For both humans and animals alike, any surgical procedure carries a risk of complications. You dog should have a full evaluation done, complete with blood work and other baseline testing, prior to surgery to help minimize any risks; this pre-surgical testing can often diminish the risk of death from anesthesia. Overall, complications with cruciate surgery occur in approximately 5 to 10% of patients. Complications can range from mild and easily resolved, to more severe complications requiring additional surgery, expense and disability. While uncommon, complications do arise during and after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy procedures and you should speak with your veterinarian prior to the procedure and find out what procedures are in place to help minimize these risks, as well as what steps would be taken should a complication arise.
Possible complications associated with Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO):
- Anesthetic death (very rare)
- Poor healing of the bone and/or breakage of plates and screws
- Straining of patellar ligament
- Fracture of tibial crest
- Blow-out fracture of the tibial plateau (requires re-operation)
- Loosening of screws and shifting of tibial slope
- Shifting of bones
- Arthritis
- Tearing of meniscus
- Allergic reaction to sutures
- Seroma formation
- Bleeding or bruising of the surgical site
- Implant failure
- Deep infections of the bone, joint or implant
- Angular/Torsional limb deformity
Flexerna (60 Capsules) Concentrated Omega 3 Formula
Glycanaid HA (60 Tabs) Glucosamine Chondroitin Supplement
Design. SEO. Hosting.
My shepherd had two TPLO surgeries. In his right leg, he developed infections from the plate and screws that would not heal, so he had to have the plate and screws surgically removed. However, the plate and screws were NOT removed from his left leg. He developed osteosarcoma, bone cancer, at the site of the plate. He had to have his rear left leg amputated to manage the pain. Sadly, the freaking cancer metastasized to the vertebrae in his spine. Nobody could help my precious boy at this point… I was forced to let him go to stop his pain. If you are considering the TPLO, insist that the surgeon informs you of this risk and possibly remove the foreign objects to prevent the metal plate from corroding into the bone.
What a sad an horrible story. I am so sorry to hear of the pain and hardship you went through! My poor dog had a TPLO that resulted in a nonunion. He’s had 2 surgeries already on the leg and they need to do another because it still hasn’t healed and he is very lame. I can tell he’s in pain. Apparently, when this procedure goes wrong, it can go very wrong. I hope others can ready your story and insist on finding a surgeon who is very very very very experienced, with many references and recommendations.
My dog had a TPLO done at the end of May. The surgeon was highly recommended, but I have to say I was wowwed by his assuredness and failed to ask the right questions. The vet told my husband and I that there was the old procedure (about $1,000) to fix the ACL and the new procedure (a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy [TPLO] at about $3300)…and that he thought she would do best with the TPLO. What he DIDN’T tell me was what the TPLO entailed. Basically the vet goes in a surgically and removed the head of the tibia in order to re-engineer the physics of the leg. The requires plates and screws to be inserted into your dog’s leg. It also requires an incision that goes from the hip to below the knee…it’s a pretty serious surgery. Also, even the Board Certified surgeon’s can make mistake (as is what happened with my dog’s surgery). If you are thinking of doing this…ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS. If your dog isn’t a national champion in agility or in some high level competative sport, you might be better off doing one of the older, more traditional ACL repair surgeries. My dog’s surgery ended up with too large of a gap in the cut that they made with the bone saw so she now has alot of rotation in the leg (in fact, when we took the bandage off on day three, her leg was pointing in…like it was pigeon-toed. This obviously was not correct so we took her back to the surgical vet. They chose not to go in and do a repair on it. At her six week check-up, she still wasn’t progressing so I contacted a canine rehab specialist to see if there was something else I could be doing (we already had initiated water therapy with my dog…which seemed to help). The canine PT said that in normal TPLO recoveries, they release the dog to normal activities at 8 weeks. My dog still couldn’t walk right due to the swivel in her leg. Based on the canine PT’s recommendations, I sought a second opinion and found out that my dog had a tibial crest fracture and that the cut made with the saw to restructure the physics was too wide…so another surgery would be needed to fix this. I am heartsick at the thought of putting my dog through another surgery and rehab, but leaving the leg as it is now will possibly impact the integrity of the “good” leg. So I’m basically praying for a miracle so we won’t have to do this second surgery. Please think twice about doing a TPLO…it’s a pretty serious surgery.
