**This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only. If your pet is sick, take them to see your local veterinarian for the care they needed** (Disclaimer)
Hey everyone! My name is Dr. Dan and TODAY we are talking about the torn ACL in a dog.
As a veterinarian I see a lot of torn ACLs in dogs. The dog ACL is the anterior cruciate ligament. Your veterinarian may also call the ACL the CCL or cranial cruciate ligament.
When a dog tears the ACL the pet owner will notice a few things. Sometimes a dog will tear their ACL during activity and sometimes it will just tear without trauma. Some dogs will tear their ACL just because their ACL is not a strong or healthy as it should be and it just tears from daily use.
When the dog tears his/her ACL the pet owner will notice toe touching. Toe touching is when a dog will put just a little weight on the back leg with the bad ACL. When an ACL tears the stifle or knee joint is not stable any longer, so the dog will not want to put much weight on the torn ACL leg.
A veterinarian will diagnose a torn ACL in a dog by testing the cranial drawer of the knee or stifle joint. If the dog is painful, the veterinarian may give the dog some sedation to test the ACL. The cranial drawer test is positive if the tibia slides forward or cranially. A veterinarian will also take x-rays to look for effusion or fluid in the knee or stifle joint.
The best way to treat an ACL tear is with surgery. Surgery for big dogs includes a TPLO and small dogs usually get an extra cap surgery done. A veterinarian will decide what is the best option. An NSAID until surgery will help keep the dog less painful until surgery.
