Stifle (Knee)

Support for every step of your dog's journey.

Knee injuries and joint degeneration don’t just slow your dog down. They change how you live together, day to day.

Conditions We Support

We're here to guide you through any mobility changes you're encountering.

Dog wearing knee braces in a working session

Stifle (knee) and joint issues can be incredibly challenging for dogs and their pet parents. The most common stifle conditions we see are cruciate ligament (CCL) tears, luxating patellas, and osteoarthritis. The sudden onset of lameness, pain, and reduced mobility from the injuries is startling, while the slow, progressive nature of arthritis can be heartbreaking. These conditions are often painful and limit mobility in ways that affect your dog’s quality of life and independence.

Our approach is rooted in your dog's Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and starts with understanding where you and your dog are struggling, whether it’s moving around the house, exercising outside, loading in/out of a vehicle, or regaining muscle mass. From there, we build a support plan that may include exercise, massage, and assistive equipment as appropriate for your dog. We work with you to implement changes that improve your dog’s quality of life — and yours.

Let us partner with you on this journey toward a happier, more mobile life for your loyal companion.

We regularly support dogs dealing with:

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease is the progressive failure of the cranial crucial ligament (CCL) in the canine knee or stifle, the middle joint on a dog’s rear limb. The CCL is one of the most important stabilizers in the stifle, connecting the femur and tibia in this complicated joint. Known as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans, the CCL controls the forward thrust of the tibia or shin bone and the rotation of the stifle joint. Ruptures of this ligament can be partial or complete, causing degrees of rear limb instability, weakness, and pain.

Left untreated, CCL tears are a major cause of degenerative joint disease in the stifle. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons estimates that 40-60% of dogs who injure one CCL are likely to rupture the other at some point during their lifetime.

CCL is known as the ACL in humans.
One of the most important stabilizers in the stifle (knee).
40-60% of dogs who tear one CCL will tear the other in the future.

Osteoarthritis, a form of Degenerative Joint Disease, is the wearing and deterioration of cartilage, tissue, and lubricating fluid in a joint. Joints connect two or more bones (e.g., the femur and the tibia form the stifle joint). The connecting end of each bone is covered by a smooth layer of cartilage that protects the bone from wear. The joint is encased in capsule and this capsule is surrounded by a thin membrane that produces the fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint.

When the cartilage is damaged, it releases substances that cause inflammation. This inflammatory process produces pain and wreaks havoc on the surrounding tissues and nourishing fluids. This process causes more damage to the cartilage, which brings additional pain and starts the inflammation loop all over again.

Osteoarthritis is characterized as either progressive (not the result of an injury or disease) or secondary (due to a traumatic injury or disease).

Cartilage wears down, causing inflammation.
Inflammation worsens pain and joint damage.
Osteoarthritis can be progressive or secondary.

Ready?

Ready to support your dog’s mobility?

Explore tailored care options based on your dog’s specific condition. From spine to paws, we’re here to help you find confident next steps.

Support for every step of your dog's journey.

We're here to guide you through any mobility changes you're encountering.

Ready to support your dog’s mobility?

4758 E Grant Rd Tucson, AZ 85712

4758 E Grant Rd
Tucson, AZ 85712