The top 5 causes of cruciate ligament rupture in dogs

Why do so many dogs actually suffer a cruciate ligament rupture? What are the causes of this? And how to avoid it? These are questions that dog people ask me all the time. For us humans it is simple: usually it is a trauma that causes the cruciate ligament rupture. This happens, for example, during sports, or when falling. With the dog, however, the whole thing looks different. Very rarely is trauma the cause of the cruciate ligament rupture. Causes of cruciate ligament rupture in dogs

Common causes of cruciate ligament rupture in dogs are as follows:

A genetic predisposition – it is assumed that a progressive wear of the cruciate ligaments is favored by the genetic predisposition. Weak connective tissue causes small tears in the cruciate ligament over time. At some point, a so-called “minor trauma” is enough for the cruciate ligament to tear. This can be a wrong movement, a stumble or similar. The trauma is therefore only the trigger for the tear of the cruciate ligament. When the affected knee is examined, very often arthritic changes are already detected. These indicate that the knee joint had been unstable for some time.
Excess weight also promotes wear and tear of the cruciate ligament, which eventually leads to a tear.
Dogs with hip dysplasia are more likely to be affected by a cruciate ligament tear.
The size of the dog also plays a role. Thus, medium to large dogs are more often affected.
The build – the steeper the hindquarters, the less favorable the force on the knee joints, or the cruciate ligaments.
Furthermore, factors such as overload and incorrect loading play a role.

You see, there are causes that we cannot influence, but also those that are within our control.
If we make sure that our dog is not overweight and we avoid misuse and overuse, we can already do a lot to avoid a cruciate ligament rupture. Genetic predisposition and physique, of course, are not in our hands.

Other important facts about cruciate ligament rupture

In very many cases, the anterior cruciate ligament of the other knee joint also tears after a short time.
A cruciate ligament tear can be treated both conservatively – that is, without surgery – and surgically. Which form of treatment is chosen is decided individually for each dog.
Common surgical methods include TPLO and TTA.

Would you like to learn more about cruciate ligament rupture in dogs? Then I strongly recommend this article: The cruciate ligament rupture in dogs – the most important facts .

If you want to learn more about the structure of the knee joint, you can do so in my article on the dog’s knee joint. Do you have questions about cruciate ligament rupture in dogs? Feel free to contact me or leave me a comment! Causes of cruciate ligament rupture in dogs