We are not veterinarians, and this is not veterinary advice. Every clinical statement below is attributed to a named veterinary source and linked, so you can check it against the original rather than take our word for it. Where the evidence is genuinely unsettled, we say so instead of picking a side. If your dog is in pain or cannot bear weight, contact a vet today. Last updated 2026-08-19 · How we source our content

Of all the breed pages on this site, this is the one where the risk claim needs the least hedging. If you own a Rottweiler with a hind-leg lameness, the concern is warranted.

The breed data is unusually clear

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons lists the Rottweiler first among breeds with a known higher incidence of cranial cruciate ligament disease.

More pointedly, VetCompass research from the Royal Veterinary College — drawn from primary-care veterinary records rather than referral caseloads — found Rottweilers to be the breed at greatest risk of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. That distinction matters: referral data skews toward the cases that get sent to specialists, while primary-care data reflects what actually walks into ordinary practices.

A separate lifetime cohort study of purebred Rottweilers likewise describes the breed as high-risk for veterinarian-diagnosed CCL rupture.

So unlike the Golden Retriever page on this site, where we had to push back on a widely repeated claim, here the common wisdom is correct.

The part most owners are not told: both knees

This is the reason this page exists.

Research into risk factors for bilateral cruciate rupture found that among dogs with a cranial cruciate rupture, bilateral rupture was present in 38.7% — and that it was more likely in male dogs, in young dogs (mean age around four years), and in Rottweilers specifically (study).

Read that carefully, because it reframes the whole decision:

None of that tells you what to choose. It tells you what question to ask your vet: "Given the breed and the bilateral rate, how are we monitoring the other stifle?"

Why it happens: degeneration, not accident

The ACVS describes cruciate disease in the vast majority of affected dogs as a gradual deterioration of the ligament over months or years, rather than a single traumatic injury — and notes that partial tears almost always progress to complete tears.

That degenerative model is exactly why the other knee is at risk. The dog did not have bad luck once; the dog has a ligament problem, and it has two of them.

Risk factors you can influence

Weight. Veterinary sources note that overweight dogs carry greater risk because obesity increases the force applied to the knee at every step. Rottweilers are a heavy breed and gain readily. This is the most actionable thing on the page.

Neuter timing. Research has associated gonadectomy before one year of age with increased cranial cruciate ligament disease risk in Rottweiler, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever bitches. Work looking specifically at Rottweilers has associated removal of the gonads during the first 24 months of life with increased CCL rupture incidence. If your Rottweiler is young and intact, this is a conversation to have with your vet before the decision.

Sex and neuter status. Neutered females and neutered males have been found more likely to be diagnosed than entire females in primary-care data.

We are reporting associations found in research, not telling you whether or when to neuter your dog. That decision involves several health considerations that trade against each other, and it belongs with your vet.

Signs to watch for

Per VCA Animal Hospitals:

With a large stoic breed, watch also for shifting weight forward onto the front legs and a reluctance to sit squarely — a Rottweiler that is subtly offloading a back leg can look almost normal walking in a straight line.

Diagnosis

Your vet will check for abnormal forward movement of the tibia relative to the femur using a drawer test or tibial compression test (VCA), usually with radiographs. In a large, muscular, painful dog, sedation is often needed for a reliable assessment — a tense stifle can hide the instability.

Ask your vet to examine both stifles, not just the lame one, given the bilateral data.

Options

Surgical stabilisation — TPLO, TTA and extracapsular techniques, described by the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. An adult Rottweiler sits at the top of the size range where surgical stabilisation is most commonly discussed.

Conservative management — weight control, controlled activity, physiotherapy, pain management, sometimes bracing, under veterinary supervision.

Bracing — see our honest assessment of whether dog knee braces are effective. A brace does not repair the ligament, the evidence comparing it with surgery is unsettled, and a 50 kg dog places demands on a brace that a 10 kg dog does not. Where bracing appears in veterinary discussion, it is generally within a supervised plan or where surgery is not viable.

Find an ACVS board-certified surgeon here.

If bracing is part of the plan

Measure carefully — sizing is not standardised between manufacturers and measurement error causes most returns. Our measuring guide covers the three measurements every brand asks for. At the top of the weight range, check the manufacturer actually rates the brace for your dog's weight rather than assuming the largest size fits any large dog.

Frequently asked

Are Rottweilers the highest-risk breed for ACL tears? RVC VetCompass research based on primary-care records found Rottweilers at greatest risk of cranial cruciate ligament rupture, and the ACVS lists the breed among those with known higher incidence.

Will my Rottweiler tear the other cruciate too? Research found bilateral rupture in 38.7% of dogs with a cruciate rupture, more likely in males, in dogs around four years old, and in Rottweilers specifically. Ask your vet how the other stifle will be monitored.

Does neutering age affect the risk? Research has associated neutering before 12 months with increased CCL disease risk in Rottweiler, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever bitches, and Rottweiler-specific work has linked gonad removal in the first 24 months with increased incidence. Discuss timing with your vet.

Can a big dog manage without surgery? Functional stabilisation without surgery is discussed more often for smaller, lighter dogs. Where a Rottweiler sits is a judgement for a vet who has examined the joint.