If your dog has a cruciate ligament rupture or partial tear, you may be wondering about treatment options. Dr. Susan Davis—internationally recognized author, physical therapist for animals, and friend of Dr. Julie Buzby—shares from her decades of experience how you can support, advocate, and make the right treatment decision for your senior dog.
Without a doubt, ruptures of the cranial cruciate ligament account for the majority of my physical therapy caseload at any given point in time. Why are there so many?
My theory involves the indoor lifestyle we shifted our companion pets, particularly dogs, toward, the past four decades. Add to that, more human work hours, less time for the owner to take their dog on leash walks, plus a shift from the use of indoor carpeting to smooth, hardwood, and tile flooring.
Back in the 1930s to 1970s, most dogs lived outdoors and spent their time on grass and dirt, not jumping on and off furniture onto slippery surfaces. Cruciate ligament tears were rare. Fast forward to the present day. Most dog owners are acutely aware of the cruciate ligament, though they may know it as the “ACL.”
What is the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs?
The equivalent to the human being’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the dog cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). It is a band of fibrous tissue located in the dog’s hind legs at the knee (stifle) joint. The ligament provides inner crossover stability to prevent forward slippage of the shinbone (front of the tibia), relative to the long thigh bone (femur).
Though we have this ligament in common with our canine companions, theirs ruptures much differently than ours. The upright, two-legged human gait is less susceptible to ACL ruptures with normal activity. A person’s ACL ruptures swiftly and completely from trauma and sports-related injuries.
The dog’s CCL is subjected to different biomechanical forces in their down-on-all-fours gait along with a slightly different shape and angle of the tibial plateau. Running, turning, and sliding on slippery surfaces cause gradual wear and tear of the dog’s CCL. It begins to stretch, tear, and slowly degrade. Sometimes it tears fully, called a rupture. Other times it tears only partially. In both cases, compromised stifle joint stability leads to injury to the meniscus (the cartilage shock absorber) and arthritis.
What are the signs of a cranial cruciate ligament tear in dogs?
The first outward sign of cranial cruciate ligament damage is lameness. The dog may either hold the limb up completely or put only partial weight on it. We call this toe-touching. The dog begins to shift its weight onto the other hind limb. That is why a dog with a ruptured CCL has a 25 to 50% chance of tearing the other hind leg’s CCL within 12 to 16 months!
The key to recovery from the rupture (and prevention of the other side tearing) is rapid timing of diagnosis and intervention. Getting started right away promotes early healing, can help prevent full rupture, and reduces the risk of the opposite side tearing.
How is a cranial cruciate ligament tear diagnosed and treated?
Early diagnosis of CCL tear is imperative to your dog’s future health. If your dog is limping or holding up a limb, do not delay in making a veterinary appointment.
Diagnosis of CCL rupture happens through observation, the performance of a drawer test, a radiograph (X-ray), or sometimes an MRI. The drawer test involves the veterinarian or physical therapist placing their hands around the dog’s stifle joint, using a gliding motion used to test the “tightness” of the ligament. A ‘positive drawer’ or ‘cranial drawer sign’ means the ligament is too loose and ruptured (completely torn) or has merely a partial tear.
If your dog has a ruptured CCL, surgical correction followed by rehabilitation is the best form of treatment. On the other hand, your dog might not need surgery if the CCL is partially torn. Partial tearing of the cruciate ligament presents various treatment options.
It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of surgery in terms of a dog’s size, health status, activity level, and lifestyle. Surgery requires recovery of at least 12 to 16 weeks. Smaller (less than 22 pounds) and leaner dogs tend to manage better without surgery than their larger or overweight friends do. If your dog has a partial cruciate ligament rupture but is standing and walking on the limb, non-surgical treatment options may be reasonable.
11 non-surgical treatments for dogs with partial cruciate ligament ruptures
Here are 11 non-surgical treatments for dogs with partial CCL tears and also dogs with a full cruciate rupture that cannot have surgery for reasons such as advanced age, medical risk of undergoing anesthesia, bleeding disorder, seizures, or financial constraints.
1. Rest and activity restriction
For the next six weeks, plan to reduce the length and intensity of walks and possibly crate or confine your dog several hours per day to allow for healing. Playing or rough housing with other dogs is off limits for a few weeks. Your veterinarian will help you understand what degree of exercise restriction is right for your dog.
2. Medications
Your veterinarian may prescribe anti-inflammatory and pain medications.
3. Ideal body weight
Ask your vet or physical therapist to assess your dog’s body weight compared to normative values for the same age and breed. This is called the body condition score. Check to see if a ‘waistline’ is visible while standing over your dog, looking down at their body shape, and feel if the ribs are easy to find or if a heavy layer of fat makes it difficult to feel them. If your dog is overweight, start a weight loss plan right away. An obese or overweight dog is predisposed to a cruciate ligament rupture or tear.
