Did My Dog Injure His ACL?

No one wants their dog to be injured. Yet, when you notice them walking with a limp, it is hard to ignore. The first step in helping him recover is knowing exactly where he is hurting. Your dog may like to run just like you, sleep in bed just like you, and eat treats just like you, but his body is not just like yours. There are many differences in our bodies and the presence of a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in your dog is an example of one. A healthy CCL is a very important part of your dog’s anatomy, which is why it is so troubling that very few pet owners understand exactly what it is.

What is a cruciate ligament?
Your dog's back legs don't have a knee, they have a stifle. There are two ligaments in your dog’s stifle, which are called the cruciate ligaments due to the fact that they cross one another. One runs from the back of the femur (thigh bone) to the front of the tibia (shin bone). This one is called the cranial cruciate ligament, or CCL. The other one runs from the front of the femur to the back of the tibia and is called the caudal cruciate ligament. These two ligaments are needed in order for the hinge joint function of the stifle joint.

Is it like an ACL?

Yes! You have no doubt heard of ACL injuries in professional athletes. The best correlation to our bodies would be to say your dog's CCL is like their back ACL.

Is my dog's cranial cruciate ligament torn?
Just like a human can tear their ACL, you dog can tear their CCL. It can be an abrupt tear during trauma or the result of regular strenuous activity. It can also be a slow deterioration of the ligament over their lifetime, particularly in certain breeds of large dogs. Either way, a dog torn ACL brace will help. The best dog ACL braces will aid in walking, improve their gate, help them recover from an injury, and even ensure they are not reinjured.

What are the symptoms of a CCL injury?

The only real question left is how to know your dog needs a dog torn ACL brace. Sadly, your dog cannot exactly tell you that their CCL requires your attention. Instead, you’ll need to be alert and watch for certain signs and symptoms. If your dog has injured their CCL you may hear a loud "pop" or a "popping" sensation in their knee, notice they are in severe pain and unable to continue activity, there could be rapid swelling and a loss of range of motion in the area, and you may also see them be unable to put weight on a certain leg.

If your dog was injured by being run over by a car, you would get him dog prosthetics. You wouldn't let him suffer. Just the same, consider ordering a brace for your dog who is already showing signs of severe pain or simply walking with a limp.

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Created on Jan 19th 2021 04:36. Viewed 310 times.

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