Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tear in Dogs Treated with a Multimodal Rehabilitation Protocol with Platelet-Rich Plasma

Background: Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears in dogs are prevalent orthopaedic issues causing pain and lameness. While surgery is common, conservative management with rehabilitation can be effective, particularly for small, less active dogs or those unsuitable for surgery. This case study examines a multimodal rehabilitation protocol using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hydrotherapy.

Materials and Methods: A 9-year-old male Siberian dog with an acute CCL tear and a body condition score (BCS) of 7/9 presented with partial weight bearing on the left rear limb. The treatment involved:

PRP Injections: Two anti-inflammatory PRP shots, one initially and another a month later.

Week 1: Electrical stimulation at the stifle area thrice weekly to reduce pain and inflammation.

Week 2: Continued electrical stimulation and 15-minute underwater treadmill sessions twice weekly.

Week 3: Increased treadmill sessions to 20 minutes twice weekly, with prehydrotherapy laser therapy.

Week 4: Introduced treadmill walking with knee support, starting at 5 minutes and increasing to 20 minutes.

Week 5: Maintained treadmill therapy for 10 minutes twice weekly and daily leash walking at home for at least 10 minutes.

Results: After a month, the dog showed improved gait, increased weight-bearing capacity, and no muscle atrophy or back pain.

Conclusion: The multimodal, PRP, and hydrotherapy protocol significantly enhanced the dog’s quality of life, offering a noninvasive, anaesthesia-free alternative for managing CCL tears. This approach should be considered for conservative treatment in suitable cases.

 

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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
12 September 2025