Inside Scoop: TCVM Veterinarians Share Holistic Torn Knee Ligament Protocol

When your dog tears a knee ligament, it is very stressful for both your dog and you! You know your dog is uncomfortable, but you don't know what to do.

The good news is there are many things you can do at home, with your veterinarian’s guidance, to help your dog feel better, support recovery, and work toward reducing the risk of future injuries, including injury to the other knee.

We're sharing the torn knee ligament protocol recommended by TCVM veterinarians Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron in their Tennessee clinics.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the injury: The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), similar to the human ACL, helps stabilize your dog’s knee.
• Start with assessment: Limping, difficulty bearing weight, and knee swelling warrant veterinary evaluation.
• Explore treatment options: Your veterinarian can guide surgical or non-surgical care based on your dog’s injury and needs.
• Five-step support: This protocol combines education, comfort support, Blood-building nutrition, liver food therapy, and TCVM herbs.
• Individualized care: Coordinate supplements, food changes, and herbal choices with your veterinarian. TCVM formulas require veterinary authorization.

What Is a Torn Knee Ligament?

If your dog suddenly starts limping on a hind leg, he or she may have ruptured or torn a knee ligament.

The ligament is technically the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), which is similar to the ACL in people.

Your dog's CCL is responsible for stabilizing the knee joint and keeping the tibia in place beneath the femur.

It is the ligament connecting the back of the femur, the bone above the knee, to the front of the tibia, the bone below the knee.

There are many different contributors to dog knee ligament injuries, including:

• Activity: Physical activity and injury.
• Age: Age-related factors.
• Breed: Breed-related susceptibility.
• Body condition: Obesity.

Canine knee ligament injuries are one of the most common orthopedic problems in dogs.

Symptoms and Veterinary Assessment

Symptoms might range from being just a little lame to being unable to bear weight on the injured leg. Your dog may also have swelling inside the knee.

Vets usually first check for the "drawer sign." Your vet will hold your dog’s femur in place, then pull the tibia forward in a manner similar to a drawer sliding open. The sliding motion is what indicates knee ligament injury.

Your vet will probably also want to take X-rays of your dog's knee to assess associated joint changes and/or rule out other causes of lameness.

Then, your vet will recommend treatment. There are several different options available for dogs with knee ligament damage, and sometimes a non-surgical method works well.

When a dog tears a CCL, there is also a substantial risk of injury to the ligament in the other leg.

With or without surgery, the diet, supplements, and herbs discussed below are intended to support your dog’s recovery and longer-term tendon and ligament wellness. Your veterinarian can coordinate these options with the treatment and activity plan appropriate for your dog.

Step 1: Learn More About Torn Knee Ligaments

If you are new to dealing with knee ligament health challenges and are still learning how they affect your dog, you should get a free copy of our ebook What Your Vet May Not Tell You About Torn Knee Ligaments.

Holistic veterinarians Dr. Casey Damron and Dr. Marc Smith wrote the manual with you in mind. It explains what's going on, how your dog feels, and offers information on things you can do at home to help.

It explains in great detail the different types of surgeries and other options available, and the pros and cons of each.

Step 2: Ease Your Dog’s Discomfort Naturally

When a dog experiences a physical injury, Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron recommend PET | TAO Comfort.

Comfort contains yucca, boswellia, MSM, meadowsweet, cornus, licorice, ginger, and manganese. The protocol uses it for comfort support associated with arthritis, injuries, or overexertion.

Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron also use Comfort post-surgically in their clinics when pet parents want an individualized approach that reduces reliance on pharmaceuticals. The original protocol discusses Comfort as an alternative option to Rimadyl under their veterinary direction.

Your veterinarian can help determine how Comfort fits with your dog’s other supplements and pharmaceuticals, and guide any medication changes or combinations.

Learn More About Comfort

Step 3: Feed a Blood-Building Diet

Another change you can make at home is switching to a Blood-building diet.

In TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine), pulled ligaments and cranial cruciate ligament rupture are associated with patterns of Blood deficiency.

To support balance in this pattern, the protocol recommends a Blood-building diet.

You can make the diet at home in a slow cooker or purchase it pre-made online.

See the Blood-Building Slow Cooker Recipe

Purchase Blood-Building Dog Food

Always discuss any dietary changes you plan to make with your holistic veterinarian.

Step 4: Feed Your Dog Liver

According to TCVM philosophy, Liver controls the ligaments and tendons.