Get started now discovering your dog’s canine body condition score.
4. Healthy diet and supplements
Keep your dog’s diet lean: provide healthy treats, plenty of hydration, and supplements for anti-oxidant control of inflammation. Ask your veterinarian whether additional senior dog supplements for cartilage support or omega-3 fatty acids for joint inflammation may be helpful.
5. Physical therapy using cold laser for 6 to 12 sessions
A common question I hear is, “Will cold laser help grow a new ligament or reattach the torn ligament?” Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Cold laser therapy for dogs will not regenerate a new ligament or reattach the torn portion of the ligament. But it should help reduce joint inflammation, swelling, and pain. It may also help in the process of scar tissue formation as the body tries to stabilize the joint.
6. Electrical stimulation
Electrical stimulation uses various forms of electrical current delivered through lead wires which are attached to sticky electrodes placed over the stifle joint and thigh. This treatment helps blood rush in and nourish the ligament and surrounding anatomical structures, relieves inflammation, reduces pain, and assists weakened muscles to contract and strengthen.
7. Massage
Using the palm of your hands in a flat position, massage the sides, front, and back of the dog’s knee in circular directions with light to medium pressure.
8. Passive range of motion exercises in dogs
Gently bend and straighten the stifle (knee) and hock (ankle) joints, using your hands, and do not go beyond the scope of natural movement currently available.
Learn more about passive range of motion exercises for senior dogs.
9. Underwater treadmill
Underwater treadmill or swimming water therapy provides a safe buoyant medium to strengthen the limb while undergoing restriction of normal walking activity.
10. Braces
External stability provided by a brace or soft support helps speed the healing process and supports the joint during activity. Dog CCL braces are an alternative to surgery in many cases though inferior to surgery for a complete rupture of the CCL.
Braces are available in prefabricated or custom forms. Custom braces require casting the dog’s hind limb and sending the removed cast to a certified orthotist for precise molding of a brace specific to your dog. Custom braces are more expensive than prefabricated types but provide superior support.
11. Regenerative medicine
Stem cell transplant injections and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are emerging as alternative treatments for non-surgical management of partial cruciate ligament ruptures in dogs. However, they are invasive, expensive, and lacking firm evidence of long-term outcomes on ligament healing. Stay tuned as more research is performed.
Back on the move in no time
If your senior dog is hobbling around, the first course of action is to pay a visit to your veterinarian. Then, diagnosis in hand, you can consider all your options both surgical and non-surgical. Ask as many questions as you need to and never forget you are your dog’s advocate and voice.
With the expert care of your veterinarian and support from your dog-loving friends and family, your senior dog will be back on the move in no time.
Has your dog had a cruciate ligament rupture?
Share your experience so we can learn together what worked and helped your canine companion the most!
Today our 10 year old shi tzu was diagnosed. with CCL after noticing her limping more over the last week and not using her back right leg.
She is about 1.5 kgs overweight and the vet advises an op and has also prescribed daily pain killer tablet.
Really appreciate your clear ‘plain speaking’ explanation of the reason which has helped me to understand her diagnosis.
Thank you, Fiona
Fiona,
Sorry to hear that your pup was diagnosed with a CCL tear. It can definitely be a lot to process so I’m so glad that the article helped you better understand what was going on with her. I wish you and her all the best as you navigate this new diagnosis. ❤️
My 9 year old 13 lb. Poodle/chihuahua has a fully torn ACL according to vet. I took her the second day after she came back from outside with right back leg limping. He suggested rest/anti inflammatories to try. Other option is surgery.
He did say she will get arthritis. I would like to avoid surgery if possible but don’t want to risk more damage if the rest does not work. So what does that mean for her if surgery is not done? Will she be able to walk normally and without pain? Thank you
Hi Karen,
I am sorry your little pup has injured her knee. It is possible for some dogs to make a full recovery without surgery, but this usually involves pretty intensive physical therapy for several months. The main goal is to reduce inflammation and pain and allow the body to put scar tissue around the joint to help keep it stabilized. Of course, the joint will never be completely normal again, but some dogs are able to obtain close to normal mobility. You may want to ask for a consultation with the surgeon just so you have all the details and know what options are available. I will attach links to other articles with more information. Hoping you can get the answers you need to find a clear path forward. Best wishes to you and your sweet girl.
1. Dog Torn ACL Treatment Without Surgery: A Rehab Vet’s Approach
2. TPLO Surgery for Dogs with a Torn Cruciate Ligament
3. Torn ACL in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Surgery Options
4. A Veterinarian Answers Your TPLO Recovery FAQs
One day after a walk, My 3 1/2 year old 16 pound JRT X began to “sloppy sit”. He was also reluctant to sit, climb stairs, or jump on the couch. In addition, he was having great difficulty rising from a laying position. He never exhibited a limp and was very eager to walk. The examining veterinarian suspected he had a partial CCL tear. His knee felt stable. Rest and meloxicam were recommended.
