I imagine I should continue with puppy squats as her recovering leg angles out when she sits.  As ball  retrieving is her biggest joy, after swimming, I am wondering how soon  that should begin.  At about five months after surgery I gave her easy shorter distance ball runs and they have progressively gotten longer on a meadow and a beach.  SHE  tells me when it is enough by not  dropping the ball for another toss.!  I make sure she is warmed up  before more strenuous exercise.

That leads me to a suggestion suggestion----It would be helpful to  address the length of FULL recuperation (0ne year or less?) taking in  consideration  a dog  was healthy and a proper weight when  afflicted.     Interesting to note--- because of circumstances my  daughter's dog still limps from time to time---I think she had more  strenuous exercise too soon as she had a playmate.    So,  in the  booklet it would be good to discuss  "When is it safe to resume more  strenuous  activity, such as retrieving"??  You do mention additional  rehabilitation on pg. 25.

Hope this is of some help.

 

Marjorie, Feb 2008

Laborador Retriever (Extracapsular Curciate Repair)