Does Your Dog Have a Cruciate Ligament Rupture in His Knee?

To a dog, a cruciate ligament rupture is like tearing an achilles tendon in a human. It’s a painful, debilitating injury, but still surprisingly common. Dogs’ knees are one of their most important – yet vulnerable – body parts, and many of the activities your dog does every day put him at risk for tearing a ligament.

What is the Cruciate Ligament?

The cruciate ligaments are two bands of fibrous tissue that criss-cross over the knee. They’re what makes a dog’s knee “hinge.” Humans actually have similar ligaments in our knees, but ours are called the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.

How Can Your Dog Rupture His Cruciate Ligament?

Lots of ways. The most common kinds of ruptures happen suddenly, like when your dog pulls hard on his leash to chase after a squirrel or runs sideways through the house at the sound of the doorbell. As your dog ages, he’s more and more at risk of rupture as his ligaments begin to degrade. Young puppies and overweight dogs are also at elevated risk of rupture, too.

How Can You Tell if Your Dog Ruptured His Cruciate Ligament?

There are a few common signs to look for if you suspect your dog may have ruptured his knee. They include:

• Sudden limping or holding-up of one of his hind legs
• Obvious pain signs, such as yelping or whimpering
• Unusual gait or difficulty walking or navigating stairs
• Diagnosis by a licensed veterinarian

How Do Vets Diagnose a Cruciate Ligament Tear?

If you think your dog may have ruptured his ligament, make an appointment with a vet as soon as possible. Even just a few days of walking on an arthritic injury can make your dog’s lameness worse or even permanent. To check for a cruciate ligament rupture, your vet will likely perform what’s called a cranial or anterior drawer sign. If your dog’s tibia bone (lower leg) can be pulled, like a drawer, in front of his femur (thigh bone), it is likely he’s suffered a significant knee injury. If your dog is in a lot of pain, it may be necessary to sedate him in order to perform this test. It’s not always possible to tell whether a dog has ruptured his cruciate ligament without an X-ray. In some cases, an X-ray or even an MRI may be needed to properly diagnose the injury.

What is the Treatment for a Cruciate Ligament Rupture?

Unfortunately, a torn cruciate ligament almost always requires surgery. In a very small number of cases, cage rest combined with medication and physical therapy may be all that’s required for small dogs to heal. Your vet will consider everything from the age of your dog to his weight when discussing treatment options with you. Without treatment, your dog will invariably suffer from pain symptoms and immobility.    

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