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Post by Glenn on Feb 23, 2020 12:07:36 GMT 10
Hi Tom
Could you please give me a few tips on what to do with a bitch with an Achilles tear high up on the leg?
She has had 9 weeks off, been checked by vet and given all clear to resume light work.
Is there any linament, stretching or stepping I should do to reduce the lump where the tear took place?
Many thanks
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Post by Tom Meulman on Feb 23, 2020 15:24:02 GMT 10
Hi Glenn,
Of course much depends on the extent of the damage.
Because the Achilles’ tendon is in fact made up of five separate tendons, and because each section of the tendon is required to slide minutely past the one next to it, scar tissue and adhesions of the fibers is the main setback to a full recovery. The type of treatments that have some beneficial effects are those that reduce scar tissue and this includes laser treatments, and/or massaging the scar tissue area twice daily on a three days on three days off regime with something like Hirudoid cream.
Unfortunately tendon damage can cause a fair amount of pain when running so recovery and subsequent performances can vary considerably between dogs. Prior to trialing it can be of some benefit to massage the Achilles and the calf muscles with iodised oil or a liniment containing methyl salicylate to warm the area, with the methyl salicylate then acting as a low level pain relief.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Peter on Apr 29, 2020 6:14:44 GMT 10
Hi Tom could you email me please I've a dog here with a pea size lump on his medial and lateral gastrocnemius area. My email is petermcgorrey@hotmail.com thanks peter
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Post by Tom Meulman on Apr 29, 2020 15:45:51 GMT 10
Hi Tom could you email me please I've a dog here with a pea size lump on his medial and lateral gastrocnemius area. My email is petermcgorrey@hotmail.com thanks peter Hi Peter, Sorry mate but I don’t answer queries via email anymore as far to often it becomes too time consuming as most of the time I get asked a one or two line question and then to answer it correctly can take a foolscaps worth of writing. In regard to the firm pea sized lump in the back of the calf muscle, it’s most likely a lymph node, one that has been affected by some sort of trauma on the foot or lower limb, such as an slightly infected sand toe, a cut or webbing trauma that may even have occurred as long as a month ago. Generally not a lot to worry about unless it become larger and painfully to the touch. All the same if you are concerned about it a trip to a vet that does ultrasounds should tell the story. Cheers, Tom
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Post by Peter on Apr 30, 2020 3:27:49 GMT 10
Thanks for the reply Tom. With this whole coronavirus situation the vets over here are only doing emergency appointments. I started to ultrasound it and it's more like a old tear to me. When I press it no sign of it being sore and when I massage it its like rubbing over an lumpy vein. The other side has none of this. I was going to email you a photo of the area. Thanks again for your help peter
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Post by Tom Meulman on Apr 30, 2020 5:05:03 GMT 10
Hi Peter,
From your description it does sound like scar tissue from an old injury, in which case just daily massaging with a Heparinoid cream such as Hirudoid or Lasonil cream may be a better option than just ultrasound treatments.
Or better still, massage the Haparinoid cream thoroughly into the scar tissue, and then treat the area with the ultrasound over the top of this to improve the penetration of the Heparinoid into the scar tissue.
Keep in mind however that even with using Laser therapy on scar tissue, which is still the most effective treatment, it can take a long time to get any worthwhile improvement, and in some instances the scar tissue is there forever.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Peter on Apr 30, 2020 6:04:32 GMT 10
I was going to buy a laser there. Would the scar tissue slow him up thanks tom
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Post by Tom Meulman on Apr 30, 2020 12:24:28 GMT 10
I was going to buy a laser there. Would the scar tissue slow him up thanks tom Hi Peter, Providing the leg can fully extend comfortably, and there is no pain in the area, it should not affect performances a great deal. Cheers, Tom
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