What happens if you don’t fix a dog’s ACL? A Complete Guide

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Dog ACL Surgery Alternatives

In addition to the Ortho Dog dog ACL brace, there is a range of other conservative treatment modalities. Acupuncture, supplements (fish oil, turmeric, and glucosamine), swimming, and massage can also aid in your dog’s recovery from a CCL tear.

As with anything dog-health-related, go over the pros and cons of each option with your vet. We hope your furry best friends are back to their old selves in no time.

What are the pros and cons of the Lateral Fabellar Suture Surgery (extracapsular repair)?

The Lateral Fabellar Suture is considered an “extracapsular repair” (ie, outside the joint). This procedure is very effective for most small-to-medium sized dogs and cats. In these surgeries, the knee joint is opened and inspected. The torn or partly torn cruciate ligament is removed. If the meniscus is torn, the damaged portion is removed. A strong monofilament suture is used to tighten the joint to prevent the shearing force in the knee (tibial thrust motion) and effectively takes over the job of the torn cranial cruciate ligament. This surgery can be very effective and is typically reserved for smaller dogs or cats (often weighing less than 40 pounds). Although it’s typically the least expensive option for repair, it’s also considered the most vulnerable to failure (especially in dogs over 60 pounds). If the suture line breaks before the surgery site fully heals, a second surgery would be required.

What happens if you don’t fix a dog’s ACL?

An Introduction to Dog ACL Surgery

As a pet owner, you have a lot to think about when it comes to your dog’s health and physical well-being. When you have received a diagnosis for your dog of an ACL tear or if you’re noticing symptoms of an injury or chronic pain, Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies can be your biggest resource. We are here to help manage veterinary emergencies as well as to provide specialty veterinary support, like surgery, when you and your family veterinarian suspect that dog ACL surgery is needed.

Learning that your dog needs ACL surgery can be scary and there are several things you might like to know.

  • For a quick introduction, did you know that dogs do not have ACLs (anterior cruciate ligaments) as people do? In dogs, the connective tissue of the knee is called the CCL or cranial cruciate ligament. It is the CCL that connects the bone above a dog’s knee (the femur) to the bone below their knee (the tibia). Because many people call a dog’s ligament an ACL, for this article we will use the terms ACL and CCL interchangeably.
  • ACL surgery has been performed by highly-skilled, veterinary surgeons like our surgeon specialists here at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies for over 20 years.

    • Dog ACL repair without Surgery