Follow-up on Lola and her status. So we were able to get a refund from the vet that botched the initial TPLO. To fix her leg, we ended up going with the “tight rope” method performed by Dr. Richard Lanier of Warren Animal hospital in WArren, Michigan. Dr. Lanier also is licensed and practices in Georgia. All I can say is that I wish I went with this surgery the first time around. Dr. Lanier has performed hundreds of these surgeries and is quite skilled…even with the weirdest of pre-surgical conditions (I swear this guy is part animal whisperer!!). Anyways, Lola is doing GREAT!! Her rotation has improved tremendously and she no longer appears to be in pain. She still has a slight limp (the first [botched] surgery performed by the Alabama surgeon caused her to have a little leg length discrepancy). Anyways, I truly recommend the “tight rope” method. Recovery is quite quick. The glute on Lola’s surgical side is filling out nicely.
my 6 and a half yr old dog had a tplo and is now having to deal with and automimmune and joint problem to where we now have him on prednisone. since the beginning this has been an ordeal for all of us especially my pup. do these vets really know what they are doing. my dog has developed staph infection which was diagnosed after a $2,000 dollar blood workup, that we pushed for because he was collapsed on the floor and did not eat due to the pain in his body. all around this has now costed us about 8,000 dollars and my dog who we brought in for a problem knee may not be able to be himself again. its not about the money its about the mistakes that was made on my dog, i am being optimistic that he can pull through this, be aware and informed before doing a tplo or anyother surgical procedure on your dog.
Hello,
I am so sorry to read of yet another dog who has had terrible complications from having the TPLO done. I pray that he makes a complete recovery. My beautiful Trouble (shep/husky) had 2 TPLOs. He developed osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at the site of the metal implant that corroded in his tibia. He had to have his leg amputated and died four months later. Soon after, my beautiful Fly, shepherd/malamute, who also had the same metal implants that were NOT medical grade metal (and corroded in her) was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. She died 35 days into treatments for this aggressive cancer. For 3 TPLOs, 2 implant removal surgeries, amputation, and cancer care for my beloved canine children, the cost was over $17,000.00, which I will no doubt be making payments for the rest of my life. And it’s not about the money… it’s about the quality of life that happens after these TPLO procedures. I lost Fly within a year of losing Trouble.
Then when my 100 pound Shiloh Shepherd tore her ACL a month after losing Fly, over my dead body was she having a TPLO (her vet said she needed surgery to repair it). I looked into conservative management and long story short, she made a complete recovery WITHOUT SURGERY!!!!! She was featured in “Whole Dog Journal” and you can see videos of her on YouTube running around after healing. Just do a search for “Kimber” and conservative management. I wish to God I would have known about CM for Trouble and Fly….. they’d still be here.
Best wishes to you and your dog. May he be healthy and happy soon.
I need to make a decision between TPLO and the tightrope surgery. The more I read the more good and bad I find about TPLO and the tightrope failing. But I could not deal with the horrible stories and things these poor people and their beloved dogs had to go thru with the TPLO. I am driving myself crazy, what do I decide. Some people praise the TPLO but I guess those are the ones that all went well. It just seems like a big gamble with very bad consquences? Please help? Want to figure out and get my poor baby a surgery by the end of the week. Thanks
Our dog had a TPLO at Tufts Veterinary in Grafton, MA in December 2008. Our surgeon came highly recommended and essentially convinced us that the TPLO was the only “real” choice for our dog. Sadly, it has turned out to be a terrible choice. The procedure is brutal and two weeks post-surgery our poor boy spiked a high fever and lost complete use of the leg. He underwent an emergency surgery to clean out an infection that ran the entire length of the incision. He then remained on antibiotics until March and never regained full use of his leg. In April, he underwent a third surgery to remove the plate and screws because the infection would not go away. Now, almost a full year later, he is infection free but walks with a limp and is restricted to leash walking. Rainy and cold days cause pain. We are out over $10,000 in surgery, medication and rehabilitation costs. As a comparison, we did the traditional repair with our first dog and she had an uncomplicated surgery, regained full use of her leg and we paid a fraction of the cost. The financial cost was painful, but the most difficult part is watching our beautiful, kind and loving dog limp through life unable to play with other dogs. We feel guilty for choosing the TPLO and angry at our veterinary providers for convincing us that this procedure was “better” than the traditional repair. UPenn Veterinary School will not perform the TPLO. There is a reason. A very excellent reason. Avoid the TPLO, save yourself some money and prevent the heartache of complications.
TPL surgery was a nightmare my Vet did not tell me about other options that I could have taken such as healing itself to tight rope which has been used for over 20 years with limited complications. After four surgerys my dog rejected the tplo and he was in such pain that I made the vet take out the tplo and he stopped chewing at his leg and is on his way to recovery. It is the old story pad the Vets pocket with cash and the hell with the dog and owner.
As you can see Im very bitter and angry that the family and dog had to go through 7 months of pain and suffering because all options were not explained to the family.
