{"id":1144,"date":"2011-01-24T18:58:05","date_gmt":"2011-01-25T02:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogkneeinjury.com\/?p=1144"},"modified":"2011-01-24T18:58:05","modified_gmt":"2011-01-25T02:58:05","slug":"cruciate-ligament-injury-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogkneeinjury.com\/cruciate-ligament-injury-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Cruciate Ligament Injury in Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Help!\u00a0 My dog is limping – Could it be a torn ligament?<\/h4>\n

This guide is a good starting place for anyone looking for more information on dog knee problems, specifically cruciate ligament injury in dogs.\u00a0 This article will give an overview of dog knee injuries covering everything from symptoms to recovery.<\/p>\n

What is a Cruciate Ligament Injury?<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n

An injury to the CCL (also known as the cranial cruciate ligament and sometimes called the ACL) can cause lameness in dogs, and is one of the most common causes of rear leg lameness. The function of the cruciate ligament in dogs is to stop the femur (large bone at the top of the leg, above knee) and tibia (smaller bone at bottom of leg, below knee) from rubbing against one another. When the cranial cruciate ligament is torn or ruptured the leg loses stability because these bones are now free to move back and forth on top of one another, causing friction, inflammation, possible meniscal injury and eventually arthritis.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>During activities with a healthy dog ACL ligament there will be tension on the ligament, preventing the femur from pressing into the tibia, creating a sliding motion for fluid movement. If your dog is walking or running with a cruciate ligament tear there will be no tension on the CCL, allowing the bones to unnaturally move together, causing pain, lameness and an aversion to using the leg. The best way to think of this would be to envision the ligament like a rubber band, but instead of holding the bones together, the rubber band is in place to prevent the bones from coming into contact. When the rubber band is snapped, there is no longer a gliding joint in the knee and there is contact between the bones.<\/p>\n

Acute vs. Chronic Causes of Cruciate Ligament Injury<\/h3>\n

Acute injury is generally associated with trauma. If the CCL (also referred to as ACL because of it’s similar function to the human ACL) is injured acutely it will most often be due to improper rotation of the knee and hyper extension. This can occur in many different ways such as a dog taking a misstep off a curb, stepping into a divot, jumping or becoming stuck, using a jerking motion to free him\/herself.<\/p>\n

Chronic injury of the canine ACL is generally associated with disease, age related degenerative changes of the ligament, excess weight (obesity) and conformation of the knee joint (certain large breed dogs are more prone to these types of injuries due to the way their back legs are formed). In the case of chronic injury of the cruciate ligament, there is very little that can be done to prevent the injury from taking place.<\/p>\n

Size Matters<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Small and large dogs fair differently with the same type of ACL injury. Studies have shown that dogs weighing less than about 25 pounds can experience a full recovery from ligament damage without surgery. This is not true in dogs above the 25 pound threshold. While dogs over 25 pounds may appear to be improving with conservative methods, these larger dogs rarely return to their full function without any issue. This is not to say that there has never been a case of a medium to large sized dog recovering from a torn CCL with only conservative management, but does demonstrate that smaller dogs have an easier time fully recovering using the conservative approaches.<\/p>\n

Symtoms of a torn, ruptured or injured CCL will vary from dog to dog, and depending on whether the injury was acute or chronic in nature. Some dogs with a fully torn cruciate may only exhibit mild lameness, while others with a tear may not bear any weight on the leg at all. This again varies based on the type of dog, their size and whether other structures within the knee (particularly the meniscus) were also damaged. Below are some of the most common symptoms associated with a dog knee ligament injury.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of a Dog ACL Tear:<\/h2>\n

1. Decreased range of motion.
\n2. Hind leg extended straight when sitting down (this is known as the sit sign).
\n3. Crackling noise of bones rubbing against each other – the medical term for this is Crepitus.
\n4. Dog exhibits signs of pain when knee (stifle) joint is touched.
\n5. Exercise intolerance.
\n6. Limited range of motion or mobility.
\n7. Stiffness, limping or unwillingness to use the leg after exercise.
\n8. Knee joint is swollen and\/or hot to the touch.
\n9. Thick, tight, hard and\/or firm feel to knee.
\n10. When standing will only place weight on the toe instead of using entire foot (called toe-touching). An early sign of toe-touching is to only have weight on one side of the body when standing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There are other conditions with symptoms similar to a dog ACL injury such as: arthritis, knee sprain, meniscal injury, hip dysplasia, patellar fracture, patellar luxation, myelopathies, lyme disease and others. Please schedule an appointment with your vet if your dog shows any of the CCL tear symptoms listed above.<\/p>\n

What if my dog’s CCL is never repaired?<\/h4>\n

This, again, depends on their size, breed and a number of other factors. Some dogs without a CCL may do just fine, while others may use the ability to use their leg. One truth for any dog without a supporting knee ligament is the fact that they will be more succeptible to injuring other structures within the knee, particularly the meniscus. The role of the mensicus in the knee is to act as a cushion, and absorb shocks. Damage to the meniscus is serious and typically leads to arthritic change and lameness.<\/p>\n

What to Expect During Your First Veterinary Visit for a Suspected CCL Injury<\/h2>\n

Consultation and Review of Symptoms<\/h3>\n

Your veterinarian will review your dog’s symptoms and time of onset.\u00a0 Going through a detailed history will allow your vet to determine if conditions with similar symptoms may be ruled out at this time.<\/p>\n

Physical Exam<\/h3>\n

Walking Gait<\/h4>\n

Your veterinarian will want to watch your dog walk and run to see how they are balancing their weight and using the affected leg.<\/p>\n

Palpation of the Joint<\/h4>\n

Your veterinarian will touch your dog’s knee to assess the joint looking for signs of:<\/p>\n