Three weeks later, when we returned to Canada from the US, we consulted with a rehab veterinarian. X-rays of the knees were obtained and a very small effusion was noted on the affected knee. A rehab plan was put in place, Including meloxicam, UC II, omega 3s, home exercises, laser therapy and assisi loop. He was not a fan of UWTM and it was aborted because his gait was so awkward.
We are now 12 weeks post injury. We have gradually increased leashed walks. On three separate occasions, we have experimented with discontinuing the meloxicam. He tends to go between 5 and 10 days acting normally, and then suffers a setback (The first time he developed a slight limp in his affected leg. It only lasted minutes. The second time he started to show some reluctance sitting again. And now, after being off pain medication for 9 days, he is showing lameness in the opposite shoulder.
Obviously, he is back on meloxicam and restricted activity once again until things settle down. I’m just wondering how long he can stay on pain medication? And, how do we gauge how hard to push him if he is on pain medication? My fear is that if his pain is controlled, he will soldier on we may exercise him more than we should.
Hi Jill,
I am sorry your boy is dealing with this ongoing issue with his knee. I am glad you have seen such great improvement with rehabilitation but understand your concern and frustration with these relapses. Without personally examining your boy, it is hard to make specific conclusions about his pain tolerance and offer advice on how far to push things. It is ok to use NSAIDs long term as long as liver and kidney values are being routinely monitored for changes. If your pup is not currently taking a good quality joint supplement, I would highly recommend you ask your vet about adding one to his treatment regimen. Hoping you can get the pain and inflammation under control and allow your boy to return to more normal function. Best wishes for continued healing and success. Keep up the good work.
I have an 11.5 year old bull terrier boxer mix and over the weekend my boy tore his CCL (maybe a partial tear the vet was rather vague). He is on gabapentin for a week as well as carprofen. He limps or sometimes hops on 3 legs, sometimes he walks with a bit of weight on his leg. He is able to go downstairs fine and actually can walk upstairs as well although we try to lift up his backend when he lets us. I lean towards conservative management and no surgery, #1 his age and #2, he is managing OK. He was a very active boy when he was younger but has slowed down the past year or two. I just hope he isn’t in too much pain when the medicine is over next week 🙁
Hi Erica,
I am sorry your senior guy has endured this difficult knee injury. From what you describe, it does sound like he could do well with medical management. I strongly recommend you consider rehabilitation and physical therapy to help with the recovery process. I will attach links to other articles with more information on medical management and surgical correction just so you can make a fully informed decision. Don’t hesitate to ask your vet for more pain medication if you think it is needed. You are your dog’s best advocate and know him better than anyone! Wishing you all the best of luck and praying for a positive outcome.
1. Dog Torn ACL Treatment Without Surgery: A Rehab Vet’s Approach
2. Torn ACL in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Surgery Options
3. Dog ACL Brace? Veterinarians Share Answers
4. TPLO Surgery for Dogs with a Torn Cruciate Ligament
Just want to say thank you for answering everyone.
My 8yr old pit bull *70lb* has a partial knee tear. Sometimes she keeps the leg completely off the ground and sometimes like on her walks she walks with both legs and pulls hard. I have mixed feeling the vet said sometimes surgery is the way to fix it and one bad knee can sometimes cause the other one to tear. Is it possible for a partial tear to heal without surgery?
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for the kind words. I understand your concern for your girl and think it is great you are searching for advice. Yes, it is definitely possible for a cruciate injury to heal without surgery. Now there is no 100% guarantee, but I have seen it in my own patients. Here is a link to another article with more information: Dog Torn ACL Treatment Without Surgery: A Rehab Vet’s Approach
Hoping you can find the answers you need to make the right decision for your pup. Praying for healing and wishing your sweet girl the best of luck for a full recovery.
What are your thoughts about prolotherapy for partial CCL tear?
Also, what type of activity restriction to you recommend?