Hi Alan,
So sorry to hear of yet another TPLO gone wrong victim. I pray that your dog recuperates and is not in pain. After losing 2 of my canine companions to osteosarcoma post TPLO procedures, my Shiloh shepherd tore her ACL. I did conservative management with her and with this protocol and having a custom made orthopedic brace for her, she made a complete recovery! She is doing great and it’s been over 2 years since she tore her ACL.
When my female tore her ACL, I had taken her to a surgeon not certified to do TPLOs. He told me that he doesn’t do them because one of the side effects is cancer. So I went to a different facility as I was “sold” on the idea that the TPLO was the best procedure for a torn ACL. When my dog developed cancer after the non-medical grade implant corroded into her tibia, I contacted the first surgeon to tell him that he was correct about this side effect. As our conversation went on, he had denied that he said this to me. Turns out, he jumped on the TPLO bandwagon. So much for his concerns about the side effect of CANCER! I agree with you…..the only one who profits from this is the facility performing this invasive procedure. I often wonder how these vets sleep at night.
Best wishes to you and your dog.
Hi Julie: I took Sadie for TPLO on 11/4. I was too worried the tightrope would fail and thought the TPLO offered the best option. We are on day 12 post op and it has been good so far. It is a lot of work keeping an eye on her and her sister but that’s because I don’t crate Sadie. I iced the leg for 10 – 20 minutes using a bag of frozen peas and a towel for the first 72 hours; I think that made a big difference. Just remember that the recovery is up to you and is long one! As long as you are mentally prepared you should be fine! Good luck to you and your baby.
I have a dog who had the TightRope procedure done and she is doing incredibly well! I was also pushed by two vets to do the TPLO but after I researched TPLO I decided that is not something I ever want to have done. TPLO can work well but the complications can be horrible and yes, bone cancer at the site of the plate can and does happen. I now have a second dog with a torn ACL and we will have the new TightRope procedure done with the newer, stonger filaments.
Any owner faced with this decision needs to take the time to educate themselves on the procedures available. Unfortunately many, many vets are going straight to the TPLO and it’s not for EVERY dog, there ARE options.
I have a two year old black labrador, and found at 13 months old he seemed to develop a slight limp, which got progressively worse? The vet we usually see, checked the knee and confirmed he had a ligament problem (drawer effect)and advised us to rest him. we did this as best as we could as he was very active and was consistently jumping around as a pup. I did feel following this time (6-8 wks), we sholuld have gone to see a surgeon sooner, as i cant help thinking the longer we left it the worse it probably got? We went back to the vet who then recomended an orthopaedic surgeon to us. The surgeon seemed very good, and took him for x-rays, which when explained seemed to warrant the tplo surgery due to the incline and degree displayed on the x-ray. After a lot of thought we agreed to go ahead, also knowing his other leg was in the same state!….I cannot tell you how upsetting the whole 6 months was! Following the first operation, the first three days were un bearable for me, as Harvey seemed to struggle in pain, and i found it so upsetting to see. We were administering pain killers which did help, and after 3 days the pain subsided, and he seemed to be getting back to himself, weight bearing etc. We were then supposed to wait at least 8 wks before having the second leg done, however within 4-5 wks the other leg became lame, i guess from taking the weight and strain of the operated leg, and we had no choice but to go ahead on the second leg. I have got to say the whole experience was awful, but seem to be all worth it. Up un til this week…6 months on….Harvey has suddenly developed a clicking noise coming from the first operated leg when walking, and it appears a little lumpy around the knee? he dosnt seem to be in any pain, but the clicking noise is getting louder? i am just hoping to god that none of the screws have become loose or the plate has become dislodged, as this will require further surgery, and would try anything other than put him through any pain again? i am hoping this may be a tear to the meniscus again and maybe able to heal with rest naturally, but i am fearing the worst??…Can anybody please suggest anything, or give me some advice what this may be?
We have a 3 year old Rottie cross who has a torn ACL. We have been to our Vet and an orthopedic Surgeon/specialist. They both highly suggest the TPLO surgery stating the complications with the suture type surgery. The TPLO surgery will be around $3800.00 vs. $2200.00 for the suture/tightrope surgery. He is somewhat bowlegged and reading the above responses really has me in a quandry as to what to do. None of these problems were discussed by the surgeon with the exception that infection/rejection is always a factor in surgery regardless of type.
Concerned – Stand by for our decision.
Here is a complete update from last year. (sorry about the long time) Upon noticing his ‘limping behaviour’ (Dec 20th) we limited Chance’s movement.
We were given Sahsa’s Blend and fed it to both of our dogs for about 3 months and later moved onto Glucousamine and condratine (from Costco).
