Being a complex joint, the knee (the stifle joint in dog terms) consists of two cruciate ligaments that meet inside the joint to help connect the shinbone and thighbone. The cranial cruciate ligament also helps stabilize the joint and prevent your dog’s bones from shifting poorly when exercising and playing.
What is the Signs and Symptoms of a CCL in dogs?
If you are present when the actual rupture occurs, you will notice the following signs: CCL tears are excruciatingly painful, and most dogs may whine, yelp, or even howl in response.
However, not every dog is as vocal about injuries, especially if he or she is suffering from degenerative and chronic joint illness.
When you hear cracking noises in your dog's joints and he walks with a pronounced limp, he may have a CCL damage. Other indications of a CCL injury include:
- Decreased activity, range of motion, or limited mobility
- Sit signs (when their hind leg extends after sitting)
- Pain responses when you touch the injured stifle joint
- Joint inflammation
- Stiffness after a walk or other exercise
Because a torn cruciate ligament is the most common knee injury in dogs, the most common symptom is a hind leg that is suddenly so painful that the dog cannot bear weight on it. If left alone for a week or two, it may appear to recover, but the knee will be noticeably swollen, and arthritis can develop swiftly. That is why, if you see any of these symptoms, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible..
If your dog has CCL, CCL brace for dogs is a good way to help support their injured knee and give it stability while they’re healing. Knee braces help keep their knee and surrounding joints in place while their body does the ‘heavy lifting’ and heals itself.
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