Can My Dog Heal From A Fully Torn CCL Without Surgery? – The canine cranial cruciate ligament, or CCL, is comparable to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans; it’s a particularly strong ligament in the stifle that stabilizes the leg while your dog walks, runs, or jumps. Upon rupture, the tibia will slide forward, causing pain and wobbliness in your dog’s knee. You might see your dog limping, holding its leg up, or having trouble getting up after lying down. CCL tears are among the most common orthopedic injuries seen in dogs. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, CCL injuries make up approximately 85% of the knee injuries in dogs. CCL tears can happen suddenly – playing fetch – or the injury can develop slowly over time as the ligament degenerates.