We pulled out the crate and kept him in his crate whenever we were not home and completely kept him on his leash at all times. We had decided on the TPLO surgery, but when we contacted the Doctor to make the appointment, the ‘specialist never called back. I called 3 days in a row and was told the technican would be calling me back. No one called back! After getting extremely frustrated I reviewed more info on the TPLO surgey and what I found did not make me feel very comfortable so we went back to our Vet and decided on the suture/tightrope surgery. Within a week we had the appointment and had dropped him off. Within 3 hours the Doctor called us to say they could not detect the ‘drawer effect’ he previously had. We decided to not go through with the surgery and continued to keep him on a ‘short leash’ for another month.
I am glad to report that he made a full recovery and we kept the Glucousamine/Condratine treatment going for 6 months.
Upon first noticing any little chang, limit the dog’s excercise and look at joint therapy before going to any surgery if at all possible.
My 3 year old German Shepherd had TPLO surgery on her left let 9/2/09. She is unfortunately still lame in the leg, however, I still stand by my decision to do this particular procedure. There is no doubt in my mind that this was the correct surgery for her. The big difference that you have to take into account in the choice of one type of repair over the other is the dog itself. The “tightrope” procedure is good for inactive and/or smaller breeds. Larger dogs and very active dogs are at a high risk for this type of repair to fail, however. For those who have had complications with the TPLO surgery, please remember that there is no guarantee that your dog would have healed any better from the other type of procedure. It is a serious procedure regardless of which repair you and your vet choose for your dog. There is a long recovery for both surgeries. BOTH procedures have benefits and deficits. I am on a long road to recovery with my girl, but I am confident that the ultimate result will be the best I can possibly provide for her. Please don’t be scared off by the failure stories that you hear. This site has a large collection of dogs that had complications, but does not give a true cross section of dogs that have had the surgery. There are no postings from anyone whose surgery has been successful and ALL surgery has risks. There is no “safe” choice for a cruciate ligament repair. You need to do research from trustworthy sites and work with your veterinarian to make sure that you feel you have sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision. Get a second opinion. Then get a third. However many it takes until you are sure about your decision. Remember, you can’t take it back.
My Lab/Pit Bull mix had a TPLO performed on his left leg last April. The only setbacks he experienced was from his own self-mutilation. He somehow figured out how to bend the E-Collar and chewed his sutures out twice. His incision became infected and the surgeon had him stay at the vet for 2 weeks on antibiotics, leaving the incision open to drain. Once this healed over, the recovery period went just as planned and he healed excellent and was back to rough-housing and playing and jumping and running like usual. I was very pleased. However, last week (almost a yr later), he became lame on his other leg, and the surgeon determined it was a tear in his right ACL. Keeping in mind that before his repair last yr, the surgeon informed us that it is a 50% chance that once a dog tears one ACL, it usually tears the other due to favoring the affected leg. He underwent surgery a couple days ago and so far things are going as expected. This time, we know he has to wear a bite-not collar (neck brace type collar) instead of an E-collar so he does not get to his sutures. Hopefully all will go just as well with this recovery as last years.
We have gone through several ACL repair surgeries for our dogs over the past 20 years, with mixed experiences and results. One important thing to note is that bad infections can occur with any surgery, no matter what procedure is used. One of our dogs had the tightrope procedure and ended up with a bad staph infection in the joint that nearly killed him. Fortunately, he was an amazingly tough old dog (her tore his ACL roughhousing with a much younger dog at the age of 14!) and pulled through, but the joint never recovered fully due to the amount of scar tissue and adhesions caused by the infection. We recently had a dog who underwent the TPLO procedure (because she is an agility dog) and have had no complications with it. It is good to be fully informed, but “You pays you money and you takes your chances” no matter what.
My 11 year old Australian Shepherd had TPLO surgery a little over four weeks ago. I carefully researched my options and sought a second opinion. I was not only concerned about what type of procedure was best to repair the torn ligament but also about the age of my dog. After gathering all my information and thinking long and hard about what would be best for my dear buddy, I finally decided that the risks of TPLO surgery were worth what the possible outcome could be, which was no longer be lame! It was terrible to see him struggle and be in so much pain to just get around the house. I felt he deserved the chance to walk again and enjoy life. We ran all the tests to make sure he was healthy enough for the surgery. I had the best and most experienced surgeon in the state do the surgery. My boy came home the second day after the surgery and he had a very rough night. It was very hard to see him in so upset and in pain and not be able to take it away. After that long and emotional night he has been very calm and content. I have kept him crated or on a short leash by my side. Progress is slow, but I am very pleased that he is now walking on a short leash, unassisted, and is off all medications. We do brief walks around the yard 3 to 4 times a day. It is great to see him walk again with no limp or visible pain! In fact, I just came back from the vet and the x-ray shows that the bone is already healing! I will continue to crate and have him on a short leash at all times and continue with no stairs. I want to make sure the bone completely heals with no complications. I know it is agonizing trying to decide what is best for your beloved dog when they have torn their ACL. There are always risks with surgery no matter what. I suggest that after all your research and information gathering do what feels right and if you have doubts about the type of procedure you are looking at doing to not go through with it. I had to have a peaceful feeling first before putting my best buddy through such an extensive surgery and know that no matter how it turned out that I would not regret it or look back. Beat of luck.
