Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Acl Injury in Dogs

Injury in the Anterior Crucial Ligament resulting in rapture and tear in the ligament is a common canine injury. ACL tear in dogs affects at least a million animals a year only in the United States of America.

Cost of standard surgical treatment for ACL injury in dogs in USA is around $3000 to $ 3500 and after receiving surgical intervention an expected rehabilitation period of around three months is required for successful results. Presently standard Dog ACL care and treatment involves two types of surgeries - LFS and TPLO. A comparatively new and less invasive treatment called Platelet Rich Plasma is also being tastes for wonderful results and it is also a less expensive mode of treatment against the surgeries.

As a matter of fact it is the unique physical dynamics of the hind legs that make dogs extremely vulnerable to tear and rapture in the anterior crucial ligament. The anterior crucial ligament torn or rapture either partially or crucially makes the joint instable. It also damages the lateral and the medial meniscus - the protective pads between the two leg bones, tibia and femur. In addition to this joint inflammation is also caused by the instability resulting pain and may cause long term damage to the leg due to arthritic changes taking place in the bones.

Any dog not putting any weight on a particular leg while standing, or limping at the time of walking slowly are the most easily visible symptom of ACL injury in dogs. Presently a combination of physical checkups and X-ray is used for diagnosing ACL tear or rapture.

Though the actual ligament is not shown in X-ray results but it shows a number of secondary symptoms that makes it possible to diagnose a torn ligament. These symptoms include presence of excess fluid both at the front and back of the joint. Bone remodeling or granulation and bone spurs (osteophytes) start to develop after three to four weeks of the injury and these are also considered as symptoms of rapture or tear in the ligament.

A physical exam procedure commonly known as 'drawer test' within the medical community is normally used for diagnosing a Dog ACL that might sometimes require the dog to be anaesthetized for proper examination. Swelling in the knee compared to that of a healthy leg is also used for determining the degree of injury or its extent as swelling in the inside part of the knee - known as medial buttress indicates that arthritic developments have already taken place and the dog is actually suffering from an ACL injury that is at least 3 to 4 weeks old.

In cases of ACL injury in dogs when the ligament is completely torn surgery is the only available option. Some holistic non surgical treatments are also available that primarily use Glycoflex, glucosamine or Omega 3's for reducing inflammation and preventing any further damage. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories may also be used along with a drug called Polyglycan for preventing the joit cartilage from wearing down. For more information and available treatment methods visit http://topdoghealth.com/.