Home › Care Library › Health and body
Cruciate ligament tears
The most common orthopedic surgery. Degenerative, so the other knee often follows.
01The signs · 1 point›
· Sudden hind-leg lameness, often after normal activity
· Holding the leg up, or toe-touching only
· Sitting with the leg out to the side rather than tucked
· Improvement over a week or two, then relapse — this is the classic pattern and the reason people wait too long
· Thickening on the inside of the knee
· Holding the leg up, or toe-touching only
· Sitting with the leg out to the side rather than tucked
· Improvement over a week or two, then relapse — this is the classic pattern and the reason people wait too long
· Thickening on the inside of the knee
02The part people do not know · 1 point›
Because it is degenerative, a large proportion of dogs who tear one go on to tear the other, often within a year or two. Planning for that possibility changes how you think about cost and recovery.
03The options · 1 point›
Surgery — TPLO, TTA or lateral suture, chosen by size, age and surgeon — gives the best outcome for most dogs, particularly larger ones. Conservative management with strict rest, weight loss, pain relief and rehabilitation can work for small dogs, but arthritis follows an unstable knee either way. Costs run into the thousands per knee.
04What matters most afterwards · 1 point›
The rehabilitation, and it is where people undo the surgery. Strict confinement for the period you are given, controlled lead walks only, and no stairs, sofas or off-lead running. A dog who feels better at week three and is allowed to bolt can rupture the repair.
05Prevention, such as it is · 1 point›
Keep them lean — obesity is the clearest modifiable risk factor. Build fitness gradually rather than weekend-warrior bursts. And take a persistent limp seriously the first week rather than the fourth.
06Sources — check this yourself · 1 point›
· American College of Veterinary Surgeons (acvs.org) — cranial cruciate ligament disease
· Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) — the standard clinical reference, free online
· Cornell Riney Canine Health Center (vet.cornell.edu)
· Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) — the standard clinical reference, free online
· Cornell Riney Canine Health Center (vet.cornell.edu)
07Everything here is free · 1 point›
Keeping them lean is free and it is the strongest thing you can do about it.
Rosette Dog is educational and is not veterinary advice. In an emergency, contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital.
The itchy dogUpset stomach & diarrheaEar infectionsEye problemsArthritis & chronic painUrinary problemsCancer — the signsThe preventive health yearBody conditionParasitesHealth testingAnesthesia and dentalsDog food standards, country by countryUS vs European food standardsSupplements: what the evidence saysThe aging mindSpay and neuter timingDog years, properly
Free, and free of ads
Rosette Dog is live.
Add your dog and get feeding by weight, training that fits their stage, emergency red flags for their breed, and a day plan built around your hours. Works offline. No account needed.
Open the app Browse the breeds
Opens in your browser — nothing to download. Put it on your phone and it works like any other app, with no signal needed.