Our 7 yr old female Rotweiller/Lab/? mix tore her left rear cruciate back in June. We went to a Vet specialty practice where each of the surgeons performs 10 TPLO’s per week, so apx. 20 for the practice. They are very highly recommended by all the vets in the metro area and have a full company of specialists.
Sugery was August 4th. She stayed there 2 nights before coming home. End of week one we were really impressed with her progress, and taking every precaution to keep her inactive, but she seemed to feel great and was not interested in her incision. Week 2 she was keeping us up all night, unable to settle down, so they thought she might be experiencing medication induced anxiety and prescribed a sedative. Two days later she was obsessed with the incision and during the night somehow managed to get the collar off. I was sleeping in the same room but didn’t wake up until I heard the licking. The top three stitches were out and lower down one staple. We rushed her in first thing AM. They decided the problem was an infection that had set in and needed to drain (which had probably been causing all the restlessness–rather than anxiety,) so left the quarter-sized wound open and exposed and ran cultures to determine the bacteria we were dealing with. The wound oozed slime and smelled like a rotting carcass. Really nasty. Started Batril and Ampicillin. Two days later the wound had opened to a gaping space above the knee (maybe 3 inches long) and the skin was getting caught on things. Rushed her back in. Surgeon said the skin was so infected that the sutures were just collapsing. The 1st cultures weren’t back yet, but they decided to pack the wound and have us return every day to have the wound cleaned and re-packed. Next day the culture results showed a very rare bacteria that would respond to Batril but not the Ampicillin, so stopped the Amp. After one week of daily repacking (we took her back and forth each morning & lunch) surgery was done on Friday to insert a drain. We had to measure, describe, and empty the drain fluid twice a day and continue the medications for pain, antibiotics, help in sleeping, and thyroid (which she already had.) The drain was supposed to be removed the following Tuesday (5 days later.) When we went in on Friday the 2nd culture results had come back and she had two exceedingly rare bacterial infections (which the “never see”) and also a staff infection. (Our house is clean and we did everything possible to keep her protected, so I’m stumped!) The drain stayed in and we are back to measuring, etc. for another week, now with 3 antibiotics (restared the Ampicillin, contined the Batril, and added a 3rd to treat the Staff.) Now we also have to don gloves to protect ourselves from the staff infection. She is really hurting when the pain killers wear off. Hopefully, this coming Friday (August 27th–4 weeks post-op) we will finally be able to remove the drain. I’m hoping the sutures are healing. The 3rd antibiotic can cause renal failure and other horrid side-effects. There is no doubt that the metal plate will come out (as soon as the bones heal)–hopefully in another 4-6 weeks. The stress this has caused to all of us and to our poor canine friend almost impossible to describe. We are all exhausted. We could barely afford the inital $3200.00 (plus sundries) and thought and prayed hard about whether to “bit the bullet” and proceed. At this point we are approaching $5000.00 (even with the surgeon writing off the last procedure to place the drain, which would normally run just over $1000.00 by itself.) I have had severe regrets and wish we had gone with a different option (even though we were told TPLO was the only thing that would work for a 90lb. dog, and that doing nothing would leave her in pain, lame in that leg, and with severe arthritis.) She would probably opt for that over what she’s been going through. At least she could walk around the block with me rather than being confined. As extreme as it sounds, I think with an amputation she would have been well and running around within 2-3 weeks, but I didnt’ want to consider that in case the other leg went out. Now, if the 2nd leg goes we will not be able to afford the treatment (and with a 50%+ chance that it will.) She has had 4 weeks of misery and delay in her healing. It is heart wrenching to make these choices and had things gone smoothly I’m sure we would feel differently. If you can’t afford the treatment for the complications, don’t do the surgery, because you never know… I’ve seen a leg brace advertsed on the internet for around $300.00 (custom fit) and if the other goes I may try that instead.