Hi Julie,
Unfortunately, I do not have any personal experience using prolotherapy on my own patients. I do see how it could be beneficial for certain dogs that are trying to avoid surgery. As far as activity restriction, I focus on controlled slow leash walks once the majority of the inflammation and pain is under control. Also, stairs and jumping are a big NO. Here is a link to a recent article that discusses this topic more in depth: Dog Torn ACL Treatment Without Surgery: A Rehab Vet’s Approach
My 3 yo miniature boxer came in completely lame on left hind leg last month. it was visibly swollen 24 hrs later. The vet diagnosed a ccl rupture amd put him on pain meds. Next morning he was right as rain, full weight bearing, jumping up on hind legs, wanting to run full speed and play. We kept him leashed for a couple weeks. Weaned him off the pain meds and symptoms never returned. I took him to another ver where tplo surgery was scheduled and she said she wouldn’t feel comfortable putting him through surgery as well as he’s doing. Still no signs of any limp or favoring, perfect sit test, no signs of inflammation and completely off meds for almost 2 weeks now. This vet recommended I let him resume normal activity and said if it’s really torn, symptoms will return within a month. The ONLY thing we notice is when he’s playing frisbee, after running at full speed for a while he seems to hobble a bit on that leg just ever so slightly, and it seems to appear and disappear, not consistent. We only notice it because we are on high alert. It’s very subtle and he has no issue or hesitancy jumping in and out of the truck or stiffness/limping later in the day either. Does this sound like a ccl rupture or other soft tissue injury?
Hi Angela,
What a puzzling case! It is definitely odd that he had visible swelling and significant pain that then disappeared so rapidly and never returned. I agree that with that level of improvement, it makes sense not to go through with the TPLO surgery at this time. Without having examined him, I can’t really say with much degree of confidence what sort of injury he had. It could have been a small partial CCL tear or some other variety of ligament or muscle injury, but we may never know for sure. If you notice his subtle lameness after running for awhile starts to worsen, it may be worth trying to get an appointment with a veterinary orthopedic specialist. These doctors are amazing at figuring out some of these mystery lameness cases. Best of luck to you!
Wow! Same story here with my 1 year old golden retriever. She woke up in the morning and couldn’t bear any weight on her left hind leg. She yelped when getting on the sofa and walked around with a lame leg at the vet. X ray was taken (not the sedated special angle x ray) and orthopedic vet confirmed inflammation and partial tear. By 3pm I went to pick her up, she walked like nothing has happened. They said they didn’t give her anything and she was probably high on adrenaline due to the vet visit. Next morning she walks just fine. No favoring of her “good” leg. Even use the “bad” leg to go up and down on sofa. I indeed gave her Meloxicam in the morning so perhaps it is the drug. Now it has been 2 days and still no sign of any lameness. I follow the doctor’s order by limiting her exercise to leashed walk. She is her usual self – playing with leaves, sticks, and pulling the leash constantly. I am not sure if this is normal for partial tear of ACL.
Hi Seneca,
I am amazed your girl was able to return to normal function so quickly after her injury. While this is not typical it is possible the Meloxicam was able to reduce the inflammation enough to hide any other symptoms. Hoping the partial tear will not continue to progress to a full tear. Praying this is all in the past now and your girl can keep living her best life for years to come.
Hi Dr. Buzby,
Our 4 year old Yorkie mix (9 pounds) landed at a weird angle jumping off my lap in a hurry (to chase a bird) and cried out in pain the second she landed. It has been 9 days now, and she is still holding up her injured leg most of the time. She is still jumping up and down off the couch and I can touch her knee all over and she doesn’t flinch. We had X-rays done and the drawer test……one vet said it was a fully ruptured CCL and the second vet (looking at the same X-rays) said likely a “minor” tear. So, do we wait and see for another few weeks in case it heals, or go straight to TPLO to avoid arthritis? This is a dog that needs to be able to hop on and off beds and other furniture for the next 10+ years. Thanks!
Hi Lola,
I am sorry your little pup has injured her knee. Unfortunately, without examining your dog myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. If she is completely non-weight bearing on the leg, then I would probably lean more towards surgery. I think your best bet is to talk to the surgeon or orthopedic specialist that would do the surgery and get their expert opinion. You may also want to schedule a consultation with a veterinary rehabilitation/physical therapy specialist. They can offer therapies and treatments to not only decrease pain and inflammation but also strengthen the weakened muscles and improve the use of your dog’s injured leg with or without surgery. How is your sweet girl doing today? Hoping things have improved and wishing you both the best of luck for many happy days ahead.
Our 14 1/2 year old Shihtzu Maltese has a complete CCL tear in his right leg and a partial in his left. The left occurred approximately six weeks ago, and as we were trying conservative therapy he developed a complete tear in the right last week. The surgeon is recommending surgery on both of his legs and we are unsure what to do. He is overweight, not very active in general. and is happy with a short walk every day. At this point however he is unable to walk at all and needs to be carried everywhere. Other than his weight (approximately 20 pounds) he is otherwise in generally good health, as we have just recently had bloodwork done on him with only a mild elevation in his kidney and liver values that the vet said he was not concerned about. We are unsure what to do. We are concerned about the recovery from this surgery, however with tears in both legs and an inability to walk at all right now, I am concerned that conservative therapy may not help him as he does not have a “good” leg to support him. If we do decide to go the surgery route, the doctor said he could do one at a time or perform both at the same time. Is this surgery something you would put a dog at his age through, and if so, would you have both legs done at once , or would you have the surgeries performed separately? Appreciate your thoughts.
