Dear Dr. J,

I just wanted to say that you are so admired for your dedication and caring. Your informative messages are always appreciated and they are a great learning experience, especially in your presentation.

I am so glad that I found your site over a year ago while gathering insight on the different surgical procedures for a cruciate ligament tear and after reading your informative explanation of the differences in the procedures was greatly relieved by the choice made to have TTA done. The best part was your detailed day to day recovery instructions, which I was truly so gratified to have, in the recovery of my Standard Poodle…Deedee, who was only 1 1/2 at the time. And I referred my vet to your site as well as showing him your recovery instructions….he in turn has referred several of his patients…I also gave a copy to the surgeon!

Unfortunately after the first month she somehow threw one of the screws out and cracked a bone, which put us back a little, but the surgeon felt that since the cage was still in place her bone would hopefully heal around it and we would not need further surgery. She did heal …no further surgery but she does have a “funny” gate…she throws that “knee” out while walking, but we have built that muscle up. We go for good walks, but I have hesitated to let her run loose in the park and I’m sure that as she ages will see the effects of arthritis.

Which brings me to another wonderful compliment to you….the GlycanAid is a terrific supplement. Our other girl…Willa who will be 5 in October is our rescued girl and she has bad hips. Both of our girls are on the GlycanAid. One quick question if you are able to respond, the girls are suffering from allergies and are very itchy, as we are trying to eliminate all kinds of possibilities, you haven’t had anyone that’s had an allergic reaction have you?

I could go on but I’m sure you get so many wonderful testimonials from everyone who discovers you, that you don’t possibly have time to read all of them. Just also wanted to thank you so much for your personal note.

Deborah & Deedee

So… I listened to his comments with a grain of salt, and when my dog came home (we boarded him with the vet for the first 4 weeks, as we knew the only way we could keep him quiet was to have him heavily sedated – not an option in my mind) I began following your protocol. He is doing very well, getting stronger, and does not seem to have much pain. As a physical therapist, I know people don’t always follow our recommendations and often have poor outcomes, which they blame on the surgeon. I think you need to start the education process for vets in veterinary school. It’s difficult to get people to change when they feel what they have been doing is working Any way, thanks so much for the information

Dr. J, thank you so much for all of the information and the wonderful products you have developed! I was totally lost as to my dogs ACL surgery, I had never heard of it. So, I got online and found your website! I have also joined your facebook page and am so thankful for the family I found there! I was very nervous about the surgery and what to do, but I feel so much better now with the added knowledge and the many friends who have gone through the same thing with their dogs. Thank you!

Nancy

When I found out my dog needed ACL surgery I went searching the Internet and found the TopDog website. There was a wealth of material that provided me with the information and confidence to give my pet meaningful rehab treatments. I especially found the booklet with the 12-week program invaluable with just the right amount of detail. I also took full advantage of the video examples of rehab procedures I’d never done, products that helped me lift her, and supplements especially designed for joint healing. It was far beyond what I received from our vet and made me feel inspired and confident to give my dog the post-surgery care she needed. As it turns out, my vet was so pleased with my dog’s quick healing, and interested in this website in order to encourage people to really give their pets the time they need to heal from this kind of surgery. He plans to refer the website to other people whose dogs will be having this surgery. I imagine TopDog’s wealth of information and support has saved many a dog from re-injury due to inadequate or improper post-surgical care.

Maddi Newman

Hello,

I would like to say just how much the TopDog rehab guides helped me and my dog through the CCL recovery process. They were truly beyond my expectations. While I was doing research on the internet for ways to help my dog recover from his CCL surgery I happened to luck out and find Dr.J’s information. I was thrilled to tears to discover the free downloads that he offered and I was not even his client! The rehab guides go above and beyond what I expected with not just written information but actual photo’s that instructed in detail how to apply and perform the various techniques. From the first scary days when your dog comes home they show you step by step how to use ice therapy, passive range of motion, using a sling or support to maneuver the dog. All very, very scary procedures to preform without the proper instructions to inexperienced, nervous dog parents. The guides don’t stop there they take you right to the end of recovery explaining and educating on all the different exercises and modalities of the rehab process with your dog.

