

The veterinarian will make a recommendation regarding tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery. These tools will help determine the extent of the damage and rule out other causes. Your vet will complete a comprehensive physical exam on your dog as well as take X-rays.

What to Expect at the Veterinarian’s Office While the above signs could be an indication that your dog has suffered a minor injury that could right itself without further intervention, prolonged periods of swelling, lameness and/or a reluctance to put weight on a leg indicates that a visit to the veterinarian is in order. Depending on how severe the injury is, symptoms of a torn ACL include swelling on the inside of a knee, lameness and the inability to bear weight on that leg.

Signs that Your Dog Might Have a Torn ACLĪs a dog owner, you might see your pet display several troublesome signs that could indicate that an ACL injury has occurred. That is, though your dog might injure his ACL while doing a normal activity, such as running in the yard, it is likely that this ligament was torn because it was already compromised. In the case of dogs, however, a torn ACL is often the result of a degenerative injury that occurs in a ligament that is already abnormal. This is because such an injury often occurs when an athlete’s knee moves in ways that aren’t expected such as when landing from a jump or during sudden changes in direction. Torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) in people get a great deal of attention in the media - especially if you keep up on the latest happenings in the sports world.
