As agile and athletic as most dogs are, a cruciate ligament tear happens to them more often than you think.
Especially with older dogs, stumbling over a hole is sometimes enough to tear one of the knee ligaments.
However, treatment is usually not a problem. How this looks like is explained in detail in this article.
Cruciate ligament tear in (old) dog: do I have to put him to sleep?
A cruciate ligament tear itself is never life-threatening and therefore no reason to put a dog to sleep.
Although it does cause pain and definitely needs an operation, it does not have such a massive impact on the quality of life of a healthy dog that putting it to sleep is a good idea.
However, in very old dogs that are no longer able to cope with an operation, the treatment is much more difficult and requires a lot of patience.
Surgery for a cruciate ligament tear: yes or no?
In fact, cruciate ligament surgery is actually the only right option for a healthy dog.
While humans can also have non-surgical treatments, a dog’s body is less able to heal adequately through conventional therapy and the treatment is also very expensive.
Without an operation, there is a high risk of consequential damage such as arthrosis or meniscus damage in addition to the ligament not healing.
In addition, a dog must absolutely protect the corresponding leg, which very few succeed in doing.
The strain can not only aggravate the tear, but in an emergency it can even tear both ligaments.
Cruciate ligament surgery is routine and therefore safe and proven.
However, there are dogs that do not tolerate operations because they are very young or very old or are not allergic to almost any anesthetic.
What are the OP costs?
The operation costs for a cruciate ligament tear are based on the publicly available scale of fees for veterinarians (GOT).
In addition to the pure fee, there are also costs for anesthesia, pre- and aftercare, material, medication and more.
Also, the fee may vary depending on the breed and health of the dog.
You can always get an exact breakdown of costs from your veterinarian.
What happens if the cruciate ligament tear in the dog is not operated on?
A cruciate ligament tear does not heal by itself without consequential damage.
Damage to the meniscus can occur, arthrosis can form or cartilage can be damaged.
In the worst case, both ligaments can even tear due to the further strain.
Are there alternative treatment options to surgery?
Some veterinary practices recommend conventional therapy for very small dog breeds, puppies and very old dogs, since surgery poses a higher risk for these animals than otherwise.
This consists of resting the joints, physiotherapy and painkillers.
However, this procedure extends the healing time enormously and carries a high risk of incomplete healing and thus the risk of consequential damage.
It is therefore not recommended.
Experiences with a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs without surgery: That’s what other dog owners say
“Milo is not the youngest anymore. When he stepped into a hole while walking and suddenly limped, the concern was great.
At the vet we had the salad: Diagnosis cruciate ligament tear. We knew Milo had to go under the knife, but at that age we felt uneasy.
Luckily everything went well. The cruciate ligament has held for a year and Milo is as fit as ever.”
“Flecksi is actually very healthy, a real athlete. She must have twisted her ankle badly while romping around in the dog park, she only hobbled and squeaked in pain.
At first I listened to my neighbor who said it was just a sprain and Flecksi should just get a few days rest. Quiet – try that with a jolly Collie!
When it didn’t get better after three days, we went to the vet after all. From because of sprain – cruciate ligament tear! I’ve had it too and I knew how nasty it was!
Luckily she could be operated on the very next day. At home there was a bit of chicken broth, compassion and calm and now she is the fastest at the dog park again.”
What is the life expectancy with a cruciate ligament rupture?
A cruciate ligament rupture does not in itself affect your dog’s life expectancy, as the knee joint is not immediately vital to him.
However, if left untreated, his quality of life suffers as it means pain for him.
Of course, an operation can also be dangerous if your dog does not tolerate the anesthetic or if the surgical scar becomes inflamed.
However, this rarely happens with such a routine intervention.
And after the healing has taken place, the story should be over for your dog.
Conclusion
A cruciate ligament rupture is not the end of the world for your dog – just the end of the walk.
It is easily treatable, but almost always requires an operation and then some rest.
This is often difficult for healthy dogs to cope with, although they will also feel that straining the damaged joint hurts them.
How did your dog deal with a cruciate ligament tear? How fast was he allowed to romp again? Tell us your story in the comments!