Dog Knee Injury

In dogs, the cruciate ligament tends to undergo degenerative changes that weaken it prior to rupturing. This very different from ACL injuries in people, where rupture is often associated with a traumatic injury as a result of an accident or incident while taking part in activities like skiing or playing football. While the human ACL and canine CCL are analogous with regard to function, this fundamental difference in onset of injury helps to explain why treatment options in dogs are quite different to those in people. Read the rest of this entry »

If it is suspected that your dog has a cranial cruciate ligament tear or rupture, your veterinarian will perform a physical exam to determine whether or not this type of injury can be ruled out. This test involves manual manipulation of the knee joint and is referred to as the drawer test. Most dogs do not need to be sedated to complete this exam, but you will need to be the judge in determining whether or not this is necessary - if your dog’s joint is particularly painful or they do not have a great track record for excellent behavior at the vet, you may want to consider giving them sedation in order to complete the exam. A normal stifle will not exhibit a positive drawer sign, making a positive drawer an absolute indicator for CCL damage. Read the rest of this entry »

No two dogs are alike when it comes to knee injuries. Some dogs will display many of the knee injury symptoms listed below, while others will only have intermittent lameness. Lameness in canines can have many causes, some of which are not directly leg related, and it is important for your dog to be evaluated by a veterinarian for any cases of unexplained lameness in any limb. Examining the way in which your dog was injured, if it can be determined, will play an important role in diagnosing a possible canine cruciate ligament tear or rupture. Careful evaluation of the symptoms, along with any diagnostic testing done by your pet’s doctor, will determine whether conservative management or surgery is indicated. Read the rest of this entry »