Summer is just around the corner and Colorado during the summertime is quite the place to be! Soon, Colorado citizens and tourists, along with their furry companions, alike will be racing to the mountains during the weekends to get their hiking and outdoors fix. However, with great weather comes a greater risk of injury for some. As the weather warms and people engage in more outdoor activities with their dogs, the chances of a dog injuring his or her leg via Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) tear dramatically increases. CCL’s are ligaments within a dog’s knee that provide stability; they function similarly to the human Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). A CCL tear is one of the most common injuries among dogs in the summer due to increased outside activity.

Who’s at risk? 

While cats can tear their CCL’s, dogs are significantly more prone to this injury. While dogs of all ages and breeds can be affected, certain dog breeds such as German Shepherds, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers are more vulnerable to tearing their CCL’s than others.  

How can you prevent orthopedic injury? 

• Maintain your pet’s body weight: Keeping your pet within a healthy weight range will reduce the amount of stress on his or her knees. 

• Reduce jumping from heights: Disallowing them from jumping on/off bigger objects will reduce their chances of tearing their CCL’s.  

• Avoid slippery surfaces: Running on wet grass or other slippery surfaces can be dangerous for dogs and increase their chances of injury. 

• Warm up: Just like with humans, it is best to have your dog warm up with light movement or play before delving into more physically demanding activities. 

How do you know if your dog tore his/her CCL? 

• Sudden and immediate yelp during physical activity. 

• Your dog is unable to bear weight on his or her leg. 

• There is swelling around his or her knee. 

What to do if you think your dog has a CCL tear. 

If you think your dog may have torn their CCL, the best thing you can do is consult a veterinarian specialist on whether a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) is necessary.  

Contact us to learn more or setup a consultation: 

Call 720-510-7707 

Email info@evolutionvet.com 

34 Van Gordon St., Ste. 160  
Lakewood, CO 80228