A knee joint is held together by many ligaments. One of the most important and sensitive ligaments is the anterior cruciate ligament. This is the ligament that soccer players often injure during play.

In dogs, the cruciate ligament can tear due to an injury or a degenerative condition, where the ligament is naturally brittle. The symptoms of a torn ligament usually include acute severe lameness that initially improves but then worsens again. The knee is swollen, and the dog will relieve pressure on the injured knee by putting weight on the opposite side. As a result, the dog often lies and sits unevenly, although it is usually still able to bear weight on the leg.

The ligament may be completely or partially torn.

The veterinarian diagnoses this by performing specific movements with the knee. It is often necessary to sedate the dog, as this can be painful.

A completely torn cruciate ligament can be treated in various ways depending on the dog’s breed, age, size, temperament, and pain level.

There are several ways to treat a torn ligament—speak to your veterinarian about this.

Cruciate ligament tears are also seen in cats, usually due to an accident.