Jessie is now 6 mos post op and running with the bike and bounding in the snow. Her recovery was delayed 45 days due to the deep resistant infections we fought, but she seems to be back to her pre-injury state. She has not yet ruptured the 2nd ligament and we pray she doesn’t. Should it happen I will try another option than TPLO, but the vet and surgical specialists had all indicated it was the only true option for a Rottweiler. Our total cost was over 5000. And the orthopaedic vet wrote off about 500. During the infection phase, so it would have been closer to 6000.00. You really cannot count on the 2700 to 3000 estimates as drugs and follow up procedures add up. We did not do physical therapy, but eased into walking and regular exercise and that has worked just fine. Hope this helps and best of luck to you all.
Hi! I am a vet tech in orthopedic surgery and I have a dog who had a TTA surgery on one leg and we had to go back in arthroscopically a couple months later for a meniscal tear, and then an extracap(lateral suture) surgery on the other leg about 6 months after that! The extracap failed due to streching of the filament they used in his knee but we are now 2 years out almost and he is doing great! Even with the failed extracap! You’d never know he had anything wrong with either leg! We recently had another dog have a TPLO surgery back in May which he has done incredibly well from. He did get a staph infection at the suture site probably from licking at the incision. Don’t ever think you can trust your dog! It was almost 2 weeks after his surgery and his incision looked pretty well healed and we left his e-collar off. Thats all it took. He spent 2 months trying to clear up the infection and it was during this time that he tore his cruciate in his other leg. He just had another TPLO on his other leg 12 days ago. That leg is not healing as well as the first one, probably from all of the antibiotics he has been on for so long and he has also developed a good sized seroma but he is using it well. We have a rehab ice machine and we have been icing his leg a few times a day since day 1 and we are now also applying hot compresses for the fluid seroma. It makes an incredible difference in recovery! I have had pretty good experiences with all of the surgeries my dogs have had. Originally I thought TTAs were the better choice but now I lean more towards TPLOs even though they are more invasive, they do not seem to alter the conformation of the leg as drastically as TTAs and you run less risk of meniscal injury post TPLO as opposed to post TTA. So far, I am very happy with all 4 knees!
When considering the tight-rope be sure that you go to a vet that is experienced and does them often. Not all dogs are candidates for the tight-rope. Be sure that the vet checks the slope of the tibial plateau, if it is too steep tight-rope is not an option.
my one year old rottweiler puppy has double ccl tears. her radiographs revealed she has hip dysplasia, bilateral femoral varus, and MPL on her left leg. Due to the 16-20 degree femoral varus TPLO is not a good option and TTA might work but it may necessitate correction via a closing or opening wedge ostectomy/oteotomy; Not a good prognosis for such a young puppy. the cost is between 2800-3200 for the surgery… post op follow up could be as much as 3000 and then the added cost of rehab… with the underwater treadmill. That is PER Knee. I don’t know of many who have about $12k to spend on surgery and then more on rehab. oh.. and then future $10 for hip replacement. I love my puppy.. but I do not have that type of extra money.
I have reached the heart breaking decision that I may have to put her down. so in the meantime I am on a quest to send blood samples for genetic research to help all canine owners.. It is afterall not an atheltic injury as in humans.. but a genetic disease.
University of Minnesota is doing a clinical trial for CCLr in large breed dogs. Please send them some of your dog’s blood. Help me help make my puppy’s short life have meaning. Help me to help researchers to map the gene and create a way to screen for this disease… so no more owners have to go through this too.
Oh my goodness! I have an 18 month old lab that is currently at an animal hospital recovering from TPLO surgery. We are on day 3….I have not seen my Zeke since the surgery but he was scheduled to come home today and they decided to keep him one more night due to some swelling. I have been told that he is doing excellent and walking on all 4 legs since the day of surgery. I did my research and had decided to go with the tightrope until one week after his left knee blew out his right knee went too! The vet recommended that he definitely have the TPLO with his weight and having both legs out at the same time. I am horrified by all of these sad stories. My Zeke is scheduled to have his 2nd TPLO in another 6 weeks provided this 1st surgery is a success. I have this empty place in my heart since he has been away from home, and I just pray that all of this is for the good! I agree that there seemed to be possible risks involved with either surgery. I just hope that we made the right decision. Our Zeke is part of the family, and he has many years of life left in him……we hope!
My dog (border collie/rotweiller mix) is 2.5 years old and we had TPLO surgery August 5, 2010. She doesn’t do well with confinement (she’s a pound adoptee) so we had to keep her in the house and as still as possible. Within no time she was RUNNING…not a good thing but she was severely depressed in a pen…so we left her loose in the house but tried to keep her activity to a minimum. She is 6 weeks post-op and her xrays were great…she is released for regular activity (which she is already doing for weeks now). I know we were supposed to keep her still…but 2 weeks after surgery she figured out a 3 legged trot and there was nothing we could do. During the first week I iced her leg when I saw even the slightest swelling..7 days after surgery she was off all meds…10 days post-op the doc was shocked at well she was doing….walking on the leg like she never had surgery (he was very concerned about her activity level but I figured she knew her limits). She needs to have the other leg done…he said she can do it beginning of October….but I am leery and I will probably change it to a later date to give her more healing time.
