Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is the most common orthopedic injury in dogs, causing significant pain and requiring surgical repair and careful rehabilitation for optimal welfare outcomes.
CCL rupture causes acute severe pain and progressive chronic joint degeneration without treatment. Dogs with untreated ruptures develop significant osteoarthritis causing ongoing pain, reduced mobility, and diminished quality of life. Even with surgery, the rehabilitation period requires careful management of pain, exercise restriction, and gradual return to function. The high cost of TPLO surgery (often $3,000-5,000 per limb) creates a welfare concern for dogs in lower-income households where financial constraints may prevent surgical repair. Long-term welfare outcomes are substantially better in surgically treated than conservatively managed dogs.