Agility and flyball dogs have proven to be more susceptible to cranial cruciate ligament rupture, according to Washington State University, in a study conducted earlier this year. This injury is similar to an ACL tear in humans. For 1,260 agility dogs studied, 260 tore the ligament, and 1,000 did not. Dogs training or competing in flyball were found to be in the highest risk of all activities: nearly 12% of dogs reported to play flyball ruptured a ligament.

The survey also confirmed some long-standing and well-accepted risk factors. In particular, female canines spayed before the age of one were almost twice as likely to rupture a ligament compared to dogs that were fixed after their first birthday – which places on the dog owner extra caution and responsibility to ensure there are no accidental pregnancies, yet it is important to develop strong ligaments in young animals.

It is speculated that the shape of a dog – and perhaps its tail – have some relevance when looking at knee injuries in dogs. Breeds like the Australian Shepherd and Labrador retrievers were more than twice as likely to rupture a ligament, while Rottweilers and Australian cattle dogs were more than four times as likely to tear a ligament. As with humans, being somewhat unfit and then running over uneven surfaces, with stops and turns from time to time, present the greatest risk factors. Many of the dogs with cruciate ligament injuries in this survey were new to the sports and lacked core strength and general fitness. Surprisingly, dogs that competed more frequently at agility and flyball events were less likely to rupture a ligament.

What are some core strengthening exercises for dogs?
- Balance air cushions, large or small (just look online for dog fitness equipment).
- Plank walking, stepping backwards, sidestepping, turning in a circle – left and right.
- Rollovers, from side to side and crawling.

There are probably more core strengthening exercises, but by guiding your dog with treats and doing some or all of these regularly, your dog will soon become proficient and stronger, reducing the risk of knee ligament injuries.

Pam Brandis, 
 Dip. Canine Prac.