Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)
What is the Cruciate Ligament
The cranial cruciate ligament is a band of tissue inside your dog's knee (the stifle). It connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and keeps the joint stable when your dog moves. It's the same ligament people call the ACL.When this ligament tears, the knee becomes unstable. The bones shift against each other every time your dog takes a step, which causes pain, swelling and lameness. It's one of the most common orthopaedic injuries we see in dogs.
What Causes ruptures
In dogs, the ligament usually doesn't tear from one sudden injury the way it does in athletes. More often it breaks down slowly over months or years until it gives way. By the time you notice a limp, the ligament has often been weakening for a while.
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Age and general wear on the joint
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Being overweight, which puts more load on the knee
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The shape of the knee, which varies between breeds
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Larger and active breeds, though it can happen to any dog
Because the underlying weakness affects both knees, a dog that tears one cruciate has a real chance of tearing the other one later.
Risks include:
Why It Matters
A torn cruciate doesn't heal on its own the way a cut does. Left alone, the unstable joint keeps getting irritated, and arthritis sets in. The sooner the knee is managed, the better the long-term comfort and function.Treatment depends on the dog, the size of the tear, your dog's weight and how active they are. Some dogs do well with surgery, others are managed without it. Your vet or surgeon will guide that decision. Whichever path you take, rehab plays a big part in the recovery.
How we Help
Rehab supports the knee whether your dog has had surgery or is being managed without it. The aim is the same: settle the pain, rebuild the muscle that supports the joint, and get your dog moving comfortably again.The treatments we usually use for CCL cases are:
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Hydrotherapy — exercise in water takes the weight off the sore knee while still building strength. The water supports your dog so they can move the leg without the full load of standing on land.
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Laser therapy — used to ease pain and inflammation around the joint and support healing.
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Targeted exercises — a set of movements matched to your dog's stage of recovery, to rebuild muscle, improve balance, and restore a normal stride.
We build the plan around your dog and adjust it as they progress. If your dog has had surgery, we work alongside your vet or surgeon's instructions.
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If you think your dog might have a cruciate problem, talk to your vet first for a diagnosis. Once you have that, we're happy to help with the recovery.
