Types of Knee Surgery for Dogs

Just like you or I can accidentally injure our knees, so can our canine friends. From soft tissue injuries to painful bone fractures, our pup can go through it all.

If your puppy suffers knee pain, surgery may be required to repair the damaged knee. Your veterinarian will be happy to talk to you about your dog’s treatment options, but here’s a detailed explanation of all the options.

Whether your dog has soft tissue injuries or bone injuries, let’s find out everything you need to know.

The Structures Within a Dog’s Knee

A dog’s knee has several structures that are most commonly injured.

Patellar Ligament: The patellar ligament is the structure that sits on top of the kneecap in dogs. This ligament connects both the thigh muscle and the center of the tibia. This will stretch or straighten your legs as needed.

Patella: The patella or patella protects the knee joint. It also acts as leverage when the puppy bends and extends its legs.

Medial Meniscus: The medial meniscus is a small disc located on the femoral and tibial condyles. This structure absorbs stress across the joint and stabilizes the knee joint. It also prevents friction between the femoral head and the tibia.

Cruciate Ligaments: Similar to the anterior cruciate ligaments in humans, the cephalic cruciate ligaments provide vital support to the knee. The CCL allows for subtle knee movements, resulting in knee instability during injury.

How Do Dogs Injure Their Knee?

There are many factors that can contribute to knee injuries in dogs, but there seem to be a few of the most common scenarios. According to veterinary professionals, some of the most common situations that lead to a knee injury include:

• Accidently stepping in a hole while running
• Sudden twisting of the knee joint, typically occurring when a dog suddenly changes directions while running
• Jumping off a high surface and landing on their feet
• Falling off a high surface and landing on their feet
• Some type of blunt force trauma to the knee
• Growth issues due to improper breeding, as this can lead to deterioration of the structures within the knee

We always suggest having your pup assessed by a vet if they are experiencing any signs of knee discomfort.

Signs Of a Knee Injury in Dogs

Our dogs cannot tell us they are in pain, so it’s up to us to lookout for any discomfort. Let’s discuss the most common signs of a canine knee injury.

Signs and symptoms of a knee injury in dogs include:

• Sudden limping, ranging in severity to putting a small amount of weight on the limb to none at all
• Hearing your dog suddenly cry out during any type of activity
• Swelling of the knee or the surrounding areas
• Not using one of their back legs or skipping on the leg when running
• Sensitivity of the limb, or not allowing anyone to touch it
• Hearing clicks coming from the limb when they are walking
• Thickening of the knee joint over time
• Sitting with one of their back legs straight out instead of allowing it to bend

Our canine friends can express pain in many different ways. We always suggest reaching out to your vet if you think your canine friend is experiencing leg discomfort. It’s always best to play it safe and get a diagnosis, even if your symptoms seem mild. Minor knee injuries can get worse over time if not treated early.

Let’s take a closer look at the most common knee surgeries for dog injuries. We will discuss the most common surgical methods for each symptom.

Patellar Luxation Surgical Repair

As mentioned above, the patellar ligament sits on top of the dog’s kneecap. This band attaches to the center of the hamstring muscles and the dog’s shinbone. However, if the patella is not properly centered, it can slip. This basically causes a dislocation of the dog’s patella.

Over time, the knee joint can become painful and damaged. If your veterinarian recommends surgery for your dog’s patellar luxation, you may try several approaches. Most people choose between soft tissue surgery and bone surgery. The most common soft tissue procedures include lateral imbrication, antirotation sutures, and medial desmotomies.

Each of these procedures tensions and loosens the surrounding knee tissue. But it all depends on the dog’s knee structure. If the surgery they choose involves manipulation of the bone, they typically cut the bone and move it to a better position or deepen the trochlear groove to better accommodate the patella.

Torn CCL Surgical Repair

If your dog sustains a cruciate ligament tear, your veterinarian may decide on a surgical approach based on the severity of the injury. Dog size also plays a role. After evaluation, you will likely choose between TPLO, TTA, and LSR. To make sure you understand what happens to your puppy, let’s take a closer look at the types of CCL surgery for dogs.

TPLO

At TPLO, the veterinarian excises the damaged portion of the dog’s CCL. A small incision is then made near the dog’s shin bone and the tibial plateau is rotated and secured with a surgical plate and screws. This is most commonly used in large dogs.

TTA

A TTA involves making a small incision in the dog’s shinbone and repositioning the shinbone itself to better align the ligaments with the dog’s patella. The new position is then fixed using a surgical plate and screws. This is most commonly used for medium-sized dogs.

Lateral Suture Repair

A lateral suture repair is a procedure in which a veterinarian creates an anchor in the knee. This is done by placing a suture on the outside of the dog’s knee joint and threading the suture behind the dog’s femur. This thread is then inserted into the hole drilled in the tibial tuberosity and then fixed in place.

The dog’s body then forms scar tissue around the sutures, eventually forming a stable anchorage in the knee. This is typically only used for small dogs. Surgery may be required if your dog has broken part of the knee joint. These injuries are complex and require individualized attention. We encourage you to learn more about the procedure from your veterinarian team.

Does My Dog Need Knee Surgery?

If your dog has suffered a knee injury of any kind, you may be wondering if surgery is the only option. Many knee injuries require surgical repair, but some can be treated with severe motion restrictions, knee braces, and anti-inflammatory medications.

Some dogs may have the option of receiving conservative treatment first before undergoing surgery. However, this varies on a case-by-case basis. Only your veterinarian knows the details of your dog’s injuries. Trust your veterinarian’s advice on whether surgery is necessary.