Hi Margo,
I am so sorry your senior guy is dealing with knee issues in both rear legs! I know you are worried about the risks of anesthesia, but age alone is not a reason to avoid surgery. Here are two other articles with more information about this exact topic:
1. Is My Dog Too Old for Surgery?
2. Is My Dog Too Old For Anesthesia?
Since your dog is in so much pain and cannot walk on his own, I am not sure you have many options other than surgery. Without surgical correction of his injured knees, you may be facing decisions about his quality of life. If your dog was able to partially use one leg, then having one surgery at a time might be a good option. But because your boy cannot use either leg, it could benefit you to have them both done at the same time and shorten the recovery time. Without examining your dog, myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. These are great questions for your vet or the surgeon who would perform the knee surgeries. I also highly recommend you get in touch with a veterinary rehabilitation professional. They could be extremely helpful prior to surgery and especially after. I hope you find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your senior guy. Praying all goes smoothly and he is back to living his best live very soon!
my 7 year old make stafy has a partial c
ligament was considering surgery but he seems to be doing OK on jetamine infection monthly he’s walking on it even wants to run at times one vet advised against another said yes dint no what to do I don’t really want to put him through it if can cope without he’s 22k any advice plz
Hi Margaret,
I understand why you are concerned about this partial cruciate ligament tear in your pup. Without examining your boy, myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions and recommendations. I am glad he seems to be doing well with the monthly injections. If your dog is walking well, able to do his normal activities, and enjoying life, then it may be ok to forgo the surgery for now. Ultimately, you have to find a vet you trust and let them guide you through this process. Listen to your own instincts as you know your dog better than anyone. Wishing you and your sweet boy nothing but the best.
Hi. My 55 lb. GSD had TPLO back in 2017.. it’s a great surgery and she recovered fast. She’s now 12.5 and has a partial tear on the other leg., Her surgeon recommended we do another TPLO and a PRP “booster” at the same time because she has elbow dysplasia for which we did 3 rounds of PRP and it worked wonders. We also do PT twice a week just to keep her strong and limber, it includes massage, cold laser, dry needling, strength training and she swims once a week. She’s always been on a raw diet + supplements…. So she’s a very active and healthy girl and I want to do whatever is best for her and if that’s another TPLO I’ll do it, But I’m concerned about her age and how well she’ll recover, also if she’ll be depressed from the lack of activity she currently has even with the partial tear. Then I’m confused by what I read on non-surgical approach of building scar tissue, etc. would love your input.
Hi Keli,
I love all of the therapies and treatments you are currently utilizing to help keep your Shepherd girl going. She is lucky to have you taking such an active role in advocating for her health and well-being. There are many factors that have to be considered when deciding if a dog is a good surgical candidate. Age alone should not prevent you from pursuing another TPLO for your pup. Here is a link to another article with more information: Is My Dog Too Old for Surgery?
As for the non-surgical approach, there is much greater risk of advancing arthritis formation in the affected joint than if it is surgically corrected. The cruciate ligament is responsible for keeping the knee joint stabilized. Without an intact ligament, the body has to come up with another way to keep the joint from sliding around unnaturally. To do this, the body will attempt to fill the spaces around the joint with scar tissue. While this will help to stabilize things, it will also decrease the range of motion and cause permanent changes. I would suggest you talk to your vet or the surgeon who would perform the TPLO this time and get their expert opinion. They can let you know what would best benefit you and your senior girl. I am hopeful you will find the answers you need. Wising you the best and keep up the good work!
I have a 7 year old Labrador Retriever. He has always been a very athletic boy, running and frisbee catching at its best. which has probably led to his injury Im being told. In December 2022 he began limping after chasing our son on a snowmobile through deep snow. I took him to the vet for evaluation and they mentioned a CCL tear but didnt feel at that time that he had one and started pain meds and Anti-inflammatory. Five days later he was literally standing in the yard and yelped and immediately stopped using his leg. After an xray and exam under anesthesia, he was dx with a partial tear. At first I wanted to avoid surgery at all costs just because I hate seeing pets go through that so thus far we have tried meds and laser therapy with massage but he only seems partially better. It has been 6 weeks since the injury. So needless to say, we meet with a surgeon tomorrow 3/21 to discuss repair. My heart tells me that this will be the best way to get him as close to being able to do his things he loves. My understanding is Natural healing only creates scar tissue around th eligament which isnt strong and chances he will re-tear are high, where this should reinforce the ligament and give him a better outcome- I hope? He is in great shape and weight is perfect. Thoughts or reassurance Im making the right call for my boy? It stinks to see him not being able to go and be the active boy he is.
