Non-surgical Treatment
If it’s a minor tear, you can probably let your dog rest for a couple of weeks until he or she feels better. With proper nutrition and care, you can begin to introduce some exercises of gradually increasing intensity. No other extensive treatment will be required except for a few scheduled check-ups.
Medication, painkillers, and rest are the best way to go if the tear is not that severe. These will help reduce or manage the pain while allowing the dog to heal. Often leg braces are also used to help support the leg. A brace can also be part of post-surgery rehabilitation.
Physical therapy is also popular these days. With its successful effect on helping improve injuries and overall health, the therapy is used by itself or as a holistic treatment along with the surgery. You can expect acupuncture, massage, diet, and other treatments to be combined under this.
In extreme cases when none of the treatments work, euthanasia is also taken into consideration.
What Does ACL Injury Mean for a Dog?
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a crucial part of the knee similar to humans. Simply put, the thigh bone and shinbone are connected in the knee region where these ligaments join them. When one of these ligaments is torn it is called an ACL injury. An ACL injury can seriously degrade the quality of life that a dog lives.
What is a torn ACL among dogs?
ACL or anterior cruciate ligament is a term used for the human body. But since it’s easier to recall, it’s been used in referring to the same ligament to canines. To dogs, it’s CCL or cranial cruciate ligament. It’s a ligament that runs through the front tibia and the femur.
This ligament can tear and cause devastating pain to a dog. It can be due to hyperextension, bad breeding, excessive weight, and other reasons.
Whatever’s behind the tear, one thing’s for sure: it will hurt so badly. A torn ACL will make it impossible for the dog to stand, walk, or run without experiencing unbearable pain.
Just like in humans, torn ACLs among dogs must be treated right away. It’s usually in the form of surgery, but there are other available alternatives.
In some cases, surgery and alternatives may not be enough. In this case, putting the dog down might be a more humane option.
when to put a dog down with torn acl?
This condition often requires surgery to ease a dog’s pain, leading owners that are unable to pursue surgery to wonder; should I put my dog with a torn ACL to sleep?
ACL injuries in dogs can be complex, meaning each case will vary in terms of treatment options on the table.
In this article we will discuss the details of a torn ACL in dogs, and help you better understand when your dog may be suffering in their condition.