Canine ACL Tears

Cranial cruciate ligament tears, also known as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are the most common orthopedic problem dogs face today. Unlike humans, untreated canine ACL tears are almost always debilitating. The problem is chronic biomechanical wear and tear. Clinical signs of an ACL tear in your dog may come on acutely or slowly and include lameness and sitting to the side. All breeds and any dog over one year of age can be affected. Definitive diagnosis is made using arthroscopy. Utilizing the appropriate surgical treatments are among the most successful procedures in veterinary medicine.

In dogs the anatomical term is Cranial Cruciate Ligament, but because most people are familiar with the human terminology, ACL will be used for this discussion.

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