Structured exercise and rehab therapy are a must for any injured dog. Canine rehabilitation is recommended for most dogs with torn ligaments. Rehabilitation may be incorporated in post-operative recovery, before surgery, and as a surgery alternative.
If left untreated, a partially torn or ruptured cruciate ligament can improve within three to six weeks for most dogs, especially small ones.
Acupuncture, supplements (fish oil, turmeric, and glucosamine), swimming, and massage can also aid in your dog's recovery from a CCL tear. As with anything dog-health-related, go over the pros and cons of each option with your vet.
Although it is possible for a dog's torn ligament to heal on its own, most dogs will require surgery, lots of rest, and rehabilitation therapy to recover fully. Every dog will have a different recovery time, but expect your dog's exercise to be restricted for a few months.
The bottom line is, yes, a dog can walk with a torn ACL. However, they should never walk on it if it's unsupported, even if it's just a sprain. If you want to learn more, visit Doggy Brace today.
Unlike the ACL in people, in dogs, the cruciate ligament is load-bearing because a dog's leg remains bent while they are standing. If your dog's cruciate becomes injured or torn, your dog's knee will become unstable, reducing your pup's ability to run and walk normally and causing pain.
When a cruciate ligament tears, the dog experiences sudden pain and often holds his leg up. The dog may put the leg down and start using the leg again within a day or so, but will continue to limp for several weeks.
Exercise training improves the repair strength of ligaments but does not result in normal values twelve weeks after the surgery.
It has been described that vitamin C (VC) is important in tendon and ligament healing, mainly due to its antioxidant properties and its function as a cofactor for collagen synthesis [1,2,3,4].
During the first 72 hours, heat should be avoided to prevent increased swelling and inflammation. After about 72 hours, heat can be incorporated into treatment to increase blood flow and aid the overall healing process.
Physical therapy may include application of cold or heat, assisting the pet to move the leg through a range of motion, and massage of the affected leg or legs. Physical therapy needs for your pet will change as recovery takes place. As you can imagine, at first little activity should be permitted.
Most commonly a dog who has torn their CCL will demonstrate stiffness (typically most noticeable after rest that follows exercise), as well as difficulty rising, jumping, and/or walking without a limp. Continued activity on a mildly injured leg will cause the injury to worsen and symptoms to become more pronounced.
While surgery is most often viewed as the best treatment of cranial cruciate ligament tears, there are non-surgical treatment options. These include activity restriction, anti-inflammatories, rehab, and custom knee braces.
Contact your vet as soon as you can if you discover something painful. If you think your dog is limping because of inflammation, alternate between ice and heat packs to lower the level of swelling and discomfort. Call your veterinarian to ask them when you should be applying the packs.
You'll likely see some level of lameness in your dog, as they won't be able to put too much weight on the injured leg. A dog with an ACL tear will avoid jumping into your car or have difficulty rising from the ground.
Without surgery, the body tries to stabilize the wobbly knee with scar tissue. Unfortunately, this is hardly ever strong enough to keep the knee stable. tissue limits range of motion. The more scar tissue, the stiffer the joint — the dog or cat cannot bend or extend the knee all the way.
Ligaments heal through a distinct sequence of cellular events that occur through three consecutive phases: the acute inflammatory phase, the proliferative or regenerative phase, and the tissue remodeling phase.
Tendons and ligaments have a very poor blood supply meaning that they do not have any blood vessels that travel through them, which is what makes them very strong and resistant to stretch. This is also why the do not heal quickly, because they lack a direct blood supply.
While a torn ligament can heal on its own over time, it is best to seek out medical attention to ensure that the affected area heals correctly without a lot of excessive scarring.
Without surgery, the lameness caused by a partially torn or ruptured ACL will improve or go away completely in many dogs, especially small ones. You can expect this to happen within three to six weeks. That doesn't mean sit around and let your dog suffer for a month and a half.
A fully torn ligament, or grade 3 tear, can cause chronic pain and joint instability. Complete tears rarely heal naturally. Since there's a disconnect between the tissue and any chance of blood supply, surgery is needed. Surgery also helps the joint heal correctly and reduces the chances of re-injury.