The most common causes of an anterior cruciate ligament tears in dogs

The anterior cruciate ligament (also known as the ACL) is an important one – it connects your dog’s leg bones, muscles and knee joint. It’s basically a support structure that allows your four legged friend to live their best life, from walking and running to digging holes.

If this ligament tears, your dog will be in a lot of pain – plus, they won’t be able to undertake normal movement. A tear can result in what’s known as a wobbly leg, which lacks visible definition between the upper and lower parts.

Whilst there are a number of things that can lead to tears in the ACL, we’ve outlined some of the more common causes here:

• Excess strain on the lower legs - Dogs that spend a lot of time on their hind legs, regardless of whether they’re partially or fully flexed whilst doing so, are more likely to develop ACL tears. This is because the lower limb bone (the tibia) moves in a circular motion within the leg, which can eventually lead to the ligament snapping.
• Overweight - Unfortunately, obesity is becoming increasingly common in pets – and with it comes an increased risk of orthopaedic issues. A dog carrying extra weight places pressure on the support structure of their legs, which can lead to tearing with even the slightest of movements. Ensuring that your pet gets regular exercise can help to reduce the likelihood of obesity and related ACL tearing.
• Inconsistent exercise regime - We like to call this ‘Weekend Warrior Syndrome’ - inconsistent exercise throughout the week (such as not taking your dog for walks on weekdays but then giving them an overload of activity on the weekends) can actually result in your pet being overworked in a short period of time. This increases the risks of an ACL injury occurring. We suggest creating a consistent routine by setting aside time for a daily walk to avoid pushing your pet too far.

One of the best ways to treat ACL injuries is via surgery. MPS will be able to repair the affected soft tissue, as well as any bones that have also been damaged. A local anaesthetic is used to minimise the pain, whilst the procedure itself will only take around 30 minutes. Your pet will be completely back to normal in around 12 weeks.

If you suspect that your dog has sustained ACL damage, we encourage you to meet with our team today. We will help you to develop a unique and targeted treatment plan to see them return to full health as quickly as possible.