Cranial Cruciate Ligament injuries: Surgery vs. Physical Therapy

 A ruptured cruciate ligament (Cranial Cruciate Ligament, or CCL in dogs; same thing as the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL, in people) is one of the most common knee injuries in dogs. Sometimes it develops slowly and patients become gradually more and more lame over time. Sometimes it happens suddenly and they walk with a noticeable limp, or are completely non-weight bearing, as Shadow is demonstrating here. 

The treatment of choice, generally speaking, is surgery followed by aggressive physical therapy ("canine rehabilitation"). Some dogs can avoid surgery with a really good rehabilitation program, and we'll explore this quite a bit more once Ruff Day's Medical Fitness service is able to reopen. The most important first step in treating this injury, whether the dog is going to surgery or not, is getting the pain under control! 

Acupuncture, especially by an acupuncturist trained in physical therapy/rehabilitation, can provide critical pain relief, allowing patients to start using the affected leg better. This simple first step starts a positive feedback loop where they're in less pain, so they're willing to do more controlled exercise, which builds strength, which allows them to walk more normally, which gives them even better pain control, which allows them to exercise even more, and build even more strength, and so on.