The first warning sign of strains or sprains may be that your dog starts to limp or is suddenly lame, meaning they can't use their leg. If this lasts more than a day or so, or if it happens again and again, it's time for a visit to the vet.
The answer to the question is yes, dogs do have ACLs, and yes, just like human athletes, dogs can tear their ACL. Because dogs walk on 4 legs we call the ACL the CrCL or cranial cruciate ligament. This ligament is found inside the knee (also called the stifle).
If your dog has obvious trauma to its legs such as bruising, bleeding, or not able to walk at all, you need to see your vet as soon as possible—many causes for limping need to be addressed in the first 24 hours for a successful outcome.
Rest and confinement are best for healing.If this is the case for your dog and the limping is not severe, try to keep him quiet and comfortable. Encourage your dog to rest and do not take him for a walk or run. Do not allow your dog to exercise or jump up. Avoid stairs or carry him up and down the steps.
Nonsteroidal
anti-
inflammatory drugs, or
NSAIDs, help reduce swelling, stiffness, and joint pain in humans, and they can do the same for your
dog.
There are some of the available NSAIDs just for dogs:
- carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl)
- deracoxib (Deramaxx)
- firocoxib (Previcox)
- meloxicam (Metacam )
If your dog is in pain they may:
- Show signs of agitation.
- Cry out, yelp or growl.
- Be sensitive to touch or resent normal handling.
- Become grumpy and snap at you.
- Be quiet, less active, or hide.
- Limp or be reluctant to walk.
- Become depressed and stop eating.
- Have rapid, shallow breathing and an increased heart rate.
Limping or lameness in dogs can range in concern from a minor bruise or object stuck in paw to a serious injury or condition. If your dog limps on and off, it may be due to joint pain common in older dogs, or it could be your dog's ability to mask pain.
If your pet won't put any weight on a limb, or it is visibly misshapen or deformed, see your vet immediately! If it's not clear what could have happened or what is hurting- you can start with your own diagnosis.
Dog Sprained Leg PrognosisWhile a sprain is more serious than a simple strain, most dogs make a full recovery from a sprained leg. The biggest challenge most pet parents face is convincing their active and energetic canine companions to take it easy for the roughly six weeks it takes for a sprain to heal.
Treatment of Sprains in DogsGrade I sprains generally only need minimal care, although they can take several weeks to heal correctly. They are often splinted to prevent movement, and anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed, but the joint generally heals fully.
For soft tissue injuries, your veterinarian may need a CT or MRI to pinpoint the damage. Never exercise a lame dog. In fact, the dog must be allowed to rest completely for a few days, and up to several weeks. When the lameness subsides, continue resting the dog for at least another 24 to 48 hours.
Limping, whining, yelping and other signs that your dog is hurting will make you want to take steps to comfort him and help his pain right then and there. But if his leg is broken, trying to examine or treat his injury on your own could only make things worse.
Clinical signs of muscle tears include pain on palpation (examination by touch during a physical exam) of the injured area, lameness or limping, swelling of the muscle, and/or bruising. If the tear is mild, the clinical signs may be difficult to detect.
Can I walk my dog if it has a limp? You should rest your dog for at least two days if you notice a limp. Rest means lead exercise only and short 5 -10 minute walks at a time.
Practice heel strike and one leg standing with knee and hip control (no sinking to one side). Walk up and down hallways (ideally with a mirror at the end of it to help correct side to side waddle) several times a day practicing normal sized strides and minimizing side to side waddle. Touch walls if needed for balance.
If you do not have sugery for your dog with cranial cruciate ligament rupture, there is a very high risk of meniscal injury. If your dog was a bit lame but is now non weight bearing lame on the leg, there is a very high likelihood the meniscus has been damaged. A meniscal tear is a disaster for the stifle (knee).
The approximate cost can range from $3,500-4,500. In addition to the financial consideration of surgery, there is also the time and supervision required for post-op recovery and rehabilitation. Healing time can include complete inactivity for 8 to 12 weeks.
With an ACL lesion, an X-ray will reveal stifle effusion, caudal capsular distension, various levels of degenerative joint disease and sometimes calcification of the insertion of the ACL on the tibial plateau. “Saying that ACL tears are not diagnosed on radiographs is not totally accurate,” Paré says.
Diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament rupture is usually made by a positive cranial drawer sign. In this test, the dog's knee is slightly bent and anterior pressure is applied to the distal femur while posterior pressure is applied to the proximal tibia.
Some dogs take up to six months to return to their normal level of activity after suffering a CCL rupture. The most essential part of the healing process is restricting your dog's movement. Too much activity can lead to delayed healing, soft tissue injury, or implant breakage.
Brumett said dogs who have a cruciate ligament rupture that don't have surgery, rehab or bracing can develop some level of stability on their own in six to 12 months – but these dogs typically are not comfortable going on long walks, running or jumping. With a brace a dog can be back out playing in a just few weeks.
Firstly, it is an unfortunate truth that rarely, if ever, do large breed dogs with an early, partial CCL tears, fully recover without surgery.
What happens naturally with an ACL injury without surgical intervention varies from patient to patient and depends on the patient's activity level, degree of injury and instability symptoms. The prognosis for a partially torn ACL is often favorable, with the recovery and rehabilitation period usually at least 3 months.
In the immediate post injury period I recommend several techniques to help these dogs feel better. First icing the knee 3-4 times per day for 10-15 minutes is helpful. You can make a very effective icepack using 2 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol in a Ziploc freezer bag.
A torn ACL requires rest, immobilization, and often surgery for repair. The Cruciate Care Knee Brace acts as a CCL brace or ACL brace for dogs and offers therapeutic support and stabilization before and after surgery. It is also useful in cases when surgery is not necessary or feasible.
Up to 80% of the knees will eventually develop a cartilage tear. The smooth Teflon lining of the knee which is known as articular cartilage is often damaged at the time of the ACL tear. If left untreated, this will again progressively wear at the knee, causing an increased rate of osteoarthritis development.
