Without examining your dog, myself, I cant make specific conclusions or recommendations. I completely understand what a challenge it can be to live with a grumpy old senior pup. Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy - TPLO. Our vet said her right knee does have some degenerative changes and will likely require a TPLO on that knee as well Dog Knee Surgery Success Rates: TPLO, Tightrope, TTA, and Reinjury After TPLO Surgery; Saul - Bilateral TPLO; Sampson - TPLO with multiple complications; Dog ACL Surgery Cost in 2021 Dog: Find Out What The Cost Of How Do I Know If My Dog Needs Surgery? I understand how this could be worrisome for you. Was someone home with Daisy during the 1st week? He has trouble sitting, and will keep his leg straight. Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair: Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) Each case is different and the goals for the recovery period can vairy greatly between dogs. But at first, that cut portion of the tibia is only being held in place by the TPLO plate and screws. If it wasnt reinjured, the clicking sound could eventually go away. Her recovery has been great up until a few days ago when she started limping and not putting as much weight on the surgery leg. In this case, the dog may have seemed fine for a bit. HELP! I did take her to the surgeon today and he said the implant feels perfect and she has good range of motion. I am hopeful this can be improved, and your sweet boy will have many happy years ahead. Youll have to partner with the specialist to decide what the goal of therapy will be. I recommend you schedule a consult with a veterinary rehabilitation professional. Sometimes things just happen despite everyones best efforts. It was very successful but weve just been overly cautious about her running with other dogs due to the fast change of direction that can happen when they play. What is TPLO surgery? Plus, trying it out in short bursts prior to surgery can help you and your dog get comfortable with it. It is an enormous amount of money but we are glad we did it. The fact of the matter is Finally, a dog may also shake because he or she is feeling a bit chilled. This is an important issue that needs to be ruled out. I apologize for the delay in responding. I hope Luna continues to enjoy life and has many happy years ahead. Teddy recovering in the wards, the evening after his TPLO surgery. There are several issues that could be contributing to this lameness. Then, the vet will work to correct the CCL injury. This allows the femur to sit more squarely on top of the tibia instead of slipping off the back. My concern is her energy! Our vet is very holisitcally oriented, does accupuncture, etc, so I am hoping for a less invasive treatment than surgery. You are doing a great job. In an effort to help make the entire TPLO experience a bit smoother for dogs and their parents, I have compiled and answered the most common questions about TPLO recovery. If you do decide to get some sort of sling for TPLO recovery, I highly recommend you size it to your dog ahead of time and do some practice sessions. Over-activity can be devastating with regards to the TPLO. Even though the surgery corrected the structural problem quickly, it is the post-surgical therapy and exercises that will truly make the surgery a success. Understandably, you are eager for your dog to be able to get back to using all four of his or her legs. And you can slow down and spend more time just hanging out together. Praying for good news and a positive outcome. The average age in dogs is 2-5 years, but our surgeons have seen dogs as young as 5 months or as old as 14 years. These are just a few ideas to get you started. Hes 80 lbs at a healthy weight and I was giving him 5 a day since theyre little. Khuly, P. (n.d.). My boy is back to running and playing like before it just took him a little longer than I expected. My 4 yo Staffy had TPLO surgery 1-4-23. If theres a tear in the cartilage, they could decide to repair it, remove only the damaged part, or remove the whole thing. Daisy is now 5 weeks post op from her bilateral TPLO and doing amazing!! They will be able to determine how well your pup recovers and when all restrictions can be lifted. Put the crate by a TV and leave it on for her all the time. They mentioned just waiting until his 2 week suture removal. QLF surgery is simply a more natural approach and works because rather than attempting to redesign the anatomy of the canine stifle and reengineer the biomechanics of the joint (as TPLO and TTA surgeries attempt to do), QLF surgery simply re-stabilizes and reinforces what mother nature created in the first place . We are continuing to use the sling for extra support as well as nightly massages to his surgery leg and knuckling ankle! Here at TopDog Health, we have created informative step-by-step guides to help pet owners like yourself learn the essentials on how you can best help your dog after surgery. You get to explore new activities together like tricks and brain games. I hope your baby has had better luck. It could be the difference between your dog getting full function of the leg back and always having residual problems. A word of caution about warming your dog up. Hi Danielle, This can help reduce the normal post-op swelling. At 8 weeks he had xrays that showed all was well, but he still seems to be in over all pain. I am glad you are reaching out about how to transition your pup back to normal activity after surgery. Thank you so much. An amazing all-natural source of chondroitin, vitamins, mineral and proteins for healthy cartilage and the anti-inflammatory support that maintains daily comfort. Hi Stephanie, And is 6 months old. Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Shipping Terms The damage from the torn CCL could worsen their condition. Once you figure out what is causing the pain, your vet can determine the best course of treatment. Without examining your dog, myself, it is hard to know if this will go away on its own or is something more serious that needs immediate attention. Yes, it can be common to see knuckling the first few days after surgery. The top section of the tibia is then rotated backward until the angle between the tibia and femur is deemed . I agree with Lisa about providing some exercise to reduce muscle atrophy, just be sure to limit his activity to short walks (with support from the harness or towel around the belly) during the first few weeks. TPLO surgery involves making a curved cut in the tibia from the front to the back, much like half a smiley face. I live in Austin Tx, and her orthopaedic vet kept her for 5 days post op to ensure good pain control. In most cases, this total cost includes pre-surgery blood work, anesthesia, anesthesia monitoring, pain medication, the surgery itself . Were now up to 15 mins per day. Christel, Hi Sara, My 80 lb GSD mix had bilateral tplo about five weeks ago and Im concerned his progress is slow. Veterinary Partner. Hi Bridgitte, It is also ok for him to walk slowly around the room a bit. Feel free to leave an update when you get a chance and Ill try to get back to you as quickly as possible.