Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The anterior cruciate ligament or (ACL) is one of the main ligaments in the knee that provides internal stability to the joint. If this ligament is damaged, it can cause pain and impair your dog’s ability to walk.  

SOURCE & CAUSE(S)

The most common cause of a torn ACL is injury related or caused by some kind of trauma to the knee joint.  ACL injuries can also be due to obesity.  Many very athletic dogs will suffer from ACL tears, and small dogs are also susceptible to ACL injuries.  

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

You may notice your dog is limping and/or carrying one of his back legs.  If a trauma has occurred, you will notice your pet having a fair amount of pain will be having a great amount of difficulty walking on one of his or her back legs.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

Your veterinarian will palpate the knee, this is feeling and manipulate the joint with hands, and most likely will want to do a series of x-rays to confirm an ACL tear diagnosis.

TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT

Occasionally if the ACL injury is mild, a very conservative treatment is to give your dog pain medication and to limit the activity level.  This will allow the knee to form scar tissue which will provide support to the joint.  It is much more common to have a surgery to repair the ACL, and for most dogs this is successful.

PetsMD Recommends:
Cosequin Maximum Strenght Hip & Joint Supplements	Cosequin Joint Supplement for Cats	21st Century Liquid Glucosamine & Chondroitin Supplement for Medium/Large Breed Dogs - Level Three