Both legs were bad…she has rotweiller legs….37% tibial angle, torn CCL, and meniscus. I know how it probably happened…she always runs full blast then stops short. She probably messed up her knees doing that. Either way she did well with surgery and was back to normal quickly…to quickly…but what can you do?
Hi, My american bulldog just had his first TPLO 10 days ago. I am also super concerned with his over-activity. He is the crate when we are not home, but when we take him out he tries running. If I take my eyes off him for ones second, he is on the couch. He doesn’t seem at all phased by the surgery and was walking the same on the leg when he came home after the surgery as he did before. His other leg also needs the TPLO, but I’m worried about having it done too soon also. My main concern at this point is that he has shifted the bone angles, something I can’t know for certain without x-rays. I know you aren’t a doctor, but from what you went through with your doctor, would you spend the extra $200 or so for more x-rays? or wait 4 more weeks to get them as suggested by my vet?
I would wait a couple of weeks before you had your dog xrayed., you really really need to keep him calm as much as possible my golden had to have one of his legs redone because all the scres came loose and the plate was being held by one screw., he hurt himself comming out of swimming rehab. DO NOT do the second tplo until the first one is totally healed we did both at the same time HUGE mistake., whatever it takes to keep him as calm as possible., some dogs just want to please and they will run and jump thru the pain., the first 8 weeks is the crucial time!!!!
The dog should be confined even when you are home. It is too easy for them to injure themselves even walking right after surgery. I did both sides on one of my Newfoundlands with great success on both sides. It might seem mean to keep them crated all the time, but its far less mean than having them go through another surgery!
My girl had a failed TPLO surgery which has caused her hock to deteriorate and hyperextend. Her surgery leg causes her great misery. Her other knee now needs surgery and I will definately not put her through another TPLO. I am now considering a brace which sounds like a much better option! If you are considering doing the TPLO surgery, think twice. This one decision has caused us LOTS of misery!
My boxer had a TPLO 2 weeks ago. It cost me 4500.00 at Gulf Coast Vetinary Sevices in Houston, Texas. We followed every post operative instruction and he did not leave his crate without a short leash. He only went out to potty. About 3 days after surgery his leg looked weird and he was crying more often. We took him in and the implant had failed. 2 screws broke and 1 backed out. He had to have a revision surgery and it was 3000.00. We are now 1 week out and he has a soft cast. If you decide on the TPLO do everything you can to keep them inactive. I am against sedatives, but after this second surgery I have changed my mind. Please reply if anyone else has had an implant fail. I am thinking about contacting the manufacturer of the screws (Synthes) since they lasted less than a week.
I have had experience with several TPLO’s, problem in my breed, and its a gaint at that. Recovery in this surgery is key, the dog just STAY OFF the leg, no matter how bad you feel for them. Walks to do their business and that is it! I use an smaller x-pen, its a bit wider than a kennel so they don’t have to twist so much to turn around. All types of surgeries have risks. Out of like 10 TPLO’s that I have had or know people that had them I know of 1 dog that had issues.
I need to say a few things after reading all of the posts here.
I am not sure where people are getting their info, but Tightrope is NOT for small inactive dogs. Small inactive dogs should not be getting surgical repair at all! THe rule of thumb is under 40 lbs to do conservative mamagement. Tightrope can be done with very large dogs (mine is 120 lbs and just had a double)
If you do TTA or Tightrope and they fail you more times than not cannot repair. Tightrope had the same failure rate as the others and can actually be fixed if there is a failure. It is also MUCH easier on your pet as is is much less invasive.
I suggest you all inform yourselves and talk to as many vets as possible before you make a decision. In the end it is your responsibility.
I hate to be revisiting this subject… but I’ve been forced to.
My 3 yr old female Lab had, at the Vet’s recommendation, TPLO to both knees 2 years ago. She was 1 yrs old at the time. Injured one leg and while waiting for her surgery injured the other. Back to back operations, needless to say it was a nightmare for her and us, months of recovery.
Good news is, 2 years later you’d never know she was injured. No issues, no problems.
Last week my 18 month old Lab was slightly limping for maybe a full day and then it stopped. As a precaution we took him to be examined by the Dr. who did the TPLO’s on our female. Mind you… no limping now, no pain but just as a “precaution” he took x-rays. He told me the x-rays showed that the ligaments of BOTH legs were injured and he needed TPLO surgery on his left, preferably before a full tear and the right was soon to follow. No pain, no limping, no symptoms whatsoever… and since when did torn, injured ligaments start showing up on x-rays????
