Cruciate ligament damage in dogs – signs and care

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is damage to one of the strong ligaments that help hold a dog's knee together.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
Take a photo or short video to show the vet
Keep fresh water available
Let your dog rest somewhere calm

Don't

Do not give your dog any human medicine
Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

Cruciate ligaments are like two pieces of strong elastic that hold the knee together.^[1] When a cruciate ligament is damaged, the knee becomes wobbly and often very painful.^[1]

Signs

Limping, from mild to severe
Stiffness when getting up and down
Back leg pain
Swelling in one or both knees
Walking in an unusual way

sudden

Causes and risk factors

Newfoundland dogs may be slightly more at risk
Rottweilers may be slightly more at risk
Labrador Retrievers may be slightly more at risk

How a vet finds out

Feeling for abnormal movement in the knee joint
X-rays

How vets treat it

Surgery
Anti-inflammatories
Pain relief
Physiotherapy
Rest

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“Overview. The cruciate ligaments, in simple terms, are like two pieces of strong elastic that hold the knee together. If a cruciate ligament is damaged the knee becomes wobbly and often very painful.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What signs can cruciate ligament damage cause in dogs?

Signs can include limping, stiffness getting up and down, back leg pain, swelling in one or both knees and walking in an unusual way.^[1]

How does a vet diagnose cruciate ligament damage?

A vet may feel for abnormal movement in the knee joint and take X-rays.^[1]

Does cruciate ligament damage always need surgery?

Some cruciate injuries need surgery, while some can be treated without surgery; your vet can help decide which option is best for you and your dog.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages