In this article by Animal Expert we will talk about the rupture of the cruciate ligament in dogs, a problem that affects locomotion and, therefore, the quality of life; In addition, it is an injury that will cause considerable pain and therefore will require veterinary assistance., better if you are a specialized professional or experienced in orthopedics and traumatology, an essential requirement if our dog needs to be surgically operated.We will also discuss in this article what the postoperative of such interventions should look like, so read on to learn how to treat cruciate ligament rupture in dogs, which consists of recovery and much more.
This problem is relatively common and serious, and can affect dogs of all ages, especially if they weigh more than 20 kg.It is caused by a sudden rupture or degeneration. Ligaments are elements that help stabilize the joints.two cruciate ligaments: the anterior and the posterior, however, the one that tends to break most often because of its position is the anterior one, which connects the tibia with the femur, then its rupture, in this case, causes instability of the knee.
- Younger and most active dogs are the most likely to do this injury.
- As they usually break the ligament by trauma or insertion of the foot into a hole during the race.
- Producing hyperextension.
- On the other hand.
- In older animals.
- Especially from age.
- 6.
- In sedentary or obese people.
- The ligament is damaged by degeneration.
Sometimes the ligament rupture also damages the meniscus, which is like a cartilage that cushions the areas where two bones need to be articulated, such as the knee, so when the meniscus is injured, the joint will be affected and may become inflamed.In the long term, if left untreated, degenerative arthritis and permanent limping would occur.Side ligaments may also be affected.
In these cases, we will see that, suddenly, the dog starts limping, keeping the affected leg higher, narrower, that is, without supporting it at any time, or can only rest the fingers on the ground, taking very short steps.. Because of the pain caused by the rupture, the animal is most likely screaming or crying hard, you may also notice the inflamed knee, with a lot of pain if you touch it, and especially if you try to stretch it.Then, you can feel the paw looking for the focus of the injury and identify the symptoms of ruptured cruciate ligament in the dog, also observing the pads and between the toes, since sometimes the thigh is caused by an injury to the feet..
Once the knee pain is identified, we must transfer our dog to the veterinarian, who can diagnose the tear by performing a physical examination by feeling the knee, as is the case with the so-called drawer test.In addition, with an X-ray, the condition of the knee bones can be evaluated. The data we provide also assists in diagnosis, so we should inform you when the dog has started limping, how it lims, whether it decreases with rest or not, or if the dog has recently done so.has suffered a stroke, it should be noted that it is characteristic of the rupture of the cruciate ligament in the dog start with a lot of pain, which will decrease until the break affects the entire knee, at which point the pain returns from the damage resulting from the rupture, such as osteoarthritis.
Once the veterinarian has confirmed the diagnosis, the standard treatment is surgery, with the aim of restoring joint stability, if left untreated, a ruptured cruciate ligament will cause osteoarthritis in a few months, to perform this operation the veterinarian can choose from several techniques that we can summarize below:
The traumatologist, assessing the particular case of our dog, will propose the most appropriate technique for the situation, because everyone has advantages and disadvantages. For example, TPLO is not recommended for puppies due to the damage that can occur in the bone growth line during an osteotomy, whatever the technique, it is important to assess the condition of the meniscus, if there is damage it must also be treated, otherwise the dog will continue to limp after the operation, be aware that there is a risk of rupture of the cruciate ligament of the other leg during the months after the outward movement.
After surgery, our veterinarian may recommend physical therapy, which will consist of exercises that move the joint passively, of course, we should always follow your recommendations.Among these activities is the most important swimming, highly recommended if we have the opportunity to access a suitable space.It is also necessary, to get the best recovery and avoid the loss of muscle mass, keep our dog with a restricted exercise, which sometimes involves keeping him in a smaller space, where there is no possibility to jump or run, much less.Up and down stairs. For the same reason it is advisable to take it for a walk with a short collar, and it cannot be released during the postoperative period, until the veterinarian is discharged.
As we have seen, the treatment usually chosen for the rupture of the cruciate ligament in dogs is surgery, without this, in just a few months the damage to the knee will be so severe that the dog will not be able to have a good quality.However, if our dog already has osteoarthritis of the knee, is very higher or if there is any factor that makes surgery impossible, we will have no choice but to treat it with anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain, even if it is we should know that it will happen at a time when they will have no effect.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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