At Yahoo they have a special ortho dog forum. Of course they talk mainly about surgery.

Only once I read about someone being succesful with healing themselves, I think accupunture and water exercises were involved.

My dog had 2 surgeries on the same leg 1st for the patella and 2nd for torn ligament. The problem is that often they will have it on their other leg too.
My dog is 10 now and I started with supplements to make his legs stronger. He does not like to swim.
I give him daily: msm, ester-C, Colloidal Silver , parsley oil, ACV, syn.flex(www.activexamerica.com).

I hope to avoid another surgery.
You can google a lot of information.

Johanna

I have a Cocker Spaniel that would run around doing pirouhettes(?), and would occasionally dislocate his kneecap. We never did surgery for it, as the vet couldn't say how long it would make the problem better for. She recommended that we try to limit his activities.He would limp for a few days, and it would get better on it's own. Now that he's about to turn 16, he doesn't run and jump as much, so he doesn't seem to have any problems anymore.

Please get this: http://www.syn-flex.ca/allaboutglucosamine.html
and it will help the cartiliage grow, if it works you will notice in 2-4 days.
it's premixed and easy to use (depends on how picky your dog is, my dog loved it but my sister's dog didn't like it, but it's liquid and liquid is the best form and absorbs more. people take it with great results too.

let me know if you have any questions. it literally turned my sister's 15 year old arthritic and disc problemed dog into a puppy the first few days he was on it.
-monique