My dog has damaged his cruciate ligament - UPDATED

Oh poor Dylan (our family dog was called Dylan, after Bob Dylan so I think it's a fab name). Fingers crossed it's all better by Monday.

Do you mean crutiate ligament? It's what loads of footballers do apparently!

Our first dog snapped hers and had to have surgery then doggy hydrotherapy. The vet said it was a fairly common complaint for small dogs who like jumping onto and off things and the op was very short, they just tie it back together with what looks like fishing line.

Oh yes thats what I mean ? He did say it was quite common. Good to hear your story.

Thanks Poochanna - our Dylan was named after the stoned rabbit from Magic Roundabout as he always looked off his head

I just feel really sorry for him. He is so grumpy. He is like my 2nd child and I hate seeing him in pain

Poor little thing, it is worth looking around to see if you've got a doggy hydrotherapy place near by, it's totally low impact and really good for strains etc

Ours was twitchy and couldn't settle on anything but my puffy riding jacket, lots of attention for him tonight

Sam tore his when he was about a year. No surgery, just lots of rest - he wasn't walked for about 3 weeks, if I recall rightly. Be careful with the painkillers - if they're not feeling the pain they try and jump about again!

Poor thing. I hope he mends soon. (I have a Dylan too, of the feline variety. He was named after a certain welsh poet who happens to share our surname. It brightens up tense moments when his name is called in the vet's.)

My dad's dog did this. Be aware that almost certainly once it has healed, the cruciate ligament on the other leg will go. It's because they rely on the other leg so much.

My dad's vet said this and within 3 weeks of molly being "better", the other leg went.

My lab did this too about 2 years ago now - he eventually had to have surgery to reinforce it after the various courses of apinkillers and anti-inflamms did nothing. Lots of rest afterwards, and we now keep him as absolutely lean as we can to keep extra weight off his knees. His other one is fine and has showed no signs - so it can be avoided.

Thanks everyone. He is having lots of cuddles and lazing about on his pillow. Bless him.

Knowing our luck his other one will go afterwards.

My lab had his repaired 5 years ago and his other leg is fine. I work as a veterinary nurse and haven't seen that many that have needed both legs doing, the ones that have have been the heavy/larger breeds - mastiffs/rotties.

Good luck and thank god for pet insurance!

Sorry to hear about Dylan. Tok, our Hungarian Vizsla, ruptured his cruciate ligament 2-3 years ago, and eventually had to have major surgery. You can still see the scars .... but the leg seemes to have healed really well. Unfortunately, just before Christmas last year, the other leg went the same way and Tok is now recovering from another operation. He's going to hydrotherpay twice a week and the nurses are really pleased with his progress. He's up to being walked twice a day, 25 mins each sessions, so it's looking pretty good.

Several vets we've spoken to said that once one ligament goes, it's a case of 'when', and not 'if' the other one goes - although I imagine this may be more the case in larger breeds. Thank heavens for insurance!!!!!!

Hope Dylan feels ok soon!

Thanks everyone.

He seems a bit happier today, think the pain killers are working. Only time will tell though I guess.

We took Dylan back to the vets today and although he says there is an improvement its not back to normal so he is booked in for tomorrow morning to go under and have some x-rays done and they will be able to see what movement he has (apparently its best he is under for that).

The vet did say though that as he is insured he is 99% sure that he will refer us to the specialist tomorrow and get it sorted once they know exactly how much damage has been done.

I know its only a minor little thing tomorrow but I am feeling quite tearful and worrying about it. God knows what I will be like when he has the actual big surgery.