My poodle injured her leg, now can't walk. Could it be an ACL?

Thanks for using PetCoach! I'm sorry to hear about Xena. So if the position you describe (with the hurt leg extended) is when she is SITTING, I am most suspicious of a torn ACL. This is especially suspicious if she will walk on 3 legs but not the injured leg. Staffies between the ages of 1 and 5 are textbook for that particular injury. If it is when she is standing, that would be an odd way to carry herself and not typical of the usual injuries. (And I would see your vet). Finally, with this information, I cannot rule out a back injury or disk problem - more likely if she truly cannot stand, even if you help her up and put her back legs under her. You don't list Xena's age but as I mentioned before, if she is young, some sort of soft tissue injury is more likely. If she is older, an arthritis flare up or other problem may be more likely. Long story short, I recommend getting her in as soon as possible for evaluation and some safe pain medication. We as veterinarians have so many wonderful pain medications that are safe for long term or occasional use. As such, I would strongly recommend heading to your vet and NOT giving over the counter pain medication (it is not as effective and can interfere with what we would ideally prescribe). If you are unable/unwilling to go to the vet, probably the “least bad” choice would be aspirin. Be sure to use a product labeled for dogs and use the dosing on the bottle. See the link below for more information about the safe use of aspirin. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/aspirin/ Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Xena!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Storm. Just by the description an ACL injury (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) would be suspected but there are other causes also including hip or other joint problems (arthritis, degenerative joint disease), trauma, puncture wounds, fractures, soft tissue injuries to tendons/ligaments, muscle injuries, tick transmitted diseases, etc. ACL injuries usually occur when dogs are chasing squirrels, cats, birds, etc across the yard. They are fine and then they return lame, holding up the leg or bearing partial weight. That ligament when examined microscopically is undergoing a degenerative process in almost all of the cases. The strain on the ligament eventually tears or rips it completely. That same process can occur in the other knee and that's why this is so important to diagnose properly. Some dogs tear one ACL, get it fixed and then tear the other one. There are multiple ways to fix an ACL rupture or tear and I would discuss these with your veterinarian. Some of the newer techniques are specialized procedures only certain vets perform and they require that hardware (plates, screws) be put into the area to stabilize the knee joint. One older technique is called the lateral imbrication technique and I still think it works well if an experienced surgeon does it. It is much cheaper also compared to the newer procedures. There are some braces out now also for dogs that are unable to have a surgical repair done but I don't have any experience with those. So I would advise taking Storm to your vet if this condition persists, worsens, or other signs develop. They can evaluate her, gather a history, and then make a diagnostic plan, and eventual treatment plan. A physical exam may include sedation/anesthesia and x-rays to fully assess the knee. Good luck with Storm.

I would start by having Josie examined by a vet. Depending on the procedure, she may need a different procedure. Most dogs with one torn ACL will tear the other one within months or a couple years, so odds are that she did the other one. She needs to start with pain medications and rest. Laser therapy and acupuncture are also helpful in healing. A wheelchair won't be helpful unless she can't use the legs at all.

I recommend to have Coco examined. When a pet is holding up the hind leg and won’t put weight on it, there is a concern that they have torn their cranial cruciate ligament or that the kneecap is out of place. The doctor will determine the cause based upon a physical exam and may recommend further diagnostics. I hope this helps and that Coco gets back to normal quickly. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

A typical scenario is that the dog runs around happily and then yelps and does not put weight on one of the hind legs. This is very typical for a cruciate ligament rupture or partial rupture. He could also have a sprain or pulled a muscle. Your vet should be able to diagnose this easily and then discuss the options of cruciate ligament repair with you if indicated. Her is some information on CCL rupture: https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/cranial-cruciate-ligament-disease Keep him quiet until tomorrow, he needs to rest. Leash walk him only for elimination or carry him out. Tomorrow, when you go to the vet, carry him to the car and also carry him from the car to the vet. That should help.

Oh dear! This is a very serious problem - I'm afraid she really has to see a vet right away. She may have a herniated disc in her back causing the paralysis, or some other neurologic problem affecting her spinal cord. She may be in pain, or she may have no feeling at all in her rear legs - it's impossible to say without an exam. She needs immediate treatment to have a reasonable chance of regaining function in her rear legs, I'm afraid there's nothing you can do at home that will help her. If costs are a concern, you can see if there is a low-cost SPCA clinic in your area that could help. You could also apply online for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most vet clinics: www.carecredit.com

Unfortunately, if Milo is non -weight bearing on a hind limb, there is a chance that he has a full or partial tear of a cruciate ligament. Bringing Milo to your vet or veterinary ER ASAP is recommended to have a full orthopedic examination performed (possibly sedated) to determine if there is a cruciate tear and may require surgery. Activity restriction, pain medication such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and a natural anti-inflammatory such as VetriScience Mobility Flex or Dasuquin would likely be recommended by your vet even if he/she determines it to be a soft tissue injury such as a sprain. Good luck!