Hi Jennifer,
I am sorry your Lab has hurt his knee and you are having to make this difficult decision. I do usually prefer surgery for larger breed dogs. I just feel like they are able to return to more normal function after the surgical site has healed. There are many different surgical repair options for a torn cruciate ligament. Each procedure has its pros and cons and helps to stabilize the joint in a different way. The surgeon should tell you which procedure is best for your pup’s specific case. I think you will be very pleased with the outcome. Just don’t rush the recovery period and make sure you are doing the exercises and physical therapy at home that the surgeon recommends. Praying for smooth sailing and a full recovery for your sweet boy!
Our 4 1/2 year old boxer lab cross has just been diagnosed with partial tears in both hind legs. Surgery was suggested, but is priced at $6500 per leg! We can’t afford that. I don’t know how people find surgery for $2500 or less. We have her on NSAIDS and are giving her weekly injections of cartrophen. We are limiting her activity to walks, but the poor pup is a very active dog and is not enjoying this at all. In the summer she swims in the pool, but it is in the middle of winter now, and no playing in the snow for her. Any suggestions regarding rehabbing her at home?
Hi Lee Anne,
I am sorry your dog is having issues with both knees at the same time! Rehab is a great idea and should be able to give your pup a better quality of life. There are definitely some exercises and therapies that can be done at home, but without examining your dog myself, I can’t give you specific recommendations. I wouldn’t want to suggest an exercise that may do more harm than good depending on the details of your pup’s specific situation. Your best bet is to find a rehab vet in your area and schedule a consultation. They can guide you through the recovery process and let you know what treatments will be of most benefit. Your sweet girl is lucky to have you advocating for her health and well-being. Keep up the good work!
I have a 3-yr-old pit/boxer mix. At age 2, she had a partial tear of her ACL. Over a 3-4 month period, she had heat therapy and physical therapy, joint supps, and she ate lots of sardines in water, meat, veggies, etc. I had a soft knee brace on her leg and took her for short walks hoping she would heal without surgery. She did not. As a larger dog at around 60 lbs, She had fibular transposition surgery and healed well, but as soon as she healed, she got a partial tear on her other knee! Vet said at her young age, it was most likely genetic. She recently turn 3 years old and had surgery on leg 2 four days ago. The first vet charged $2500 for the ACL surgery. I found a different vet to do the same surgery on leg 2 and he charged $1000 less! It included 3 prescriptions and everything needed for the surgery along with one night’s stay at the vet. She has always been very high energy but her meds make her drowsy so she rests alot right now. She is on the mend and will get her staples out in 10 days. On her first knee surgery, it took about 5-6 months for her to completely quit limping and to heal completely. I suppose it will be another 5-6 months to recover from her recent surgery. In my opinion, the soft knee braces help some with stability, but I would recommend that larger dogs have surgery and don’t mess with trying to heal the ACL without it. Hopefully my dog will last another 10 years with no more knee troubles. I got her to hike with me, but will most likely not be taking her out on trails with hills & valleys as I believe it may be too hard on her knees as she will be developing arthritis. Plus I don’t want to risk any problems, so I will keep her on shorter walking trails and walking on pavement at the local park and around the neighborhood.
Hi Linda,
I am sorry your big girl has had so many issues with her knees. What a blessing you were able to get them both surgically corrected and give your pup a better chance for a bright future. I hope the recovery is going well and she will make a full recovery. Thank you for sharing your story and experience with our readers. I am sure this will be extremely helpful to someone else in a similar situation. Bless you and your sweet girl.
I have a 4yr old female German Shepherd with a Partial ACL.. This happened in March 2022.
Kept her “quiet” and on leash in large backyard for 8weeks. She is on Joint Max and Omega3 pills daily. She presently, as appears to the vet , is putting most weight on her leg. She is mostly an inside dog (her choice), does not appear to be in any pain. She has a carpeted den, orthopedic bed, does not get on furniture and LIGHTLY plays with a ball at any chance. No throwing any distance where she has to run to get the ball and certainly no jumping. Mommy and Daddy do not walk her in the neighborhood due to their elderly age. On last vet visit for annual checkup he felt a little “grinding” and recommended we take her to surgeon for evaluation. Does she sound like physiotherapy and not surgery.? Really do not want surgery. Have appointment in 22 days. Really want to see what you say.
Hi Charles,
I understand your concern for your Shepherd and the want to avoid surgery if at all possible. I think physical therapy is always a good idea, with or without surgery. But I don’t like the thought of “grinding” in the joint. Your girl may be more painful than she is letting on and surgery might be the best option. My recommendation is to wait and see what the specialist says. Make sure you are honest about your wishes and let them know you would rather not pursue surgery if possible. This way you can get the information you need to make the best decision for you and your sweet girl. Praying for a positive outcome. Keep me posted!
