Some may consider a few extra pounds on our furry companions to be little cause for concern, but our team, alongside the surgical, clinical studies and Smith Lane Animal Hospital OVC teams, demonstrated data to refute this. MSc student, Amanda Santarossa, and Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe, published a study showing that patients who experienced the rupture of their cranial-cruciate ligament were more likely to be overweight or obese. As anticipated, the patients with a cruciate ligament tear were found to have a decreased amount of muscle mass in the affected limb and a greater amount of fat. A cruciate ligament tear will result in instability in the joint, pain, reduced function and may require surgical correction. Entitled, Body composition of medium to giant breed dogs with or without cranial cruciate ligament disease, the study was just published in Veterinary Surgery. Congratulations to Amanda, the OVC Clinical Nutrition Team and collaborators!
