Cruciate Ligament Rupture, Canine - contd.

ClinicalSigns
Clinical signs include acute non-weight bearing lameness; chronic progressive lameness; crepitus; pain; decreased range of motion; presence of medial buttress; presence of meniscal click; stifle effusion; thickened joint capsule; positive cranial drawer test; positive tibial compression test; reluctance to sit with normal flexed stifle tucked under the body; and inability to rise or walk if the condition is bilateral.

Symptoms
Rear limb lameness, sudden onset lameness that either improves slightly and remains chronic or worsens again. The affected knee may feel thicker than the normal one. The dog may sit with its injured leg held out to the side, rather than tucked up underneath. The lameness should worsen with exercise. The knee may sound "crunchy" when put through a range-of-motion test.