What is the cruciate ligament?
There are actually two cruciate ligaments. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments provide stability to the knee. The knee joint is one of the weakest in the dogs body. Just as athletes can suffer knee injuries, so can dogs. How can my dog injure its cruciate ligament? The knee joint is relatively unstable because ligaments hold it together. Two bones, the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone) are joined by several ligaments. Sudden, excessive twisting or shearing forces on the knee may tear the cruciate ligament. When the ligament is torn, the knee joint becomes unstable and the dog cannot bear weight on that limb without considerable pain. Many dogs also tear a cartilage in the knee called the meniscus when the ligament tears. How do I know if my dog has a torn cruciate ligament? Diagnosing a torn cruciate ligament needs to be done by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will first observe the way your dog walks. Next the veterinarian will manipulate the knee to detect a