My 5 year old English mastiff partially tore her ccl. We are trying medical management first before opting for surgery. She’s on an anti inflammatory and pain med and she’s confined to a small area. I was wondering if it would be best to have her injured leg straight or bent while she’s laying down resting. Also, how often should you keep a brace on it?
Hi Elizabeth,
I am sorry your big girl has injured her knee. I hope the medical management will be enough to get your dog back to normal function and avoid surgery. I don’t think leg position while resting makes much difference. The things that we are trying to prevent are internal rotation and the bones sliding in an unnatural way while weight bearing. I am not a huge fan of braces but realize they can play an important role in the recovery process for certain specific cases. I highly recommend you schedule a consult with a veterinary rehabilitation professional. They can let you know if a brace is a good idea and help you find one that is the best fit for your pup. Also, they can recommend exercises and other therapies to help reduce inflammation, control pain, and promote healing. I hope you can find the right combination of treatments to give your sweet girl the best quality of life. Praying for a complete recovery.
my 2 year old golden retriever injured his hock, the vet said he might have torn or partial torn his ligaments, he did an xray and didn’t find anything and manipulated the joint he heard some clicking and was abit loose. The first day of the injury he held his feet up and occasionally back down. the second day he was walking and putting weight on it with an occasional limping. Now it been a week he is walking on it and tries to run and get up the couch and bed and acting completely normal with some limping here and there. What is the best course of action. should I completely rest him with no activity at all or should i take him swimming and short gentle walks? what is the best course of action to help him heal
Thanks
Hi Mo,
I am sorry your young golden is having issues with leg pain from this recent injury. Since I haven’t personally examined your dog, I can’t make specific recommendations. Your best bet is to have him evaluated by a veterinary rehabilitation professional. They can let you know if his current condition is normal for his stage of healing or if some intervention is needed. Ideally, rest would be the best idea during the first stages of recovery. As a dog progresses toward regaining more function, short gentle walks are best. Although swimming is good because it doesn’t require the dog to bear weight on the affected limb, it also doesn’t allow a full range of motion for the joints. Walking uses more of the normal range of motion than swimming. Jumping is probably not a great idea depending on how much inflammation is in the injured joint. Your vet should be able to help guide you in this recovery process but may need to re-evaluate your pup. I hope your sweet boy makes a full recovery and can get back to living his best life. Best wishes to you both!
My dog has a cranial cruciate ligament tear. Would casting the leg to immobilize the ligament help in the healing process if surgery is not an option rather than a brace?
Hi Camille,
The goal of medically managing a cruciate tear without surgery is to reduce inflammation and pain. The ligament itself does not really “heal” as ligaments have a very poor blood supply. Unfortunately, while casting would immobilize the leg and help reduce inflammation, it will also immobilize the muscles. If the leg muscles are not being used and cannot flex and extend in their normal range of motion, they will start to atrophy and become weakened. This is similar to what you see with people after a cast is removed from a broken arm or leg. For this reason, a cast is not a good option for dogs with a cruciate tear. I hope you can find a treatment that works for you and your dog. Best wishes!
Thank you for your informative blog and advice. My dog had a partial ligament tear around 8 months old. He was jumping off the couch when he began holding his leg up. They are a very active and athletic dorkie (half dachshund and half Yorkie). Loves to fetch balls and to play frisbee at the park each day as well a tugging on his flirt pole on our tile floor. After the initial injury was evaluated he was on crate rest for a month and started to improve but his limp still returns occasionally after he has been very active. Sometimes after tugging or park visits. They said it could just be arthritis from the initial injury and that full healing could take several months. Besides taking him to a chiropractic vet and getting a second opinion on wether surgery is necessary there have been no other treatments recommended. It will be almost a year since his injury next month and we are wondering what else we should do. He’s doesn’t appear to be in pain and will hold his leg up off and on after too much exertion/exercise. Then once he rests he is fine again. Would water therapy help or should we get him reevaluated again (maybe with an MRI this time) as they only did an x-ray and physical exams initially?
Hi Julie,
I am sorry your pup is having ongoing issues with his leg. I do think it would be a good idea to have him evaluated by a veterinary orthopedic specialist. Although it isn’t impossible, it is rare for a dog to tear a cruciate ligament at such a young age. It makes me worried that there could be other issues at play that might not have been apparent when the first diagnosis was made. Scheduling a consult with a rehabilitation veterinarian would be a good idea as well. They could give you some suggestions of exercises to do at home that can help strengthen the affected joint and help reduce inflammation. They may even be able to prescribe a medication on supplement that would be of some benefit. I hope you can find the help you need to allow your little guy to live his best life. Best wishes and good luck!
