Ruptured Cranial Cruciate Ligament in Dogs
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When the tear is sudden and complete, lameness may be severe and such that your dog refuses to bear weight on the leg. When the tear is partial or incomplete an intermittent lameness that is more noticeable after heavy exercise may be seen. Your dog may seem more lame on some days than others.
In large dogs (greater than 30 pounds), the joint usually becomes arthritic and the joint thickens if surgical stabilization is not performed.
What to Watch For
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is generally made by your veterinarian during the physical examination. Your veterinarian will want to know whether the lameness occurred gradually or suddenly, whether it is intermittent or continuous, and whether or not it is exacerbated by exercise.
Your dog will be observed at rest, walking and trotting. The leg will be palpated (felt) and the knee joint will be evaluated for swelling, evidence of pain, thickening, "clicking" on flexion and extension, and the range of motion (flexion and extension) determined.
Specific tests to evaluate the integrity of the cranial cruciate ligament include a cranial drawer test or a tibial compression test, which are used to determine if there is increased movement in the joint. The movement in one knee will be compared to the movement in the other rear limb.
Both stifle joints may be radiographed for comparison. X-rays may show joint swelling and various degrees of arthritis depending on the length of time the rupture has been present.