As Rocky was leaping from one boulder to the next in the creek, all of a sudden my husband, my two young girls and I heard a loud cry, followed by multiple more sharp cries of pain. I ran toward the cries, and found Rocky helpless in the creek. My first thought was she had been bitten by a snake, but as I carefully grabbed Rocky’s harness handle and pulled her out of the water, I saw Rocky’s left hind leg dangling from her ankle down. My husband made the one mile hike back to the car carrying Rocky in his arms while my girls and I followed close behind. We drove straight to the ER vet, and as expected, the radiographs showed that Rocky’s leg was fractured. Due to the location of the fracture, surgical intervention would not be an option, and we elected to cast her leg.
Now, let me refresh your memory about Rocky – she is a crazy, hyper, robust two-year-young pit bull mix that has more energy than our other four dogs combined. So I knew that having to be casted for six weeks was going to be tough on Rocky (and us). Amazingly, the six weeks flew by somewhat uneventful. Sure, she ate her cast a couple of times, got out of confinement many times and ran loose in the back yard, (she somehow got through the dog dog door wearing her large e-collar), but, with all things accounted for, she did very well. After six weeks of wearing a cast, Rocky then had three additional weeks of exercise restriction. This too went by quickly, even though she continued to get into a bit of trouble here and there. Finally, she is free and able to do what she wishes. And she is making up for lost time! I still cringe when I see her zooming around the yard, jumping up, playing, and tackling our other dogs. However, I know that I am giving her the nutritional support her joints need to stay active.
“What nutritional support?” Well I’m glad you asked. Rocky’s main diet is chock full of nutrition, which is super important. Rocky is fed a rotation of Dr. Harvey’s base-mixes (Paradigm, Raw Vibrance and Canine Health) with humanely raised proteins (ex. grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken and pasture-raised eggs) and oils (ex. organic coconut oil, organic olive oil, Dr. Harvey’s Salmon and Krill Oil and Dr. Harvey’s Omega-3 Fish Oil).
Rocky’s supplements for joint health include Imperial Deer Velvet and Dr. Harvey’s Ortho-Flex. Imperial Deer Velvet has hundreds of naturally-forming nutrient-dense ingredients, including glucosamine, chondroitin, omega 3-6, twenty amino acids, and many more! (Promo Code: VetJulia for 10% off, of course, after discussing with your veterinarian). Dr. Harvey’s Ortho-Flex is a powdered supplement containing herbs that help support and promote joint health.
Rocky had a ‘rocky’ nine weeks, but she is back living life to the fullest, with the help of healthy joints.
Disclaimer:
After contacting Dr. Harvey’s to share the physical and mental health benefits that I witnessed after switching my dogs’ diets to Paradigm, Dr. Harvey’s has since given me free products from their lines of food, supplements, treats, and grooming essentials for my honest feedback. Dr. Harvey’s products are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
After hearing a lecture on Deer Velvet at the 2019 AHVMA conference, I contacted Imperial LTD. Since then, we have formed a collaboration where I get free products as a result of promoting their product line, which is easy for me since I do truly stand behind their product.
All opinions expressed about the aforementioned companies, in this and any other article I post may not represent the thoughts or opinions of the affiliated companies.
In no way is this post or any other post intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Yes, I am a veterinarian, but I am not your pets’ veterinarian. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
Dr. Julia Roach 