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Don’t be shy… Post on our NEW Dog Knee Injury Forum!

In response to the high volume of comments a lot of the post have been getting, I’ve opened up the forums as a way for dog owners to connect and discuss their dog’s orthopedic issues with one another.

How to post on the Dog Knee Injury Forum:

1) You must register for a user name to post on the forum.

2) After you’ve registered and retrieved your password from your email, log in (I recommend changing the password to something you’ll remember) and start posting!

3) Keep the comments on topic, and be nice. If anyone encounters any issues on the forum please post in the comments on this page/use the contact form, and I will look into it.

CCL Repair Forum for Dogs is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Timber is a 6 year old female shepard mix; she is my baby. In August 2006, Timber tore her left ACL and she underwent TPLO. She recovered beautifully from TPLO surgery. Nearly 4 years later, she developed an abscess over her TPLO scar. I took Tim to my local vet, and she said that it looks like it could have been a suture from her surgery that did not dissolve. In for surgery to remove the abscess she went.

After two weeks the abscess started to grow back, so I took her to the surgeons office (who did the surgery 4 years ago), to find out that the stainless steel plate she had, had become infected. He recommended to remove the plate left in after the TPLO surgery. On Feb 7, 2010, Timber went in for plate removal, and on that same day she was also diagnosed with a torn ACL in her right knee. I was told I needed to wait 1 month until she had her right knee operated on because she had 2 types of bacteria growing on the plate in her left leg; she needed a course of antibiotics.

So we waited, and mommy did her research. After plenty of reading I chose the TTA (Tibial Tuberosity Advancement) surgery, which uses a titanium plate. I felt that she was at a greater risk of rejecting the stainless steel plate with the TPLO surgery. I did my research on the two type of metals, and titanium seems to be the better of the two, so we went with TTA.

TTA Dog Knee Surgery, Timber’s Story is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

The mechanism for cruciate ligament degeneration prior to rupturing is not clearly understood, but it is clear that certain factors predispose certain dogs to sustaining a cranial cruciate ligament injury. Certain breeds, such as Labradors and Rottweilers (and other large breed dogs), are much more commonly affected than others, as well as dogs that are overweight. This suggests there is an inherited component to the condition, possibly related to conformation or gait and/or the displacement of weight within the stifle (knee) joint. While there is nothing that can be done to prevent CCL injury, by recognizing the symptoms of CCL damage soon after onset you can give your dog a head start with recovery.

What Causes the CCL to Rupture? is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Age is also a risk factor for CCL injury, and there are two types of CCL onset related to a dog’s age when the injury occurs. Chronic onset, degeneration over time with subsequent rupture (usually from aging), occurs in 80% of cases and occurs in dogs 5 to 8 years old. Acute onset, a tear caused by injury, is most common in dogs under 4 years old. Young dogs of large breeds are more susceptible to rupture than young dogs of small breeds. Older dogs are also at greater risk for CCL tears if they already have arthritis and/or have decreasing musculature, especially surrounding the knee joints.

To sum it up, there is no way you can protect your dog from a CCL injury, but there are risk factors which make dogs more likely to sustain a serious cranial cruciate ligament tear or rupture. Large and giant breed dogs do more commonly sustain CCL injury, but this is usually compounded with other risk factors, which are mentioned below.

Risk Factors in Dogs for CCL Damage:

• Age
• Arthritis
• Previous injury to knee joint
• Overweight
• Large or giant breed
• Poor musculature, especially surrounding the joints
• Structural abnormalities – luxated patella, etc.

Are CCL Injuries More Common in Certain Dog Breeds? is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

During the drawer test the veterinarian with stabilize your dog’s femur with one hand while manipulating the tibia with the other. If the tibia moves forward, known as a positive drawer because of the way the bone moves similar to a drawer being opened, the ligament is ruptured. If the rupture occurred some time ago, there will be swelling on the side of the leg that faces the other leg – this phenomenon is known as a medial buttress and is indicative of arthritis. The presence of a medial buttress, coupled with your dog’s state – if they are anxious or tense – can make it difficult to obtain an accurate drawer sign. Tense muscles can act as false stabilization of the knee, preventing demonstration of the drawer sign upon manipulation; sedation is indicated in these cases.

Your pet’s doctor will take the results from the drawer sign test into consideration when determining a treatment plan for your dog. A negative drawer sign does not necessarily mean your canine does not have a cranial cruciate injury, and the only way to be absolutely sure of injury in the absence of a positive drawer is to have an ultrasound performed; unfortunately not many vets offer this service.

Drawer Sign Test and Tibial Compression Exam is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Canine Cruicate (Knee) Injury Symptoms:

1. Decreased range of motion.
2. Hind leg extended when sitting – this is known as the sit sign.
3. Crepitus – crackling noise of bones rubbing against each other.
4. Pain – when stifle (knee) joint is touched.
5. Unwilling or resistant to exercise.
6. Restricted mobility or extension.
7. Stiffness after exercise.
8. Swelling of joint.
9. Thick, firm feel to knee are, may be hot to touch.
10. Weight shifted to one side of body when standing.
11. Exhibits toe-touching while standing.

There are also a few other conditions with similar symptoms to a cruciate injury, which is why it is important to schedule an appointment to see your veterinarian if your dog is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above.

Conditions with similar symptoms to cranial cruciate ligament tears/rupture:

1. Acute arthritis – related to lyme disease or immune disorders
2. Stifle (knee) joint sprain
3. Meniscus (cartilage within the knee) injury
   
4. Hip dysplasia
5. Patellar (knee cap) fracture or luxation
6. Myelopathies – diseases of the nervous system

Cranial Cruciate (Knee) Injury Symptoms in Dogs is a post from: Dog Knee Injury