Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate (CCL/ACL) Tear and Leg Circumference

Jasmine's vet always said that up to 25% of favoring of a leg is invisible to a human eye. This means that your dog might not be using their legs equally without you having a clue.


That's where measuring circumference comes in.


It is one of the objective measures to assess how the legs are truly used. Substantial muscle loss one one side can be readily apparent but smaller differences aren't something one can just see.

At the last evaluation, we were very happy to learn that both Cookie's knees felt stable and that there was no swelling and no thickening.

Swelling would have meant that the joint is inflamed and unhappy. Thickening would have meant that the joint did stabilize itself by forming scar tissue. That's what happens if the knee heals in spite of the ligament being dysfunctional.

No thickening indicates that the ligament did indeed heal.


However, through that whole time, Cookie's muscle mass on the hind legs was not equal. The difference became smaller but it was still there. Meaning the legs were still not equally used. Why?

Considering that Cookie's hind end has had a number of other challenges, as well as one of her hind legs is shorter than the other, was a possible explanation. It could also have been from Cookie simply not trusting the leg enough.

Every time there is any imbalance, though, other parts of the body end up paying for it.

I was very happy to learn that on her last physio appointment, the circumference of both Cookie's hind legs is now equal.


Her physical therapist also said it was the first time she saw Cookie do a functional sit and stand.

Functional sit is the "tuck sit" when a dog pulls their feet in under their pelvis as opposed to just slumping down.  A functional stand is to push up with the back legs, not the back and forelimbs.

I feel there are still things to work on but lately, it's been all a series of good news.


I am very glad that we decided to try the platelet-rich plasma instead of jumping to surgery. We'll continue working on getting Cookie to tip top shape and hoping that we can keep her there.


Related articles:
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Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie: The Knee Or The Foot?
Creative Solutions And An Incidental Product Review
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Taming Of The Wild Beast: Cookie's Transition To Civilization  
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The Threat Of The Bulge Is Always Lurking 
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Cookie Meets The Electric Horse Fence And Her First Chiropractic Adjustment  
Why Examine Your Dog's Vomit? 
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Does Being Insured Mean Being Covered? Our First Claim With Trupanion
Is Cookie's Leg Finally Getting Better?
Is Cookie Going To Be Another Medical Challenge Or Are We Looking To Closely? 
The Project That Is Cookie: Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal  
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Another Belly Upset: Pancreatitis Again Or Not?  
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Cookie's Mysterious Bumps Update
One Vomit, No Vomit 
Happy One-Year Adoptoversary, Cookie!
Cookie's Leaks Are Back: Garden Variety Incontinence Or Not?
Cookie's Leaks Update 
Don't Panic, Don't Panic: Know What Your Job Is 
The Continuing Saga Of Cookie's Leeks: Trying Chiropractic Approach 
Cookie's Minor Eye Irritation
Regular Wellness Exam: Cookie's ALT Was Elevated 
Cookie's Plantar Paw Pad Injury 
How Far To Take It When The Dog Isn't Sick?
Cookie Has Tapeworm Infection 
Cookie's Elevated ALT: The Ultrasound and Cytology  
Cookie's ALT Update
The Importance of Observation: Cookie's Chiropractic Adjustment
Sometimes You Don't Even Know What You're Looking at: Cookie's Scary "We Have No Idea What that Was" 
Living with an Incontinent Dog 
Summer Dangers: Cookie Gets Stung by a Bald-faced Hornet 
To Breathe or Not To Breathe: Cookie's Hind Legs Transiently Fail to Work (Again)
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Process 
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Diagnosis 
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Trazodone  
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Other Medications 
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Laser, Hydrotherapy and Chiropractic 
Cookie's Recovery from Iliopsoas Injury: ToeGrips 
It Never Rains ... Cookie's New Injury 
Mixed Emotions: When What You Should Do Might Not Be What You Should Do for Your Dog 
Cookie's New Injury Update 
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury: The Symptoms 
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury: Battling the Zoomies 
Cookie's Muscle Injuries: What Else Is Going On?
Theory and Actual Decisions for an Actual Dog Aren't the Same Thing: Cookie's Knee Injury
Does Your Vet Listen to You? Cookie's Post-Sedation Complications
Would I Ever Treat a Symptom Directly? 
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Cookie's Bad Knee(s)
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Cookie's Bad Cruciate Update 
Injury or Surgery Recovery: Mishaps versus Setbacks 
See Something, Do Something: Cookie's Lumpectomy 
Cookie's Lumpectomy Update 
Using Pressure Pads to Evaluate Lameness in Dogs: My Observations
Cookie's Musculoskeletal Challenges: What Supplements Am I Using?
Cookie's Musculoskeletal Challenges: Restricted Activity and Weight Management
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate Tear: Update
Has Your Dog's Physical Therapist Taken Dog Training Classes? 
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate Tear Update and Considering the Future


Do you have a story to share?

Your story can help others, maybe even save a life!

What were the first signs you noticed? How did you dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?

Email me, I'll be happy to hear from yo

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