What is cruciate ligament injury?
Cruciate ligament injury in dogs mainly causes injury to the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), which plays a crucial role in stabilizing their knee joint. Partial tearing or complete rupturing of this ligament leads to significant pain and mobility problems for your furry friend. It is essential that pet owners in Dubai are aware of this condition, where active lifestyles can increase the risk of such injuries.
Causes of Cruciate Ligament Injury
The causes of injury to the cruciate ligament includes several factors:
Sudden Trauma:
Activities like jumping and twisting are responsible for acute injuries.
Chronic Degeneration:
With age or genetic inclination, ligaments might sustain damage.
Obesity:
Extra weight places further stress on the joints and may be fatal with regard to such injuries.
Constitutional Weakness:
Some breeds are anatomically more prone to CCL injuries.
Signs of CCL Injury
It is important to recognize the symptoms of cruciate ligament injury to seek timely help from a vet.
Commonly observed symptoms include:
- Inability to bear weight on the affected limb: Painful and 10/10 lameness score.
- Swelling: Swelling is noticed around the knee joint.
- Difficulty ambulating: Dogs may be reluctant to walk, jump or climb stairs.
- Altered sitting posture: During rest, one may notice the dog sitting with an extended leg.
- Flopping activity: This will usually be manifested by decreased play and exercise.
Importance of Specialized Veterinary Care in Dubai
Why Choose a Vet Experienced in Orthopedic Surgeries?
It is very important to see a veterinarian who specializes in orthopedic surgery for the right diagnosis and treatment for a dog with cruciate ligament injury. Clinics in Dubai specializing in orthopedics can treat your dog using advanced techniques and individualized treatment plans.
Complications of Untreated Cruciate Ligament Injury
If the cruciate ligament injury is not treated, the dog will suffer chronic pain, arthritis, and instability of the joint. Untested, these will contribute to further difficulties with mobility and sometimes, future destruction expanding the suffering and, thereby, affecting your dog’s quality of life.
Benefits of Early Intervention and Surgery
Early diagnosis and intervention are key factors in successful recovery. Surgery can restore stability of the knee joint, relieve pain, and enhance functionality. The sooner the intervention can take place, the better the long-term prospect of recovery for your dog.
Overview of Cruciate Ligament Surgery Options
There are certain types of surgical procedures available to repair injuries to the cruciate ligament.
- TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy): This involves changing the angle of the tibia to stabilize the knee joint.
- TTA (Tibial Tuberosity Advancement): This refers to the procedure of moving the tibial tuberosity to assist with stability.
- Extracapsular repair: A less invasive method of stabilizing the knee joint that uses sutures outside the joint capsule.
At VETCARE, we offer the advanced TTA RAPID surgical technique using a titanium implant from Ritta Leibner Germany. This minimally invasive procedure helps restore stability and function to your dog’s knee joint.
TTA surgery at Vetcare Orthopedic offers an effective solution for CCL tears. Here’s a video of how the surgery is performed: View here:
What is the best surgery for your dog’s condition?
The surgery will depend on many different factors, including the dog’s size, weight, age, activity level, and severity of injury. A licensed veterinary orthopedic surgeon in Dubai will help evaluate the variables involved to choose the best method.
Preparation for your Dog Before Surgery
Surgical preparation is the basis of the success of the surgery. Here are some steps to be taken:
- Consultation: Schedule a pre-surgery consultation with your vet to discuss your concerns. Your pet might have to have a sedation in order to evaluate and confirm CCl rupture. At the same time, radiographs will be taken for further implant measurement and fitting the right implant size.
- Pre-operative tests: Your veterinarian may recommend blood tests or imaging studies to assess the dog’s overall health.
- Pre-surgical preparation: Your veterinarian should provide instructions regarding food and water before the surgery.
- It is also extremely important that the dog remain calm before the surgery. Spend some time together with the dog, and help it out with a favorite toy or blanket.
Post-Surgery Recovery Expectations
Post-operative recovery usually follows with rest, analgesics, antibiotics and a gradually paced rehabilitation. The veterinarian will guide you and give you detailed information on the recovery , wound monitoring and post surgical guidelines how to increase your pet activity gradually knowing what limitations to put on activities to facilitate healing.
- In the first 24 -72 hours after surgery, about half of all dogs get up and walk on their injured leg following a low-invasive TTA procedure.
- Most canines progress to walking with weight-bearing provided on the injured leg by two weeks after surgery.
- Most dogs will not visibly limp or have an abnormal gait by about ten weeks.
- Most dogs are expected to walk normally and resume play within four months of the surgery, excluding very vigorous activities.
- Most dogs will be able to resume full activity by six months.
Post-Surgery Care and Recovery Tips
Managing Your Dog’s Pain and Mobility Post-Surgery
It’s very important for you to observe your dog’s pain level after surgery and follow your vet’s instructions in choosing the right pain meds dosage that must be given. Furthermore, restrict activity during the initial healing phase to ensure maximum recovery (detailed post-surgical guidelines will given post-surgery)
Recommended Rehab Exercises and Physical Therapy
Gentle rehabilitation exercise helps the process of recovery. Work closely with your vet to determine what is best for your dog.
Follow-up visits and Progress Monitoring
Regular follow-up visits are of utmost importance if you want to supervise the process of recovery in your dog. Your veterinary surgeon will ascertain the recovery and if adjustments are required.
Tips for Maintaining Your Dog’s Joint Health
- To prevent further injury to the cruciate ligament, maintain a healthy weight through a good diet and exercise.
- Take them for movements that cause low impact but cause building up of muscles and supporting the joints.
- Avoid games that are highly intense and require direction shifting.
- Consider joint supplements that would help promote ligament health.
Top Veterinary Clinics in Dubai for Cruciate Ligament Surgery
Vetcare Dubai
Vetcare Dubai has gained a significant reputation in advanced orthopedics and possesses a set of very knowledgeable veterinarians devoted to treating cruciate ligament injuries. Our orthopedic department is also supported with the latest facilities and techniques to ensure the highest standard in the well-being of your pet. With a considerable amount of success stories from happy clients attesting to their expertise in handling cases, Vetcare Dubai would be a commendable option for your dog, should surgery arise as necessary.
Prioritizing your dog’s joint health now should ensure they remain active and happy for many years to come! If your dog is experiencing hind leg lameness, occasional lameness or severe lameness book a consultation with Vetcare Dubai today.
Cruciate ligament injury, kneecap luxation along with hip dysplasia should be taken into consideration as the main factors of hind leg lameness.
Our experienced team is at-the-ready to provide expert care catered specifically for your furry friend!
