Rex the fun loving kelpie was running in the park chasing his ball when he suddenly couldn’t put any weight on his left hind leg.

A veterinary examination revealed a suspected cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCl) - one of the most common orthopaedic conditions seen in dogs.

CrCl rupture can be an acute (sudden) or chronic degenerative injury and results in partial or complete instability of the knee joint. It is similar to anterior cruciate ligament problems in humans, often seen in footy players or skiers.

There are two cruciate ligaments in the knee and they cross each other as they pass between the femur and tibia. If the knee is subjected to twisting (such as when chasing a ball or jumping off a large height) the ligament can tear and even rupture.

Rupture is often a gradual process, resulting from chronic inflammation in the knee joint. Age-related changes, repetitive activities, poor conformation, obesity, and immune-mediated diseases are some of the more common causes. More active and large breeds of dogs may be predisposed to cruciate ligament rupture.

Cruciate ligament rupture also predisposes other structures within the knee to injury resulting in the progression of the osteoarthritis and lameness. Bilateral disease, where both knee joints are affected, is common.

To definitively diagnose and accurately assess the extent of the problem, Rex’s injury needed further investigation - read the article below to find out more.

A small lump had appeared on Poppy the Boxer’s chest. Thankfully her owners brought her straight in for a check up.

A sample of cells was taken using a needle (a fine needle aspirate). This sample was placed on a slide, had special stains applied and was examined under a microscope. A large number of mast cells were present.

Mast cells normally respond to inflammation and allergies. Sometimes there are a cancerous proliferation of these cells and the formation of a tumour. Some of these tumours can be very aggressive and spread elsewhere in the body. 

Mast cell tumours are commonly referred to as 'the great pretenders' because their appearance can be varied.

Poppy’s lump was removed with surgery. The excised lump was then sent to the pathologist which revealed it was a low grade mast cell tumour which had been removed completely. Poppy got the all clear but will need to be monitored closely in the future for more tumours.

If you notice a new lump on your pet you should arrange an appointment with us. All lumps should be checked by fine needle aspiration to rule out the presence of any concerning cells.