ACL injury in dogs refers to an injury to a ligament located in the knee joint. This ligament is referred to as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or cranial cruciate ligament. ACL injuries are some of the most common ligament injuries that veterinarians see in dogs.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a pill or special dog treat that can take the threat of an ACL injury away. As in humans, the knee joint in dogs is extremely vulnerable because there are no interlocking bones in the joint. The one area that owners should focus on is their dog’s conditioning. The dogs most at risk for this injury are those with poor conditioning or even suffering from obesity. Dogs with appropriately strong muscles near the knee joint are better suited to avoid possible ACL tears.
The most common symptom of ACL injury in dogs is sudden onset of lameness. Additional symptoms include pain, stiffness, and sitting or laying down with the leg in an awkward position. ACL injuries in dogs usually occur suddenly even though the ACL may have been experiencing wear and tear for quite some time.
Surgery is the typical route for treating ACL injuries in dogs. That’s because there is no way that the torn ligaments will reattach without a surgical procedure. The veterinarian must first remove any remnants of the torn ligament and the meniscus, if that too is damaged.
Pet owners can help their dog to cope with an ACL injury by keeping the dog’s activity levels down, feeding the dog the right diet, and working with the dog through veterinarian recommended therapies.