Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is one of the most common orthopaedic injuries in dogs, causing significant pain and requiring careful surgical and post-operative management.
Cruciate ligament disease causes significant and prolonged pain in affected dogs. Joint instability leads to cartilage damage, meniscal tears, and progressive osteoarthritis even after successful repair. The post-operative recovery period involves weeks of exercise restriction, which can cause frustration in active dogs. Inadequate pain management during recovery is a documented welfare concern. Many owners underestimate the extent of restricted activity required, leading to surgical complications. Financial barriers mean some dogs receive no treatment or suboptimal conservative management. Long-term osteoarthritis following cruciate disease requires ongoing pain management to maintain quality of life. Early recognition of subtle lameness can enable intervention before complete rupture.