Cruciate Ligament Injury in Dogs: What You Should Know

Is your dog limping or showing signs of pain?

Table of Contents

Cruciate Ligament Injury in Dogs: What You Should Know

Dogs can suffer from a very painful knee injury called cruciate ligament rupture. The condition often leads to osteoarthritis. A cruciate ligament injury that isn’t treated may seem to improve after a few weeks, but surgery is almost always needed to make the knee joint stable again.

The sooner surgery is performed on a dog with cruciate ligament rupture, the better the chance of slowing arthritis progression and relieving the pet’s pain.

So as a pet owner, what should you know about cruciate ligament injury?

The Cruciate Ligaments

Pets have 2 cruciate ligaments (cranial and caudal) that hold the knee (stifle) joint together. “Cruciate” literally means to “form a cross.” The cruciate ligaments are so named because they cross inside the joint, connecting the bones above and below the knee (the femur and tibia):

  • The caudal cruciate attaches to the back of the tibia.
  • The cranial cruciate attaches to the front of the tibia (the side near the kneecap). Similar to the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in people, the cranial cruciate ligament is the one that’s most often ruptured.

Causes of Cruciate Ligament Injury

In dogs with this injury, the cruciate ligament has often been degenerating slowly over time, and it ruptures (either partially or completely) when a dog suddenly changes direction, usually while running. Dogs can also rupture their cruciate ligaments while walking—for instance, if they trip over a rock or step into a hole.

Most affected dogs have cranial cruciate ligament disease, which results from a variety of factors that include degeneration of the ligament, obesity, age, poor physical condition, genetics, and breed.

Pets at Risk for Cruciate Ligament Injury

Cruciate ligament rupture can affect any dog, regardless of size or age. However, this type of knee injury is more common in overweight and obese dogs, and the risk of injury does increase with age.

Certain dog breeds, such as Akitas, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards, and Staffordshire terriers, are also at higher risk.

Cranial cruciate ligament injury can affect healthy dogs as well—in particular, athletes who participate in agility and other activities and “weekend warriors” who tend to be inactive most days of the week but ramp up exercise on the weekends.

Most dogs who have a cruciate ligament injury in one knee will eventually develop it in the other knee.

Cats can suffer from cruciate ligament injury as well, but it’s rare.

Signs of Cruciate Ligament Injury

Sudden lameness and pain in the hind leg are the most obvious signs. Other symptoms of a cruciate ligament injury in pets include:

  • Limping
  • Stiff gait
  • Swelling or instability of the knee
  • Lameness that comes and goes, especially with activity
  • Weakness of the knee or hind limb
  • Trouble bearing weight on the affected leg
  • Decrease in activity level
  • Difficulty getting up from a sit
  • Trouble jumping up onto a sofa or bed, getting into a vehicle, or climbing stairs
  • Reluctance to play
  • Popping noise in the knee

Diagnosis of Cruciate Ligament Injury

Your Beach Avenue veterinarian will perform a physical exam of your pet, which includes checking for swelling, inflammation, and pain, as well as abnormal movement and range of motion of the knee. This typically involves moving your pet’s knee into several positions, as well as observing your pet walking. Your veterinarian may also need to take x-rays of the knee and may recommend other diagnostic tests.

Treatment of Cruciate Ligament Injury

Surgery is usually the most effective way to treat this type of injury. Several different types of cruciate ligament surgeries can be performed, including:

  • Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO)
  • Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA)
  • Extracapsular repair (TightRope procedure)

Your Beach Avenue veterinarian will determine which type of cruciate rupture surgery will work best for your pet.

Some small dogs (and cats) may be able to recover without surgery, but only if they can be put on strict exercise restriction for about 6 weeks. This usually means being confined to a crate for rest during that time. Even then, most dogs with cruciate ligament injury eventually need surgery.

If nothing is done to stabilize the knee, the joint will start to develop degenerative changes that cannot be reversed.

After surgery, dogs must have their activity limited for about 6 to 8 weeks (possibly less, depending on which surgical technique is used). Physical therapy, which is usually part of the postsurgical plan, helps speed up recovery and reduce the chance of complications.

Prevention of Cruciate Ligament Injury

Although there’s no way to completely prevent cruciate ligament injury or disease, helping an overweight dog lose weight may reduce the risk of this type of injury. Your Beach Avenue veterinarian can create a weight loss plan that includes reducing caloric intake and increasing activity slowly and as safely as possible.

If you have questions about cruciate ligament rupture or if your pet is limping, is in pain, can’t put weight on his or her leg, or is showing other signs of a knee injury, contact us right away. The sooner we diagnose the problem, the faster we can help your pet feel better and start to recover from the injury.

Is xylitol dangerous for dogs? Yes, even in small amounts, xylitol can cause severe health problems like seizures and liver failure in dogs. Found in sugar-free products like gum and candy, it’s important to act quickly if your dog consumes it. Learn how to keep your dog safe, especially during

It’s important to stay calm and collected when your dog appears angry. While they might seem mad, often their emotions stem from fear, anxiety, or feeling threatened. Here’s what you can do. Tips For Keeping Calm an Angry Dog Stop and Assess: Avoid approaching your dog directly. Instead, pause and

Puppies require a series of vaccinations during their early development to protect them from serious and potentially fatal diseases. These vaccinations are typically administered in a series of shots starting at a young age and should be scheduled through a trusted vet clinic. Here’s a breakdown of the core vaccines

Pet insurance is a type of insurance that helps cover the cost of veterinary care for your pet. It can provide financial protection against unexpected medical expenses, such as accidents, illnesses, and surgeries.

What Are Anal Glands? Why Do They Need Expressing?

Why Do Dogs Need Their Anal Glands Expressed?

You have have had your vet mention to you that your dogs anal glands need expressing. Maybe you’ve even taken your dog to have their glands expressed. Do you know what that means? To the right you can see a picture of what anal glands are. These are found either

Halloween Safety and Your Pets

How to Keep Your Pets Safe on Halloween Night!

Trick or treat! Halloween is here again! Costumes are picked, neighborhood routes are planned, and candy is anticipated! Halloween is a fun time of the year, but what about your pets? Some pets don’t mind the sights and sounds of Halloween. Others have a hard time with it. Some dogs

Pet Dental Health: Dogs and Cats Need Dental Care Too!

Healthy Teeth, Healthy Pet: How to Keep Your Furry Friend's Smile Bright!

Dental health plays an important role in your pet’s overall health, so we’re sharing some important information about why we prioritize pet dental care at Beach Avenue Animal Hospital. By 3 years of age, most dogs and cats have some form of periodontal disease. If your pet has periodontal disease,

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a broad term often used to describe a range of clinical signs related to abnormal urination in cats. FLUTD is very common in cats and can be caused by a number of conditions that affect the lower urinary tract (the urinary bladder and

Your pet’s happiness is our priority! If your furry friend needs anything, don’t hesitate to call. We’re here to guide and ensure their well-being with a warm touch and friendly advice.