CHARLOTTE – Have you ever experienced an issue with your ACL? Or do you have a dog who has experienced an issue with his or her CCL? The CCL, or cranial cruciate ligament, is very similar to a human ACL. As you may know, the knee joint is designed to allow movement of the lower leg. The bone of the upper leg (femur) is connected to the lower leg (tibia) by ligaments and tendons. The cranial cruciate ligament is one of two ligaments that stabilizes a dog’s knees, crossing over the caudal cruciate ligament inside the middle of the knee. 

When a ligament such as the CCL is torn or injured, abnormal movement of the joint occurs. In the knees, the femur (thigh bone) slides back and forth over the tibia (shin bone). This causes considerable pain and often causes a tear in the protective cartilage.  Without medical and/or surgical attention, this abnormal wear and tear will lead to osteoarthritis and chronic discomfort. 

Depending on the severity of the tear or injury, a dog’s size, age, and activity level, the recommended treatment may consist of rest and medication or surgical repair. We’ll be digging a little bit deeper into what some of these treatment options look like, so stay tuned! Please contact us at (704) 256 -7576 should you need more information or if you’d like to schedule a visit for your fur baby.