With all that running around your dog does it's no surprise that unexpected injuries can happen. Here, our Cumming vets talk about what to expect if your dog sustains a knee injury and how it might be treated with surgery.
When Your Dog Sustains a Knee Injury
Dogs usually love to run around. While this is great for their happiness and health, there is a risk of injury.
While you can do everything you can to ensure optimal health, accidents can still happen. With running around, dogs can experience injuries to their knees and joints.
When your dog experiences knee pain or an injury, it can greatly affect them in many ways, not only affecting their health but also their happiness.
Your Dog's Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL, ACL, or cruciate) is one of two ligaments in your dog's leg that connect the shin bone (tibia) to the thigh bone (femur). These ligaments help your dog's knees to move as they are meant to.
What is tibial thrust?
When your dog has a torn cruciate ligament pain arises from instability within the knee, and a motion called 'tibial thrust'.
Tibial thrust is a sliding motion caused by the transmission of weight up the dog's shin bone and across the knee, which causes the shinbone to “thrust” forward. This forward movement happens because the top of the tibia (shin bone) is sloped, and the dog's injured ligament cannot prevent unwanted movement from occurring.
What are the signs of a dog knee injury or torn ligament?
when a dog experiences an injury to these ligaments it will affect their ability to walk and move around as well as cause a great deal of pain (although they may hide this to an extent). Other symptoms of knee injuries that you should watch for are:
- Difficulties rising up off of the floor
- Limping in their hind legs
- Reluctance to exercise or climb stairs
- Stiffness following exercise
How can surgery treat my dog's knee injury?
If your dog suffers a ligament injury they will need veterinary intervention as these typically are unable to heal with time alone. If your pup is showing signs of a torn ligament it's important to see your vet have the condition diagnosed so that treatment can begin before symptoms become more severe.
In many cases, a dog with a torn cruciate ligament in one leg will quickly go on to injure the ligament in the healthy leg due to compensating and shifting their weight.
If your dog is suffering from a torn cruciate ligament, your vet will likely recommend one of three knee surgeries to help your dog regain normal mobility.
The Different Types of Knee Surgery
There are different types of surgical procedures to treat knee injuries in dogs including:
ELSS / ECLS - Extracapsular Lateral Suture Stabilization
- This knee surgery is often used to treat smaller dogs that weigh less than 50 pounds and works by preventing the tibial thrust with the help of a surgically placed suture. The suture stabilizes your pup's knee by pulling the joint tight and preventing the front-to-back sliding of the tibia so that the ligament has time to heal, and the muscles surrounding the knee have an opportunity to regain their strength.
TPLO - Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy
- TPLO reduces tibial thrust without relying on the dog's cruciate. TPLO surgery involves making a complete cut through the top of the shin bone (tibial plateau), and then rotating the tibial plateau in order to change its angle. A metal plate is then added to the area where the cut was made, in order to help stabilize the bone as it heals. Over the course of several months, your pup's leg will gradually heal, regaining its strength and mobility.
TTA - Tibial Tuberosity Advancement
- TTA surgery involves separating the front part of the tibia from the rest of the bone and then adding a spacer between the two sections to move the front section of the tibia up and forward. This can help to prevent much of the tibia thrust movement from occurring. A bone plate will be attached to hold the front section of the tibia in its new corrected position until the bone has had adequate time to heal.
How will the vet decide on surgery to treat your dog's knee?
Your vet will do a thorough examination of your dog's knee to assess its movement and geometry. They will also take the physical aspects of your dog and their abilities into account before deciding which surgery would be best. Once your vet has done a full evaluation of your pet's condition they will be able to recommend the best surgery to treat your dog's knee injury.
What can you expect during your dog's recovery from knee surgery?
Just like any surgery, knee surgery can come with a long healing process and both you and your dog will need to be patient. While many dogs are able to walk as soon as 24 hours after surgery, a full recovery and a return to normal activities can take 16 weeks or more.
Following your vet's post-operative instructions carefully will help your dog to return to normal activities as quickly as safely possible while reducing the risk of re-injuring the knee.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.