The most common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs

What is Cruciate Disease?

Cruciate Disease (CD) in dogs refers to instability of the cruciate ligament in the knee.

The cruciate ligaments are like little ropes attached to the bones inside the joint.

They keep the joint stable and stop the knee from moving back and forth.

In dogs with CD the ligament may be torn or frayed, or it may have been completely severed.

This makes the knee unstable, causing pain and swelling.

If the knee is not stabilised then the dog will develop long term painful arthritis.

How does the Cruciate ligament work?

The cruciate ligament is a tough band of tissue in the middle of the knee joint.

It stops the upper leg bone (femur) from slipping backwards and the lower leg bone (tibia) from shifting forwards.

When the cruciate ligament tears the knee becomes unstable.

How do dogs get Cruciate Disease?

Sometimes the cruciate ligament tears due to an accident or injury.

When this happens your dog will be suddenly very lame.

They may cry and not want to walk on the sore leg.

The knee joint will be swollen.

MOST cases of cruciate disease develop more gradually: the ligament gradually starts to wear away, like frayed rope.

When this happens your dog may start to limp more gradually, over the course of weeks or months.

The limp may be most noticeable after they get up from lying down, then seem to go away as they move around.

This may continue for months.

Pain relief and rest often make the dog feel better, but the limp returns when pain relief is stopped.

Why do dogs get Cruciate Disease?

Vets don’t always know why dogs develop cruciate disease.

In the case of an injury it is easy to know what has happened.

Dogs where the cruciate ligament frays gradually, the cause is not obvious.

Some breeds and family lines seem prone to developing cruciate disease, so vets think that there
may be a genetic cause in some dogs: i.e. if your dog’s mum or dad had cruciate disease then your dog is more likely to have it as well.

Other things that make your dog more likely to get cruciate disease include being overweight and the shape of their legs and joints.

Dogs that have had cruciate disease in one knee are highly likely to get it in the other knee.

How is Cruciate Disease treated?

If your vet suspects that your dog may have cruciate disease, then they will need to be examined under sedation or anaesthetic and have xrays to confirm the diagnosis.

Your vet will take xrays of both knees, as many dogs have cruciate disease in both knees, even if just one seems painful.

Xrays also help to check for other conditions that may make treating cruciate disease more difficult, such as a slipping kneecap or hip dysplasia.

The best way to treat cruciate disease is with surgery.

Surgery stabilises the knee, making your dog more comfortable.

It also reduces the arthritis that will develop in the joint.

Surgery will be more successful the earlier it is done.

There are several surgical options to stabilise the joint and you should discuss the best option for your dog with your vet.

Cruciate Ligament Surgery

Vets have tried lots of ways to treat cruciate disease, but one of the most successful treatments is called a TPLO.

In this surgery a piece of bone from the tibia is cut and rotated into a new position to make the top of the tibia
flatter.

This stops the femur from slipping backwards.

The bone is held in place with a metal plate while it heals.

Recovering From Cruciate Surgery

Although the thought of your dog having major surgery can be scary, it is the best way to get your dog back to his normal activity.

Here are a few things to know:

• Cruciate surgery is done in one day and your dog may not need to stay in hospital overnight.
  
• Your dog will need strict rest for the first couple of weeks.
  
  This is easiest if your dog rests in a crate or very small room, only going out for the toilet.
  
• After the first couple of weeks your dog can start very gentle walking: SLOW lead walks of 5-10 minutes at a time.
  
• Walks can be increased by 5-10 minutes each week.
  
• Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy (physio in a pool or water treadmill) will help your dog make a faster and improved recovery.
  
• If all goes well, your dog may be back to normal activity within 4-6 months.

Can I prevent Cruciate Disease?

Unfortunately if your dog is prone to cruciate disease then there is nothing you can do to change that.

Dogs who are overweight are more prone to cruciate disease, so keeping your dog at a healthy weight will help to reduce his risk.

If they do develop cruciate disease then being a healthy weight will make surgery safer and help him to
recover faster.