Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease in Dogs

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease in Dogs


The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs is the equivalent of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the human knee. However, unlike in people, where this type of knee injury is most frequently brought on by a traumatic injury or event, in dogs, the cranial cruciate ligament ruptures partially or fully due to a slow, naturally occurring degenerative process that ultimately leads to intermittent or complete lameness. The disease is also the number-one cause of rear-limb lameness and a major cause of degenerative joint disease in dogs. On this show, Dr. Dan Lewis, a veterinary orthopedic specialist, will discuss the causes of the disease, signs to look for that might indicate your dog is experiencing a CCL rupture, and why surgery is typically the preferred treatment option for disease management.

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