The Liver does this by nourishing your dog's tendons and ligaments with Blood and Yin.

In Chinese medicine, weakness in tendons and ligaments is associated with Liver Yin/Blood deficiency. Chinese medicine advises nourishing Liver Yin and Blood to address tendon and ligament health challenges.

Using the theory of "Like Treats Like", feeding liver to your dog helps strengthen and tonify the Liver meridian.

The goal is balance in the Liver meridian. By supporting balance, this food therapy approach addresses the underlying TCVM pattern and supports longer-term wellness.

You can make sure your dog gets top-quality liver by feeding PET | TAO Freeze-Dried Raw Liver Treats.

• Suggested amount: The protocol recommends as few as 5-6 treats per day for Liver meridian support, or as directed by your veterinarian.

The protocol also discusses feeding liver in the context of high liver enzymes and emotional issues from its TCVM food therapy perspective.

Or, add some liver to your dog's meals every day, or as directed by your veterinarian. You can add chopped, lightly cooked liver as a meal topping, or store it in the refrigerator and feed it as a treat. The original protocol also includes raw liver for dogs on a raw diet; discuss preparation and the appropriate amount with your veterinarian.

Step 5: Try a TCVM Herbal Blend

Chinese medicine offers many natural options for ligament health challenges.

Some examples discussed in the protocol are:

• Sound Tendon Formula
• Jia Wei Jin Gu Die Shang San
• Tendon Ligament Formula

You need a veterinarian's authorization to purchase TCVM herbs. There are several different blends to choose from, depending on the pet's individual patterns and deficiencies. Your authorizing veterinarian can confirm the appropriate formula and species-specific product.

You'll get the best results if you get an in-person examination or a telemedicine consultation with a TCVM-trained veterinarian.

Interested in trying a TCVM herbal formula? Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation

Veterinary Expertise and Personalized TCVM Support

If you ever feel you need extra help managing knee ligament health challenges, naturally or with TCVM herbal blends, we can help.

TCVM Pet Supply co-founders Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron offer TCVM telemedicine consultations.

If you get a TCVM telemedicine consultation, you'll get personalized TCVM recommendations specific to your pet, including:

• Evaluation: TCVM evaluation.
• Nutrition: Food therapy recommendations.
• Herbal support: TCVM herb recommendations and veterinary authorization.
• Supplements: Supplement recommendations.
• Additional care: Alternative medicine recommendations.

If you reside in the Middle Tennessee area or would like to commute, you may choose an in-clinic appointment instead.

You can learn more about each vet and contact the clinic you prefer to set up your consultation:

• Marc Smith, DVM, MS - Natchez Trace Veterinary Services
• Casey Damron, DVM, CVA - White Oak Animal Hospital

We hope this information helps, and we wish you the best in helping your dog feel better.

If you have any other questions or if we can help you in any way, just let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a dog’s CCL the same as a human ACL?

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs is similar to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in people. It helps stabilize the knee and keep the tibia positioned beneath the femur. This is why canine CCL injuries are often described informally as torn ACLs.

Does every dog with a torn knee ligament need surgery?

Your veterinarian will recommend an approach based on the injury and your dog’s needs. The original protocol discusses several surgical options as well as non-surgical approaches that can work well in some cases. The free ebook linked above explains the options and their pros and cons. The supportive food therapy and supplement steps can be discussed whether or not your dog has surgery.

Why does this protocol include a Blood-building diet and liver treats?

From a TCVM perspective, tendon and ligament weakness can involve Blood deficiency and Liver Yin/Blood deficiency. A Blood-building diet and liver food therapy are used to nourish these patterns and support balance. Your holistic veterinarian can tailor food choices and treat amounts to your dog.

How do I choose a TCVM herbal formula for my dog’s ligament injury?

A TCVM-trained veterinarian considers your dog’s patterns, deficiencies, and overall health to choose an appropriate formula and product. The listed formulas are examples from the protocol. Veterinary authorization is required, and an examination or telemedicine consultation helps personalize recommendations.

The Bottom Line

A torn knee ligament can be stressful, but a clear care plan helps you support your dog with confidence. Start with a veterinary assessment and treatment plan, then discuss comfort support, Blood-building nutrition, liver food therapy, and personalized TCVM herbs. This whole-dog approach focuses on recovery, comfort, and longer-term tendon and ligament wellness.

Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation for personalized food therapy, supplement, and herbal recommendations.

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