Once the ligament ruptures completely the dog will typically become more obviously lame. This leads to weeks or months of a fluctuating lameness that can respond to rest and/or pain killer medications, but with an overall worsening trend as the ligament becomes more torn. However, in dogs, the ligament tends to degenerate and undergo partial and incremental tearing over time. In humans, ACL rupture is a common and sudden sporting injury. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.A ruptured/torn ACL in a dog Symptoms of cruciate tears in dogs Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Your veterinarian can recommend the best "ACL" surgery for your dog's specific needs. There are a number of different CLL repairing surgeries that vary in preferability based on dog breed, age, and size. You should ask your vet whether or not surgery is right for your canine companion. When should I consider "dog ACL" surgery? Treating CCL injuries through the use of a knee brace may be successful for dogs when combined with restricted activity. The support provided by a knee brace gives the ligament time to scar over and repair itself. Treating a dog's ACL or, more accurately, CCL injury with a knee brace is a non-surgical option that may help to stabilize the knee joint in some dogs. Ok, but can a dog live with a torn "dog ACL"? Approximately 60% of dogs with a single CCL injury will go on to injure the other knee soon afterward. Most commonly a dog who has torn their CCL will demonstrate stiffness (typically most noticeable after rest that follows exercise), as well as difficulty rising, jumping, and/or walking without a limp.Ĭontinued activity on a mildly injured leg will cause the injury to worsen and symptoms to become more pronounced.ĭogs suffering from a single torn CCL will typically begin favoring the non-injured leg, which commonly leads to the injury of a second knee. Alright, I now understand what CCL injuries in dogs are, but how do I know if my dog has torn their CCL? In dogs, CCL injuries tend to come on gradually, becoming progressively worse until a tear occurs. What are the differences between ACL injuries in people and CCL injuries in dogs?ĪCL tears occur due to an acute trauma stemming from a sudden movement such as a jump or change of direction, regular daily use should not contribute to a torn ACL. This "ACL in dogs" is thus subject to greater wear and tear than the average human's ACL and a dog's CCL naturally has to withhold greater stress. You can think of the CLL as a "dog ACL" and have the right idea!Ĭomparing the two, the most relevant distinction is that the CCL is always load-bearing because dogs never unbend their knees while standing. This connective tissue in dogs is called the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) and it connects their bone below the knee (tibia) to their bone above the knee (femur). The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a thin connective tissue in the middle of our (human) knees. What is the cranial cruciate ligament? The ACL in dogs