CCL Tear In Dogs
Have you ever heard of the ACL in humans? You may have watched a basketball, soccer, or football game and seen this knee injury happen. The ACL plays a crucial role in knee stability in humans, just as the cranial cruciate ligament, or CCL, does in dogs. CCL tears are actually the most common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs. Trauma, however, is rarely the cause of CCL tears versus chronic degenerative changes resulting in partial or complete rupture. The good news is that even with an injury to the CCL, your dog can get better!
When the CCL is injured, you may observe a number of symptoms in your pup:
- Swelling
- Limping
- Reduced movement in the knee
- Cracking noises in the knee
- Reluctance to exercise or having the knee touched
- Weight shifting to one side when standing
- Hind leg extended when sitting
Please note that these symptoms alone are not enough to make that diagnosis. A combination of observation, palpation, manipulation, special tests, and radiographs must be done by a veterinarian to rule in or rule out the condition in order to develop a proper treatment plan.
Who is likely to get a CCL tear?
Trauma can and does result in CCL tears, but 80% of cases are actually due to degenerative changes that happen over time among dogs aged 5 to 7 years. In dogs under 4 years old, acute tears, or tears caused by injury, are more common. Larger and giant breed dogs are more susceptible to CCL tears, but they can happen in any dog, no matter the size.
Without proper care for CCL ruptures, it can lead to progressive osteoarthritis and even meniscal tears, resulting in more pain, reduced quality of life, and increased difficulty doing the things they love to do. A CCL injury does’t have to hold back your pup from living their best life! Intervention options vary, but canine rehabilitation guided by a certified canine rehab professional remains a crucial component to recovery.
The good news is that your pup CAN get around better even if he/she already has a CCL tear! If you want to know what it costs, and what availability we have, then please just click the button below and complete the short form:
What to do if your dog has suffered a CCL tear: surgery, physical rehab, or both?
There are several factors that need to be considered in order to answer that question. Every dog is different. By consulting with both a veterinarian and a canine physical therapist, you will have a better idea of which route will be best for your pup to take. These are some factors that your pup’s healthcare provider will take into consideration to determine the best plan of care:
- Age
- Energy level
- Weight
- Full vs. partial tear
- Presence of a meniscus tear
- If the other knee if affected or not
The good news is that most cases can be managed very well provided that you are working with a certified canine rehab professional. In some cases, however, such as in dogs who are young, very active, and have a full CCL tear along with a meniscus tear, it is more likely that surgery will be necessary followed by rehabilitation to promote a full return to high-level functional activities like running and jumping to higher surfaces.
Whether surgery is indicated or not, rehabilitation should always be included and provided by a certified canine rehabilitation professional. A canine physical therapist in particular has extensive training in rehabilitation and can prescribe the most appropriate exercises in the optimal dosage specifically tailored to your pup’s needs.
TheK9PT has treated numerous pups with CCL injuries along with their pet parents and achieved great results!
Be sure to download our free CCL recovery guide for more information!
Post-Surgical ACL/CCL Care
ACL/CCL Conservative Management
Success Stories
Here are some of the happy stories we would like to share with you from some of our clients:
Emma, a 9-year-old Husky, had undergone two TPLO surgeries to repair her torn CCLs and suffered a leg fracture as a complication of one surgery. Her rehab at another facility consisted of underwater treadmill and laser, and overtime she developed an iliopsoas strain. This was likely due to poor body mechanics that were reinforced by her continuous use of the underwater treadmill. She began therapy in February of 2018 with TheK9PT with the initial focus placed on correcting the tightness and stiffness in her spine caused by poor body mechanics. She was then given an intense and progressive exercise program with therapy provided twice per week, tapering down to now once per month as part of our V.I.P. (Very Important Pup) wellness program. Her dad, Justin Larkin, has said that she is doing “the best she’s been doing in 3 years since her first surgery!”
Bisco, a 6-year-old lab/collie mix, suffered a partial CCL tear in November of 2018, and his family wanted to avoid surgery. Working with TheK9PT from January to March of 2019, Bisco gradually progressed with his exercises and walks to gain strength without any setbacks! Thankfully he has been able to avoid surgery, and his person, Jenna Bartelo, has said that he has made “an amazing recovery.”
Lilly, a very active, 6-year-old Labrador, tore her CCL in March of 2018 and underwent non-surgical treatment with wonderful results. Unfortunately, she tore the same ligament again and was not doing very well. We worked with her for 3 months, once again focusing on a progressive exercise program to first teach Lilly how to fully use her leg again, and then to build up the strength she needed to return to her favorite activities. Her mom, Mary Ulliman, was happy to report that she can “walk, run, jump, swim, and play like she used to,” and that they are back to their “romping and adventures all over the country.”