Is your dogs limping for a while now? Do you suspect a severe problem in your pooch’s legs? Is your dogs walking weirdly after falling from a height? Your dogs may have torn or ruptured their cranial cruciate ligament.

Just like humans have ACL, dogs have CCL to connect the femur to the tibia. The cranial cruciate ligament works as a stabilizer for the knee joint and keeps the tibia below the knee. If your dog has injured or torn their CCL, they can’t use their hind leg properly. If your dog fell from a height or twisted their leg while playing, you must rush them to Virginia Beach veterinary hospital for medical intervention.

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair

In dogs, knee injuries or tear to the cranial cruciate ligament is common. The cranial cruciate ligament is similar to an anterior cruciate ligament.

In dogs, there are two cruciate ligaments: caudal cruciate ligament or cranial cruciate ligament. When CCL is injured, the tibia or shin bone slides forward. Dogs with injured knee experience pain while walking or standing. When the injury is left untreated for long, it can damage the cartilage and surrounding bones and even cause osteoarthritis.

How to detect if your dog has torn CCL

Amongst animals, dogs are more susceptible to cranial cruciate ligament injury. If your dog has severe CCL or orthopedic injury, he might experience difficulty walking or simply bearing its body weight. Common signs of torn CCL are limping or lameness in dogs; however, the symptoms may vary from dog to dog.

Another common symptom of torn CCL is a drawer sign. To determine torn CCL in your dog, the veterinarian Virginia Beach VA will hold the dog’s femur and move the leg. If the shine bone or tibia moves forward like a drawer, your pooch may have ruptured its CCL.

Besides conducting a physical examination, your vet may perform an x-ray to further check for possible damage to the knee joint.

Things to know about CCL injuries 

While dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds are susceptible to CCL injury, certain kinds of dogs have a higher risk.

If you have a Rottweiler, German shepherd, Labrador, Newfoundland, or golden retriever, you must be aware of CCL tear and take all necessary precautions to prevent it.

Dogs that are obese or overweight, irrespective of their breed, can experience torn CCL. It has been noted that dogs that are not provided regular exercise but are given occasional strenuous exercise have a higher chance of developing CCL.

According to a study, it was revealed that 5% of neutered males develop CCL injury before reaching 12 months. On the other hand, 8% of female dogs are susceptible to CCL injuries. Another study shows that dogs with a history of CCL injury in one leg may develop it on another leg.

Treatment for CCL tear 

Torn CCL is a cause of concern for pet owners. Pets with torn or injured CCL have difficulty using the affected leg and may not be able to walk or stand. If your dog has torn CCL, you should bring them to the veterinary center for immediate medical care. The vet may recommend knee surgery according to the condition and severity of the injury.