Thank you so much for your response and advice. I’m wondering too if it’s another issue. I should have mentioned we got a second opinion from another vet, who supposedly specializes in orthopedics when exploratory surgery was mentioned as an option with our initial vet. They recommended more rest and possibly physical therapy but only did a physical evaluation and hinge test. I think I need to advocate for further diagnostics. We will be returning to this vet for another re-evaluation soon and starting physical and water therapy. Thank you again!!!
My 6 year old male Pembroke Welsh Corgi has just been diagnosed with a partial tear of his cruciate ligament – I don’t know if caudal or cranial. No diagnostic imaging was performed. The recommended plan is a month of rest and then physiotherapy. Our vet also put him on a Meloxicam product for a week. During this period of 4-5 weeks of rest would heat or cold compress treatments of the stifle be of value if I performed them for him? Also when I take him back for re-assessment in a month should I ask for any diagnostic imaging to be done?
Another concern is about the likelihood of recovery to the point where he can continue the performance sports he is involved in.. He is a fit and very rambunctious boy who is also very active in a variety of dog sports.
Thanks for any advice you can share.
Hi Ellynne,
I am glad to hear your Corgi just has a partial tear and has avoided surgery for now. I am also happy to hear that physiotherapy is in the treatment plan for the future, but your dog could probably benefit from some rehabilitation therapy during his weeks of rest as well. Cold compresses are great for reducing swelling and inflammation during the first few days after the initial injury. After the inflammation has subsided, warm compresses are good to increase blood flow to the injured tissues to promote healing (laser therapy does this too). Your vet will probably evaluate how well your boy has responded to his treatment and then decide if imaging is needed or not. There is a good chance that your pup will return to normal function, but I have some concerns about performance sports. Make sure you let your veterinary rehabilitation specialist know what his performance goals are so they can either tailor his treatment plan to reach these goals or advise you if the goals are not attainable. I wish you both the best for a happy future and hope your sweet guy has a quick recovery.
My 15 week old puppy has began limping. We took him to the vet and she said he has damaged his cruciate ligament, she didn’t say if it was a tear or anything and I asked but she said she couldn’t tell on the X-rays. However she did say there was abnormal movement in the limb and she could see possible small onset of arthritis around the limb.
But he seems extremely energetic, his limp is on and off and doesn’t happen 24/7. He doesn’t cry about it, nor does he moan when I touch it ect.
I have been told to put him on bed rest and they have said he should have surgery and laser treatment. But I am on the fence about spending all the money when he seems fine.
What should I do ?
Hi Romana,
Sorry to hear that your puppy may have damaged his cruciate ligament. We typically see ACL tears in adult dogs, so he is quite young. It can definitely be difficult to know what to do in these situations. Dogs can be very good at hiding their pain and many of them don’t cry out or whine even when they are in pain. If he is still limping sporadically, that tells me that there is still something going on with the leg. Perhaps the best course of action would be to seek a second opinion/recheck with a different vet or with an orthopedic surgeon. They can examine your pup and look at the X-rays (which I can’t do) so they would be able to give their opinion on what they think is going on now and what the best plan would be. I hope you find some answers for your pup!
My dog has a full tear about two years ago and we had corrective surgery on it right away. Now he’s 12.5 and his other leg us bothering him. I don’t think surgery at his age is a good idea..? What do you recommend to maybe just try and maintain?
Hi Sharony,
Sorry to hear that your dog had one ACL tear a few years ago and is now facing some pain in his other leg. The first thing I would suggest is a trip to the vet to see if he does indeed have a partial or complete tear in his other ACL or if he actually has a different orthopedic problem in the leg (such as arthritis in the hip). Odds are probably pretty high that it is his ACL since many dogs do end up tearing both, but it is always good to get a clear idea of what condition(s) you are trying to manage. If he does have an ACL tear, it may be worth discussing the pros and cons of surgery with your vet. An older dog who is otherwise healthy and has normal bloodwork can still safely undergo anesthesia and surgery in many cases, so the number of birthdays he has had doesn’t automatically mean he can’t/shouldn’t have surgery. I talk about those decisions more in my blogs (Is My Dog Too Old for Surgery? and Is My Dog Too Old For Anesthesia?).
In general, when trying to manage orthopedic problems in my patients, I like to ensure they are a good body condition score (Your Dog’s Body Condition Score (BCS): Find Your Dog’s Number in 3 Easy Steps), and consider joint supplements such as Encore Mobility (learn more in The Best Supplement for Joint Pain in Dogs Is Not Just About Joints…). ensure they have a nice comfy bed to lie in, continue low impact exercise (with your vet’s blessing) to maintain muscle mass, and most of all, also seek and follow the advice of your vet since he/she knows your pet well. Hope you are able to get some answers and find some good solutions for your sweet pup!