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 »
It is not unusual for dogs who have a cranial cruciate ligament rupture in one leg to develop one in the other leg. It is a little unusual to have two severe ruptures at the same time, but it does occur, especially in large breed dogs or overweight canines. Generally the signs of this type of injury will manifest itself in the dog with an impaired gait, shaking while walking, and/or dragging the back legs. It is not unusual for veterinarians and pet owners to think that partial paralysis is present or that the severe lameness is due to spinal disc disease because of the severity of the presentation. Read the rest of this entry »
Before bringing your dog home from CCL repair surgery, you will want to make sure everything is set before their arrival. If you have already been practicing CM (conservative management) prior to surgery, odds are your home is already adequately prepared for the return of your canine patient, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Below is a list I have compiled of ways to consider dog-proofing your home while your pet is recovering from cranial cruciate ligament repair (CCL) surgery. Read the rest of this entry »
NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. These medications are most often prescribed to dogs for pain, inflammation and to aid in fever reduction. NSAIDs are most commonly used for the symptomatic relief of arthritic pain in geriatric pets. Aspirin and ibuprofen are well-recognized human NSAIDs, and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has approved specific NSAIDs for use in pets with osteoarthritis. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of prostaglandins, the body chemicals that cause inflammation, and can be highly effective for controlling discomfort in arthritic and post op pets. Read the rest of this entry »
Many dogs will not have a bowel movement for the first 4 to 5 days after surgery, so if you fall into this category, do not worry. There are a number of reasons why a dog will not have regular bowel movements after surgery including fasting prior to surgery, not eating well during an overnight or extended hospital stay - they frequently do not eat well when they go home because they are fed highly digestible food that produces little stool while hospitalized, and pain medications that contain narcotics (such as tylenol with codeine, tylenol 3, tylenol 4, morphine, fentanyl, tramadol) can have a constipating effect. Read the rest of this entry »
Each veterinarian seems to have their own theories regarding how soon physical therapy should be started after ccl surgery and what techniques work best. Other veterinary surgeons will write off physical therapy all together, preferring for the dog to remain quiet for the first 6-8 weeks after the repair, gradually returning to exercise. While it is always best to go along with the instructions of your vet, I do want to point out that studies done by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons have shown that dogs beginning rehabilitative therapy within 48 hours of the procedure tend to heal faster and have greater range of motion than dogs without any physical therapy. Read the rest of this entry »
Whether your dog has undergone a TTA, TPLO, or traditional extracapsular imbrication repair, the steps following surgery are generally the same. Whether your dog stays the night at the vet’s after surgery, or head home with you the day of the procedure, the first few days following the CCL repair should be dedicated to making your dog feel as comfortable as possible. Be aware that your dog may have lost his appetite as a result of the surgery, so have stocks, rice, chicken, pumpkin and other whole foods readily available if he refuses his regular dog food. It is advisable to give oral pain medications to your dog with some food in their stomach, so it is really important that you can get something into their stomach, even if it is only a bit of stock or piece of beef - something is better than nothing. Read the rest of this entry »
Cranial cruciate ligament tears and ruptures can happen to any dog (or cat for that matter, although it is not nearly as common), but there are certain risk factors that make particular breeds of dogs more susceptible to this type of damage. CCL injuries are one of the most common orthopedic injuries in dogs, and is the most common cause of degenerative joint diseases in the stifle joint, like arthritis. While there is no way any dog can completely avoid their risk of CCL injury, there are a number of risk factors owners should be aware of, especially if they suspect their dog may have injured their stifle (knee). Read the rest of this entry »
Not all owners can afford the expensive surgery that cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) repair surgery typically requires. There is quite a range in prices depending on what procedure is recommended by your veterinarian for your dog’s knee repair. For example, a traditional repair can cost anywhere from $700-$1500, whereas a TPLO is usually in the $1700-$3000 range. If proceeding with surgical correction for your dog is just not an option, be aware that there are conservative management techniques that will assist your dog in recovering from cranial cruciate ligament damage. Read the rest of this entry »
When there is a joint injury like a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture, it is important for the vet to try to preserve the menisci to the greatest extent possible. Loss of all or part of a stifle’s meniscus has the potential to accelerate the breakdown of articular cartilage with resultant DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease). The more of the meniscus that is lost through injury or through surgical removal, the less stable the joint will be in future, and the greater the potential for DJD, i.e. arthritis. The risk of further damage to the menisci is minimized by greatly reducing activity after ligament injury while the dog’s body re-establishes stability in the joint. Read the rest of this entry »
Each veterinarian seems to have their own theories regarding how soon physical therapy should be started after ccl surgery and what techniques work best. Other veterinary surgeons will write off physical therapy all together, preferring for the dog to remain quiet for the first 6-8 weeks after the repair, gradually returning to exercise. While it is always best to go along with the instructions of your vet, I do want to point out that studies done by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons have shown that dogs beginning rehabilitative therapy within 48 hours of the procedure tend to heal faster and have greater range of motion than dogs without any physical therapy. 
Whether your dog has undergone a TTA, TPLO, or traditional extracapsular imbrication repair, the steps following surgery are generally the same. Whether your dog stays the night at the vet’s after surgery, or head home with you the day of the procedure, the first few days following the CCL repair should be dedicated to making your dog feel as comfortable as possible. Be aware that your dog may have lost his appetite as a result of the surgery, so have stocks, rice, chicken, pumpkin and other whole foods readily available if he refuses his regular dog food. It is advisable to give oral pain medications to your dog with some food in their stomach, so it is really important that you can get something into their stomach, even if it is only a bit of stock or piece of beef - something is better than nothing. 
When there is a joint injury like a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture, it is important for the vet to try to preserve the menisci to the greatest extent possible. Loss of all or part of a stifle’s meniscus has the potential to accelerate the breakdown of articular cartilage with resultant DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease). The more of the meniscus that is lost through injury or through surgical removal, the less stable the joint will be in future, and the greater the potential for DJD, i.e. arthritis. The risk of further damage to the menisci is minimized by greatly reducing activity after ligament injury while the dog’s body re-establishes stability in the joint.