How Long Does It Take A Dog To Recover From A Torn ACL?

If your veterinarian has just told you that your dog has torn his ACL, you may be wondering what the rest of the recovery timeline looks like. ACL injuries in people often require months of care and rehabilitation, and this often applies to our canine friends as well. ACL tears in dogs also have a variety of treatment options, so it’s important to know the details of each recovery path.

We know how much you want to be supportive in your dog’s torn ACL recovery journey, so we want to provide you with the tools you need to facilitate every step of the way. Let’s dive in with our detailed guide on how long it takes for dogs to recover from a torn ACL and make sure you have all the information you need to best help your canine companion!

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Understanding a Torn ACL in Dogs

Before we get into the details of what to expect during your dog’s torn ACL recovery, we should first quickly review the injury your dog is going through. An ACL tear in humans is a scary injury because of how much support it provides for the knee itself, and unfortunately, it’s no different for the dogs we live in. The dog’s ACL is actually called the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), but its function is just as important. A dog’s CCL provides the necessary support for the canine knee, so when it is injured in any way, it can have a devastating effect on the injured pup. A dog with a cranial cruciate ligament tear will not only experience severe pain from the injury, but they will have a hard time becoming the active dogs they were before.

No matter how your dog manages to tear their CCL, many of them will struggle with a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. An ACL tear in dogs can cause pain, make them yelp, and also lead to limping, limping, uncomfortable sitting, swollen knees, avoidance of movement, painful clicking noises in the extremities, and even thickening of the knee joint over time. CCL injuries in dogs can range from a ligament strain to a complete rupture, so these symptoms usually vary from dog to dog. No matter how severe their injury, a dog’s damaged CCL can have a major impact on their day-to-day comfort.

My dog’s ACL tear – now what?

If you’ve just been told your dog has a torn CCL, you’re probably wondering what happened next. While every dog ​​with a torn CCL will be different, having a general idea of ​​what to expect can give you some comfort moving forward. The best way to help your dog recover from a torn CCL is to develop a close relationship with your veterinarian from the moment the injury occurs. Not only will your veterinarian decide which treatment options are best for their initial CCL injury, but they will also guide you in caring for your dog at home. A torn CCL in a dog can take months to fully heal, so you’ll want someone in your corner to guide you every step of the way.

Once your veterinarian determines the severity of your dog’s cranial cruciate ligament injury, they will help you determine if surgery is right for your canine companion. CCL surgery in dogs is often the most successful treatment plan, but your veterinary team will understand that there are many factors to consider. If you need to take a more conservative approach, your veterinarian may discuss different CCL surgery options, costs associated with CCL surgery, and non-surgical treatment options. No matter which treatment avenue you explore for your dog with a torn CCL, your veterinarian can guide you with detailed next steps.

It is also important to remember that while some general veterinarians will provide CCL surgery in their offices, many will refer their patients to veterinary orthopedic specialists for surgery. This means you may be working with a new veterinarian while your dog undergoes surgery and aftercare, but you can still keep your standard veterinarian in the loop every step of the way.

How long will it take my dog ​​to recover from a torn ACL?

As we mentioned above, there are many different treatment options for a CCL tear in dogs. Each CCL treatment plan has a unique recovery timeline, so let’s answer the question of how long it will take your dog to recover from a torn CCL based on their treatment.

Recovery Timeline for Dog ACL Surgery

If your dog with a torn CCL has had surgery, their recovery timeline is usually simpler. Since CCL surgery for dogs completely repairs the damage, your dog is less likely to hit bumps in the road throughout his recovery. The most common CCL procedures in dogs include TPLO, TTA, and side suture repair, each with a very high success rate. Your veterinarian will also choose the best surgical approach based on your dog’s size and details of the injury, which helps give them the best chance for a smooth recovery.