Having had a dog go through two knee surgeries years ago when there was absolutely nothing available to help me help my poor dog, I wanted more! Now years later I again found myself with a dog that ruptured his CCL and was sent home with little to no instructions on his recovery or rehabilitation needs. Thankfully, I was not satisfied with this lack of help and information and decided to research other possibilities. And so I found the TopDog rehabilitation guides via the internet, sadly not through my veterinarian or orthopedic surgeon.

My hope is these rehab guides be made available from veterinarians and surgeons to all who face these type surgeries and want the best possible outcome for their pups. Simply put they are invaluable. Take it from someone who knows all too well what it was like to face this surgery and recovery with no knowledge of what to expect. The TopDog rehabilitation guides are an absolute necessity. Just pick one up and see for yourself how informative and professional yet easy to follow they are for all types of orthopedic recovery and rehabilitation. I would like to personally thank Dr.J and TopDog rehabilitation for sharing this wealth of information with the pet community and hope all veterinarians will follow in his footsteps.

Glenda Russell and the “Crazeedogs”

Bailey, a five year old black lab recovering from ACL surgery, has found it a wonderful help for her owner – she particularly liked the moist heat therapy and massage – and still does even though we have passed the point where it is necessary. Seriously the booklet has been a great help – I showed it to my vet and he thinks it is a really good source of information. We are on week 5 ( should be on week 6 but my mom had hip replacement surgery two weeks ago and my time was pretty crunched) and Bailey is doing really well. Went for her one month check – up and our vet thought she was several weeks ahead of where she should be in terms of movement and weight on her leg. Information is well written, concise and the descriptions of each activity ( i.e. puppy sits) very easy to understand. Have also appreciated the weekly emails which have given additional information and tips. Thanks!

Debbi and Bailey

Hi Dr. J,

My Bichon Frise, Zoey, hurt her leg while running through snow in our backyard March 4 2011. Assuming it was just a slight sprain I brought her to the vet. To my horror I was told it was a tear in her Cranial Cruciate Ligament and that it was going to require an expensive surgery with a lengthy recovery. I went home determined to find out what I could to help her through this. I found the Topdoghealth.com website. I easily found a booklet for the cruciate surgery. It was exactly what I was looking for. It takes me step by step, and week by week on what I should be doing and watching out for. It gives examples, hints, and leaves very few questions unanswered. It has become my “bible” for helping me get my dog through this.

Thanks

Wendy Sellers & Zoey

Dear Dr. James,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you how pleased we are with Sadie’s progress after her ACL surgery. Although we haven’t been able, due to time constraints, to follow your protocol to the letter, we’ve had great success. Sadie is now solidly on all four legs after 7 years (negligent previous owners) of lameness. It’s still too soon to let her run off the leash but she is trotting along at a good pace and doing great at hill climbing. We hope to get her out on the hiking trail for short hikes very soon after we check in with her vet and get his approval.

We were very concerned about Sadie’s recovery due to the length of time she’d been without the use of her leg. But thanks to Dr. Hawman and your booklet, we’ve got her up and running (almost). Thank you so much for your guidance.

Lindsay Noisom

I downloaded your CCL rehabilitation information a while ago. Our dog did have surgery 5 weeks ago. I took the information to share with the vet doing surgery. He looked it over, said that he “doesn’t want anyone messing with his surgical repair and that dogs do their own physical therapy.” So… I listened to his comments with a grain of salt, and when my dog came home (we boarded him with the vet for the first 4 weeks, as we knew the only way we could keep him quiet was to have him heavily sedated – not an option in my mind) I began following your protocol. He is doing very well, getting stronger, and does not seem to have much pain. As a physical therapist, I know people don’t always follow our recommendations and often have poor outcomes, which they blame on the surgeon. I think you need to start the education process for vets in veterinary school. It’s difficult to get people to change when they feel what they have been doing is working Any way, thanks so much for the information.

Elizabeth Gordon

When my 7 year old year old Yorkie had ACL surgery I was devastated. I spent hours searching through the web for information on the recovery process but could not find anything satisfactory until I came upon the Top Dog Heath Website. It was a God send, the website not only had a depth of information but many testimonials on other dog owner’s experiences.

I downloaded the Home Rehabilitation Booklet and followed the instructions. I found the instructions and information most helpful and it helped my dog’s recovery. The website gave me a piece of mind and helped speed up my dogs recovery. This site is a must for any dog owner and is highly recommended.

Wilton Tsang

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