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.
Signs & Symptoms of ACL Injury
You may notice your dog is limping and/or carrying one of his/her back legs. If a trauma has occurred to the ACL, you will notice your dog in a fair amount of pain, and having a great amount of difficulty walking on one of his/her back legs.
Causes of ACL Injury
The most common cause of a torn ACL is injury related to, 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.
Diagnosis of ACL Injury
Your veterinarian will palpate the knee and manipulate the joint with hands. They will most likely want to do a series of x-rays to confirm an ACL tear diagnosis.
Treatment for ACL Injury
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. For most dogs this is successful.
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