Why is my dog limping on her good leg months after CCL surgery?

The diagnosis could be accurate but he could also have a problem with a meniscus or possibly a problem with the LSS. If he does not get better with rest and Rimadyl than you could take him to an orthopedic specialist to determine the cause and treat the problem.

This could be just a flareup of arthritis in the knee which is very common in dogs with the surgery. Depending on what was done sometimes there could be a meniscus injury after the surgery. Some surgeons do a "preventative" meniscus surgery at the same time others do not. Rarely it could indicate an issue with the implant placed during the procedure. I would follow your veterinarian's advice and if she becomes worse have her seen sooner. Sometimes x-rays of the knee or needed other times we can figure out what's going on with just an orthopedic exam.

The clicking may be due to an injury to the meniscus in her knee. The meniscus provides additional stability and cushioning between the bones that make up the knee joint. It is common to see meniscal injury along with cruciate injuries. Ideally, she should be rechecked by your veterinarian. In some cases, surgery is required to repair or remove the meniscus. Strenuous play or running should be avoided until at least 12 weeks post op and then, it should only be for very short periods of time. Each dog recovers differently, so the timetable to resume regular activity is flexible.

In these cases ACL or CCL tear is the most likely reason for it. Tear can be partial and conservative management (especially in dogs under 15kg) could be successful. Complete rest and anti-inflammatory meds can be attempted.

We often see torn ACLs in large breed dogs with limping in the hind limbs. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. An orthopedic exam and possibly an x-ray may be recommended to help determine the diagnosis and best treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Limping can be caused by several different problems - if x-rays didn't show a fracture, then it is likely that Bentley has some type of soft-tissue injury causing him to limp. One of the most common injuries like this that we see in dogs is a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) - this is the same ligament that human athletes sometimes injure, called the ACL in humans. This ligament is responsible for stabilizing the knee joint when the dog walks, so if it is torn it causes significant lameness that does not improve with rest and pain medication. Other possible causes of limping for over a month would be a torn muscle, or a torn tendon or ligament in another part of the leg. Unfortunately, these injuries will not show up on x-rays. If your veterinarian doesn't have any other suggestions for further testing (such as a sedated orthopedic exam to check joint stability), then I would recommend asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist. Bentley may need an MRI or other advanced imaging to diagnose the problem.

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Chestnut's care today! This could be related to being under anesthesia in one position which can result in pain in patients with arthritis for example. I think other possibilities for lameness should be considered. Lameness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!