Each CCL surgery for a dog will have a unique recovery timeline that will be discussed with your veterinarian, but the average time for a dog to regain function in the limb ranges from 8-12 weeks depending on the severity of the initial injury. Most veterinarians will ask your dog to rest strictly for 6 weeks after surgery (short outings on leash only, no runs, no unsupervised playtime, cage rest, no jumping) but then allow you to slow down Slow introduction to return to daily activities at the 6 week recovery mark. Some veterinarians will prescribe physical therapy during this time, but this varies from dog to dog and has specific guidelines.

Most dogs are able to put weight on the limb and move comfortably again around 8-10 weeks, and they usually fully recover within 12-14 weeks. During this 12 to 14 week period, you can usually expect one or two follow-up appointments to ensure your puppy is recovering well, but every veterinarian will handle it differently. Overall, a recovery period of two to four months is the average timeline for a dog to fully recover from CCL surgery.

Dog Recovery Timeline From Torn ACL Without Surgery

A dog can certainly recover from a torn CCL without surgery, but there are always more variables to consider. Since the injury cannot be manually corrected surgically, this only means that you cannot know for sure how the injured CCL will respond to treatment. Dogs who do not have surgery for a CCL tear also develop complications such as destructive inflammation and bone growth in the area, which invariably complicates their recovery. Therefore, average recovery times for dogs without CCL surgery can vary widely.

If your dog hasn’t had surgery for a torn CCL, there are usually several different treatments you can expect from your veterinarian.First, your veterinarian may recommend that you start From the moment your dog pulls or tears its CCL, strictly limit movement. This is essential for dogs who have not had surgery, as you don’t want them to further the injury. Most veterinarians will recommend a strict break of 6-8 weeks (short outings on leash only, no running, no unsupervised playtime, crate breaks, and no jumping) and will then advise you when you can begin physical activity again . Once your veterinarian allows your dog to resume light exercise, they will give you specific instructions based on their recovery progress.

In addition to exercise restrictions for a dog with a torn CCL, your veterinarian may recommend a CCL knee brace. CCL knee pads for dogs Will help stabilize the knee while the ligaments try to heal and help reduce pain associated with the injury. Dog Knee Braces are designed to relieve unnecessary stress on the knee while your dog recovers, prevent further trauma to the area, and promote the formation of scar tissue, ultimately stabilizing the area. Since knee braces for dogs are only a supportive treatment, this means that the amount of time spent in a knee brace varies from dog to dog. While some dogs with a partially torn CCL may only need knee braces for 2 months, others need knee brace assistance for 6 months.

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The last treatment your veterinarian may recommend for your dog with a torn CCL is physical therapy. A CCL tear that does not heal with surgery increases the risk of damaging inflammation and joint disease in the knee, but in some cases this risk can be reduced with treatment. By providing your dog with specific exercises and support designed to strengthen the area without causing further damage, your pup will often have a better prognosis in the long run. Physical therapy for a torn CCL in dogs can include hydrotherapy, exercise therapy, laser therapy, and even acupuncture.

Overall, without surgery, the standard recovery timeline for a CCL tear in dogs varies widely depending on the severity of the injury. Dogs with a partially torn CCL may only need the assistance of a brace for 8 weeks, while dogs with more severe injuries may need assistance for up to 6 months. It’s also important to realize that some dogs will never fully heal without surgery, so your dog may continue to struggle with chronic knee pain as a result. If this is the case with your dog, you can work with your veterinarian to determine the best pain management plan moving forward. With a high-quality pain management program in place, many dogs can still lead fulfilling lives.

How can I help my dog ​​recover from a torn ACL?

As you can see, your dog’s cranial cruciate ligament recovery will vary depending on the type of treatment they receive. The best way to support a dog with a torn CCL is to have them examined by a veterinarian from the moment the injury occurs and to work with the veterinary team to find the best treatment for them.

Being informed and hands-on during your dog’s CCL recovery is essential, so we encourage you to ask as many questions as possible from the moment your dog is diagnosed. Be sure to check out the information we discussed above about recovery times for a dog CCL tear so you can better understand the future of your canine companion.

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