Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is the most common orthopedic injury in dogs, causing significant pain and lameness. Modern surgical techniques offer excellent outcomes but recovery requires careful welfare management.
CCL rupture causes acute, severe lameness and significant pain. Dogs with ruptured ligaments experience instability with every step, and the subsequent meniscal tears that occur in most cases add further pain. Without appropriate surgical treatment, the chronic instability leads to progressive, debilitating arthritis. The recovery process itself is a welfare challenge - restricting an otherwise healthy dog to crate rest for weeks requires careful management to prevent psychological distress from confinement. Adequate pain management throughout diagnosis, surgery, and recovery is a fundamental welfare requirement.