Cruciate Ligament Damage
The stifle joint is the joint between the thigh bone (the femur) and the two lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) it’s the quadruped equivalent of the knee in humans. The stability in the stifle joint is maintained via 4 ligaments which crisscross over to give the knee support, flexibility and movement. The cranial cruciate ligament is the ligament that connects the thigh bone with the lower leg bone.
Cranial cruciate ligament disease, also referred to as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), is the sudden (acute) or progressive failure of the cranial cruciate ligament which results in partial to complete instability of the stifle joint. The knee is one of the weakest points in the body and is prone to injuries. A common injury is a rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. This means that the ligament has been torn or even severed from it’s point of attachment to the bone making the leg weak, lame and unstable. It’s the most common cause of rear-leg lameness in dogs and a major cause of degenerative joint disease in the stifle joint. The severity of this condition is related to the degree of rupture: whether it is a partial rupture or a complete rupture. The manner of rupture is also indicative of the severity, based on whether it presented suddenly or has been a long-term (chronic) degenerative condition.
Other less serious injuries to the cruciate involve tearing of the cranial cruciate ligament which while not as severe as a full rupture, still carries with it debilitating effects and can lead to instability lameness and an inability to fully weight bear on the affected leg. If left untreated there injuries can cause permanent degenerative changes in the stifle joint.
Cruciate Ligament rupture dogs
Causes:
Degeneration and stretching of the ligament can lead to this condition, this can occur over time as with a chronic repetitive injury or it could be a sudden trauma. Even a minor trauma can be enough to cause a complete tear or rupture. Trauma can be caused by any movement that puts excessive pressure on the knee for example braking, twisting to retrieve a ball or landing wrong when jumping. If a dog suffers from an orthopaedic condition such as luxating patella it may be more prone to cruciate ligament damage. Other causes can include past injuries, past tearing, poor muscles or genetically weak ligaments.
Obesity can also increase the chances of a dog developing the condition as the ligament will become weak due to the overloading of the joint. Obesity can also slow recovery time and makes the other knees more prone to injury.
Symptoms:
Interment or consistent lameness in the rear leg
Swelling or pain in the joint
Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
Reluctance to walk or exercise
Reduction of muscle mass around the knee
Not putting weight on the affected leg when at rest; just the toe will be put on the ground not the whole paw
A creaking sound when the dog walks as bone rubs against bone
A decrease in muscle mass and weakening of muscles (known as muscle atrophy) in the rear leg – especially the quadriceps muscle group
Massage:
Minimises pain
Encourages dog to use their 4 legs equally
Helps to strengthen the affected leg
Reduces and minimises ares of overcompensation
Helps to get your dog walking again with improved mobility
Speeds up recovery time after TPLO surgery