When we talk about the cruciate tendon in canines this is very similar to the cruciate tendon in people. The tendon is tissue that links the top leg bone otherwise known as the thigh bone to the bottom bone known as the shin bone. The tendon itself is primarily made up of collagenous fibres. When this tendon is damaged the knee can become very unstable and limits the knee movement.
The purpose of this ligament is to allow the dog to control the back and forth motion of the knee, and essential to the function of the knee joint. A torn ligament would severely limit movement from the injured leg and a majority of the weight is shifted onto the good leg.
Without correct treatment and a good recovery it is highly likely within a year, your dog would develop a similar problem in the other knee.
All dogs are prone to cruciate ligament injuries and the best thing to do to prevent this from occurring, is to keep them at the right weight and sensible exercise. One of the most common causes is where the owner will throw a ball and when chasing the ball the dog does a sharp turn. It is best on this occasion to let the ball come to a rest and then allow your dog to retrieve the ball.
If your suspect that your dog has a cruciate ligament injury - ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament) it is recommended to go and see your vet immediately. The symptoms to look out for include but not limited, limping after strenuous exercise in the park, difficulty in getting up when lying down, not putting weight on one leg, swelling in the knees and clicking.
There are two ways to treat a cruciate ligament injury and your vet will recommend the most appropriate based on the severity of the injury. One way is a non -surgical way known as ”conservative” treatment or the other option is through surgery. With the conservative treatment, this is rarely recommended by vets and is largely dependent on the size of the dog, weight and how server the tear is, the vets recommendation includes strict rest, pain relief, alternative therapy such as hydrotherapy and physiotherapy and weight control. At Quincysdogs, we care for each and every dog and feel the anguish the owners go through. Our GenX harness was specifically designed as an aid for dogs suffering from ailments such as cruciate ligament injuries, arthritis, spinal injuries and much more.
The Genx harness is a strong and lightweight harness, which is extremely easy to put on and take off, with only two clips to attach. The harness has extra padding on the neck strap, chest strap and tummy strap, to avoid chaffing. There are strong padded handles on the front section of the harness and also on the rear section of the harness. Additionally, there is a D ring on both the front and rear of the harness.
When a cruciate ligament injury occurs the dog will bear most of their weight on the functioning rear leg.This is how very often within a year; the dog develops a similar problem on the good leg.To avoid the possibility of this happening, the dog would need assistance.The back handles on the GenX harness are designed so you as the walker can assist your dog on walks. By using the back handles you are able to support your dog, by taking some of the weigh off. For more information please contact us directly or look at our videos at www.quincysdogs.co.uk