CCL (Cranial Cruciate Ligament) tears and injuries are common in pet dogs and can even significantly affect their health. Like humans, ACL tears typically occur when we’re doing regular activities and exercises. There are several reasons dogs snap their ACL, but repetitive stress is the common cause.
Most pet owners love throwing tennis balls for their canines to chase after because it’s a natural reaction in many canine breeds. However, repetitive motions and abrupt changes in direction can trigger injuries in their stifle joints over time. Fortunately, this injury might be avoided with the simple prevention guidelines we’ll discuss as we keep going.
Four Tips to Prevent Dog CCL Injury
The stress and pressure a dog puts on their joints in their lifetime can cause damage that will eventually cause the ligament to break or give out. However, there are several simple tips pet owners can follow to keep their pets from this injury. Here are four of them.
1. Always feed a balanced diet
Make sure the foods you feed your canine include good amounts of protein, which is crucial and responsible for their hair growth and tissue repair. You might also add healthy oils like Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to their diet, as these can help with joint and bone care.
Struggling to find the best balance of diet for your dog’s breed? You might ask the veterinarian for your pet’s tailored suggestions of diets and supplements. When seeing a veterinarian, you may also take this opportunity to get a wellness plan to get a discount rate on your dog’s vet care. You may check the website of animal professionals near you to learn more about pet wellness plans.
Routine wellness examinations, annual blood testing, vaccinations, and parasite prevention are essential to ensure your furry companion’s health is always in excellent condition. So getting a wellness plan for your pet can help you save cash from the mentioned routine veterinary care.
Looking for a place to have your pet vaccinated? Facilities like Guilford-Jamestown Veterinary Hospital offer pet vaccinations and preventive medications to protect your pet from life-threatening parasites and diseases.
2. Exercise daily
You must ensure your dog’s muscles remain flexible and strong to reinforce and support their joint health. Taking your pet for two sets of walks each day is great. Keep in mind that larger breeds might require more exercise than smaller ones.
Always practice caution and moderation when exercising with your canine to avoid injuries. Should you see unusual movements or fractures in your pet, have them checked by a veterinary surgery expert for immediate treatment.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Overweight or obese dogs are in danger of cruciate ligament injuries due to the increased pressure on their bones and joints when moving. The ideal way to lessen the risk of this injury to your pet is to be mindful about what you feed them and how much food they eat. The amount of food you will provide to your dog will depend on their breed. Larger breeds will need more and the smaller breeds lesser.
4. Avoid “weekend warrior syndrome”
If you didn’t exercise your canine the whole week but then go for runs, strenuous walks, and extensive activities on the weekend, then you might have “weekend warrior syndrome.” Unfortunately, this practice can frequently do more harm than good. Your pet should always get the right amount of exercise regularly on weekdays or weekends. Otherwise, their body will be overworked with the extra stress, resulting in joint or muscle damage.
