Dog Knee injuries are more common than you think. Just like athletes frequently tear their ACLs, dogs on the other hand are prone to tear their CCLs (cranial cruciate ligament). Now the CCL provides a vital function as it prevents the cranial drawer motion, or the forward and backward sliding of thigh bone on the tibia or shin bones, and gives stability to the knees.

A torn CCL is one of the most common orthopedic problems in dogs. If your dog has been diagnosed with CCL rupture, you should always take steps for the problem to be addressed immediately. Delaying surgery may lead to the CCL rupture of your dog's other limb that can result in debilitating lameness.

Below are some of the things that can contribute to knee ligament tears. Most of these factors are not seen by many dog owners until it's too late. Ask yourself these questions to see if your dog has is high risk for a knee ligament tear:

• Does your dog lack exercise?

Our dogs need sufficient physical activity every single day. Regular exercise builds up muscles that supports the joints.

• Is your dog overweight?

Excess weight puts extra stress on your dog's stifle joints.. Many dog owners aren't really aware of the consquences of obesity for their dogs such as putting undue strain to the knees.

• Is your dog a large breed?

Although any breed of dog can have a ruptured CCL, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers and other large dog breeds are more prone to the problem.

• How old is your dog?

CCL ruptures are more common during middle age. Ligaments, muscles, and bones deteriorate as dogs age and are thus more prone to injuries.

There are several treatment options which are tailored to correct a torn CCL And they are Tibial tuberosity advancement, Lateral Imbrication, intra-articular grafts, arthroscopic reconstruction, extra-capsular suture stabilization, medial meniscal release and Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO).

The procedure produces better results than other surgeries for correcting CCL rupture. Dogs that undergo TPLO surgery have been observed to recover faster and achieve a better range of motion of the affected joint. TPLO has also been linked with lesser incidence of arthritis. Dogs that engage in sports and competitions are also able to return to their activities sooner.

The procedure is used to correcting the anatomical abnormality of the tibial plateau. Once the loose bits and pieces of the ruptured ligament and damaged tissues are removed, the sloping tibial plateau is flattened with the aid of a special tool. To complete the procedure, the surgeon will place a metal plate and screws to keep the bone in place.

Veterinarians and dog owners alike have observed that many dogs which underwent TPLO surgery start to use the operated limb a day after the procedure and start to put weight on it within the next 5 days. Post-surgery is a critical period of rehabilitation and repair. It has been observed that dogs which undergo a good rehabilitation program were able to heal and regain full use of the affected limb earlier than expected. They were also less prone to CCL rupture of the other limb.

Complications can still arise after the surgery, such as arthritis and other degenerative joint disease.

If your dog has been diagnosed with a torn cruciate ligament, the benefits that your dog can possibly achieve with TPLO surgery will definitely overshadow the minor complications that can possibly occur after surgery.