Understanding Knee Injuries in Dogs and Cats

Healthy knees are essential for pets to move, play, and stay active. Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is one of the most common causes of hind leg lameness in dogs and can also affect cats. As the ligament degenerates over time, it can cause pain and joint instability. Understanding the signs and available treatments can help you support your pet's recovery and long-term mobility.
Understanding the condition

What Is Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease?

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) helps keep your pet’s knee stable and is the same as the ACL in people. In dogs, the CCL often weakens and tears gradually, so limping and other signs may develop over time.

As the tear worsens or if the meniscus (the knee's cushioning cartilage) is also injured, symptoms can suddenly become more severe. More than half of dogs with a torn CCL also have a meniscal injury.

CCL disease causes pain and instability in the knee and can lead to arthritis over time. While most common in dogs, CCL disease can also occur in cats and other animals.

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Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms can include limping or holding a back leg up, stiffness after exercise or play, stiffness in the morning or after getting up from lying down, swelling or tenderness around the knee, and reluctance to run, jump, climb stairs, or get into the car.

Clicking sounds when walking can be a sign of a torn meniscus, which commonly occurs alongside a torn CCL.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will examine your pet and assess how the knee moves. X-rays are then taken to look for changes caused by the injury and to help plan the most appropriate treatment or surgery.

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Treatment Options

Your veterinarian will recommend the treatment option that best fits your pet’s needs. While some pets may benefit from nonsurgical management, surgery is often recommended to stabilize the knee and support long-term mobility.
Nonsurgical Options
Surgical Options
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Rest and activity modification

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Focus on low-impact activity

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Anti‑inflammatory and pain-relief medications

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Joint injections with biologics

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Nonsurgical management will not stabilize the knee, but it can help ease discomfort by treating the inflammation and arthritis, thereby supporting your pet's mobility.

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)

A procedure that changes the angle of the shinbone (tibia) to stabilize the knee joint by making a cut in the bone. The bone is held in place with a plate and screws while it heals.

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InternalBrace™ Repair

Sometimes used with TPLO when additional stabilization is needed.

The InternalBrace surgical technique is intended only to augment the primary repair/reconstruction by expanding the area of tissue approximation during the healing period and is not intended as a replacement for the native ligament. The InternalBrace technique is for use during soft tissue-to-bone fixation procedures and is not cleared for bone-to-bone fixation.
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TightRope® Stabilization

In some cases, TPLO is not the best choice for your pet. In such cases, TightRope stabilization offers an alternative that uses strong, durable material to help stabilize the knee and support more comfortable movement.1,2

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Meniscal Treatment

No matter which surgery is used to stabilize the knee, your veterinarian will also check inside the joint to see if the meniscus is damaged and treat it if needed.

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This is not veterinary advice and Arthrex recommends that veterinarians be trained in the use of any particular product before using it in surgery. A veterinarian must always rely on their own professional clinical judgment when deciding whether to use a particular product. A veterinarian must always refer to the package insert, product label, and/or directions for use before using any Arthrex product. Products may not be available in all markets because product availability is subject to the regulatory or veterinary practices in individual markets. Postoperative management is patient-specific and dependent on the treating professional's assessment. Individual results will vary and not all patients will experience the same postoperative activity level or outcomes. Please contact your Arthrex representative if you have questions about availability of products in your area.