Your four-legged friend had surgery on his knee joint – now comes the aftercare for a cruciate ligament tear in dogs, which plays a crucial role in the success of the recovery.
To optimize the healing process, you should observe the following points during aftercare for a cruciate ligament rupture in your dog:
✓ Cool the knee joint for the first three to four days (including the day of surgery). Never cool for more than 20 minutes at a time. Afterwards, take a break of at least 20 minutes (local risk of hypothermia). If you use a frozen gel pack, be sure to wrap it in a cloth. Do not cool from the fourth day onwards.
✓ For the first two weeks, your walks should not last longer than five to ten minutes. The patient must be kept on a short leash. Instead, take more frequent short walks (four to five times). If it is very cold outside, the joint can be warmed up before the walk.
✓ Your dog can move freely around the apartment, but may not climb stairs. It must be kept on a leash in the garden.
✓ To avoid restricting knee joint movement, wounds are usually covered only with a skin-friendly dressing. To prevent later infections, the wounds must be protected from excessive licking. A cone is helpful for this.
✓ It is recommended to check the wound on the 3rd or 4th day after the operation. Removal of the (absorbable) sutures is routinely performed after approximately ten to twelve days.
✓ Occasionally, fluid may accumulate (a so-called seroma) in the wound area. This is generally a harmless phenomenon, but the leg should be given more rest.
✓ Please administer the prescribed medications conscientiously. It is important to continue administering anti-inflammatory medications until recovery (i.e., for several months). If you experience any adverse reactions, please contact your veterinarian or us.
✓ Please bring the patient back for an orthopedic check-up in approximately 2 weeks. Professional therapy can then be initiated.
Physiotherapy aftercare for a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs should be started by a canine physiotherapist of your trust and availability.
Important information for aftercare following a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs:
- If necessary, a special diet food (recommended for overweight dogs).
- Depending on the healing process and Surgical method The patient must be kept on a leash for approximately 12 weeks. The length of the walks depends on the functionality and surgical method of the operated knee. This time is usually necessary for the drill holes and screws in the bone to heal properly.
- Overexertion in the early postoperative phase can negatively affect the overall outcome.
- We perform a "meniscus-sparing" procedure, meaning we do not damage intact menisci. A small percentage of all patients may experience secondary meniscus damage several months after the operation. This necessitates a follow-up arthroscopy.
- No known technique can fully restore the function of the natural cruciate ligament. For this reason, a cruciate ligament tear always leads to chronic osteoarthritis. To delay this, the following measures are recommended in the long term:
✓ Reduce weight
✓ Optimize movement (e.g., strength training, no playing with sticks or ball games or similar)
✓ Anti-inflammatory measures (special diet food, medication) also serve as aftercare for cruciate ligament rupture in dogs.
Physiotherapy during aftercare for cruciate ligament rupture in dogs
According to Iris Challande-Kathmann, Semsales, CH:
Early and intensive physiotherapy is recommended for both humans and animals and should be started at the latest after the sutures have been removed; it is better to introduce the patient to the physiotherapist beforehand.
Goals Physiotherapy aftercare for a cruciate ligament rupture in a dog includes:
- Relieve pain,
- Maintain/restore mobility (joints, muscles, ligaments, etc.)
- Promote/build coordination, strength and fitness
- Restore limb function
An individual rehabilitation program for each animal, adapted to the course of the disease, the therapy method and the needs/possibilities of the owner.
Physiotherapy can be started before the planned surgery (advantages: pain relief,
Exercises already familiar to the dog, faster post-operative regeneration).
Thermotherapy:
- Cold therapy: Day 1 post-operatively. For this, the knee joint is covered with a towel and a cold gel pack is applied for 3-5 minutes.
- Heat therapy: After about 1 week (joint not warm), it can be used if necessary as preparation for passive movement therapy.
Massage:
- From day 1, massage the hind limb and lumbar muscles 1-3 times daily, gently mobilize the patella.
- Approximately once a week, a full body massage to relieve tension caused by improper posture.
Passive movement therapy:
- From day 2: Gently move the knee joint passively at least 5 to 10 times 1-3 times a day, also considering other joints of the limb, especially the hip. Mobilize the front and opposite side as needed.
- Stretching: From day 6, the iliopsoas, thigh and lower leg muscles should be gently stretched daily.
Active movement therapy:
- Adjust duration and intensity individually to the patient's reaction and progress:
Gait training: From day 1, very slow and short walks on a leash for at least 3-
5 times a day, no more than 5 minutes at the beginning - From week 1, integrate, for example, serpentine lines and large circles (adjust the diameter; it should not be increased).
(relieve) going uphill.
From week 1, progressive integration of coordination training: balance exercises such as standing on a trampoline,
Strength and conditioning training as aftercare for a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs:
- Introduce sitting and standing exercises (which should not hurt) and cavaletti work after approximately 5-6 weeks.
- After 2 months of controlled trotting on the leash – incorporate it, promote strength, e.g. later with traction.
- Hydrotherapy:
- Underwater treadmill: Can begin 48 hours after suture removal, gradually increasing the frequency 1 to 3 times per week, adjusting duration, frequency, and intensity to the animal's response. For up to 4 weeks post-surgery, the maximum duration is 15 minutes, and the walking should be very slow in hip-deep water (28-32°C). This allows the animal to be moved under control with less stress and slightly increased flexion, providing a welcome change of pace for animals that need to be kept calm.
- Swimming: not before (10-) 12 weeks post-op due to increased stress from uncontrolled movement and strong jerky flexion of the knee; later very suitable for building fitness and muscle.
- Physical therapy:
Possible from day 1, promoting healing and analgesia
– Magnetic field therapy
– Laser therapy
-Electrotherapy: TENS - Home program:
By the owner, following precise instructions, passive movement, massage and stretching 1-3 times daily, active movement therapy 3-5 times daily, integrated into walks. - Important:
Adhere to the surgeon's recommended schedule. The dog should not experience increased pain during exercises. Good analgesia is essential. Regular check-ups with the physiotherapist are necessary; 1 to 3 times per week.