ACL Surgery And Your Dog’s Age

ACL Surgery And Your Dog’s Age

The ACL stands for the anterior cruciate ligament which is a major ligament found in the human knee. Pups, on the other hand, have cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL) which play a major role in stabilizing the back and front of their knees.

When this ligament is injured it affects a dog’s mobility, and in some extreme cases, may lead to arthritis. With so many “what if’s” surrounding the efficacy of this surgery, it’s important for pup parents to be aware of this injury and to be informed regarding possible steps to take if their pup end’s up in this situation.

ACL surgery involves replacing a torn ligament with an artificial ligament on the outside of the knee joint. Dogs who have a ruptured ligament hesitate to put any weight on the affected leg and may limp. More visible signs could be swelling in the knee. If you decide to take your pup to the vet, they usually conduct an x-ray scan where a ligament rupture can be determined.

A CCL injury begins as a slight tear and it takes a while for some dogs to react, if left untreated it becomes ruptured and bones are fragmented. Unfortunately, there are pup breeds that are more prone to developing a CCL injury, which include; German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, and Newfoundlands. Pups that are obese or rarely exercise are also more prone to this injury.

Smaller pups with ruptured ligaments tend to heal after six-weeks without surgical treatment as they’re usually prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. Dogs weighing more than 30 pounds that undergo surgery wait two to three weeks before they can put weight on the injured leg and an additional eight weeks before they engage in any exercise.

Age bears a notable factor in deciding whether your pup should have surgery or not; if they are young and don’t have additional health issues then surgery is encouraged, however older pups (10 years and up) that also have underlying health issues aren’t recommended to undergo surgery but rather adapt this physical change to their lifestyle.

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