Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists. But dogs are prone to weekend sports injuries too. And they share a common weakness with their masters. Physical exertion only during the weekend can make humans and canines more prone to injury, according to veterinarians at a recent conference in Boston. And one vulnerable spot for both is the knees.
Dogs have four legs but only two knees, in the back.
And like people, one wrong jump and twist and the ligaments in the knee can tear. The rubber-like strands connect and stabilize the thigh to the leg bone. The most susceptible to injury is the anterior cruciate ligament. Some dogs born with bad knee construction are more prone to this injury, which can leave them with severe limps. No matter the cause of the injury, some pets are having a relatively new type of surgery to correct it.