Cruciate Ligament Rupture

The cranial crucial ligament (CCL) is one of a few ligaments located in the knee joint. Many people will know the cruciate ligament as the ACL. A ruptured cruciate ligament is the most common knee injury in dogs. In up to 30% of cases, dogs can present with bilateral ligament rupture, meaning that both knees are affected. Once the ligament is ruptured, the knee joint becomes unstable. This results in abnormal wear of the bones and cartilage and leads to degenerative joint disease and arthritis. It can also predispose the other ligaments in the joint, such as the meniscus, to also rupture.