Why Is Your Dog's Leg Suddenly Not Working?
Dogs are cunning little creatures, and dog parents might have heard that some dogs even fake an injury to get attention. If your dog suddenly experiences lameness in a hind leg, your first thought might be that they're faking it, simply due to the rapid onset of the problem. Hopefully, they are faking it and their injury will miraculously go away; otherwise, the other primary cause of sudden lameness is a torn cruciate ligament in their leg.
Joint Function
The cruciate ligament is a series of fibrous tendons that aid joint function. These tendons connect the femur and tibia bones via the kneecap, and an injury to these cruciate ligaments can result in immediate lameness. The same approximate injury can be seen in humans, most commonly as a sporting injury. The leg has simply been mispositioned during activity, and the weight of your dog's body can result in the ligaments being partially torn or entirely ruptured.
Mild or Serious
The severity of this injury and the necessary recovery process can vary significantly. Older, heavier dogs are more at risk of a serious cruciate ligament (a rupture). Young, healthy dogs can still experience this type of injury (and essentially, any dog could be affected), but the injury may not be quite so serious. Mild cruciate ligament injuries are generally self-healing, as in your dog will be back to their normal level of mobility within weeks. That being said, there's no way to know the severity of your dog's cruciate ligament problem until you've seen your veterinarian. In short, don't assume that sudden lameness is a mild cruciate ligament injury. Your dog might need more treatment than just rest.
Medical Assessment and Treatment
A suspected cruciate ligament injury must be assessed by your vet. Even when it's thought that the injury will heal itself, this process can be rather painful. Your dog might need pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication to aid their healing in addition to a strictly-controlled exercise program. When the injury is determined to be a serious rupture, your dog might require surgery. Extracapsular repair is one of the most common forms of surgery and involves a suture being placed behind your dog's kneecap, acting as a temporary cruciate ligament while the tendons heal and return to full functionality.
Sudden lameness in a hind limb might just be your pooch being cunning, but it could also be a lot more serious than that, which is why any suspected cruciate ligament injuries must be checked by your vet. Contact a veterinarian for more information.