I walked out of there shocked and saddened, did some research and now I’m just mad.
This Vet, I believe, just needed to pay some bills at my boys expense!
As a precaution I’ll keep him to leash walking only for the next 8+ weeks and then gradually allow him to run again.
We’ve learned that some Vet’s are like attorneys… you’ve got to watch them AND manage them. They make a huge profit off the TPLO procedure.
TPLO for my female turned out good… but having been through it, twice, it would not be my first choice next time.
My lab had the TPLO, coming up on 3 weeks ago, on her right rear leg. Her left leg also has a tear in the ACL. I have not noticed any significant improvement in her walking/use of the leg, and sometimes now she won’t put weight on it at all. It seems like she’s going backwards in her recovery. She has been severly restricted in movement, because frankly, she has no desire to move, in and out for business, and the rest of the time, she rests.I’m wondering if this is now a sign of possible infection/rejection of the plates/screws?
My 3 year old Labrador had a right sided TPLO last May. He had a rough recovery in that it seemed he frequently would improve and then take a step backwards the next day, etc. 8 months out he has muscle assymettry and the leg swivels, as in there is a lot of lateral motion in the knee which is worse when he walks slow. Luckily he does not seem to be in tremendous pain. We just saw the orthopedic surgeon again today and he is recommending the bone plate be removed as he feels the lateral motion we are seeing is due to weak muscles in the right hind leg. The procedure should not be as hard on him as the TPLO was, but of course, you hate for your pet to have to go through anesthesia, etc. In regards to previous posts, as many bad complications that can arise with this procedure, it is the best option for a large dog. They will develop much less arthrtitis and therefore have much less chronic pain as they age. Despite the hard 8 weeks we had and the upcoming two weeks post bone plate removal, I am still glad I had this procedore performed.
I can’t thank all of you enough for sharing all this TPLO surgery information as well as all of your experiences we feel so much more informed about making our decision for our dog now.
Before reading all this information I was in the dark and could have been misguided easily.
I truly would recommend the “tight rope” method instead of the TPLO. The surgery procedure has been around long enough that they have gotten all of the kinks worked out.
You can view some of the information on this procedure on the home page of my dog’s vet (http://www.warrenanimalclinic.com/wacstaff.html). The cost is still about $3,000 (although, in our case, this might’ve been because they had to fix the botched TPLO). There are many vets that do the “tight rope” procedure, but I can honestly say that my dog’s most favorite vet does it best (thank you Dr. Lanier!!). Just today, Lola was zoom-zooming around in our 12 inches of snow. I never thought I’d see that again! Good luck with your surgical decision. Trust your gut…but please please please be cautious on the TPLO. It’s a horrid operation.
Physical therapy following any cruciate ligament is critical for a full recovery in order to keep the ligaments supple and to rebuild muscle mass and strengthen the joint. If you go online you can probably find someone near you (even your vet) who can help you set up a PT program for your dog. Swimming, BTW, is great exercise for recovery.
So what I did for my dog (since we don’t have any bodies of water nearby where she could swim) was I bought a Rubbermaid 100 gallon water trough, filled it with water, and put a swimming vest on Lola so she could not feel freaked by the water level (she actually could touch bottom, but the cooling effect of the water really helped). I would recommend making sure to have some type of sanitizer in the water (we used one of those Bromine floaters which are designed for hot tubs…this will keep anything from growing in the tank). If I had to do it over again, I probably would’ve gone with the larger water trough/tank so it would be a little deeper (probably the 155 gallon tank would’ve worked better). Gander Mountain has great water vests for dogs for around $30. The cost is still relatively affordable compared to a session at the canine PT (the water treadmill was running about $50 a session), the 100 gallon tank only ran me $80 from the farm bureau (a 155 gallon tank costs about $162 at http://www.gototanks.com/155-Gallon-Open-Top-Stock-Tank.aspx).
By the way, keep sessions short. We started out with 5 minute sessions and worked up to 12 minutes.
Ginny, I’d love to see the studies that support this statement. Do you have a link or a reference for us????
“In regards to previous posts, as many bad complications that can arise with this procedure, it is the best option for a large dog. They will develop much less arthrtitis and therefore have much less chronic pain as they age.”
I don’t think you can make a blanket statement that TPLO is THE best option for the large dog. It totally depends on the dog and other options can and do have comparable results.
I posted on this thread way back. My second dog with a torn acl, a 100+ pound rottweiler, is now more then a year post op having had the traditional extracapsular lateral repair. Post op went superb, we followed directions to a T and he is and has been almost perfect on that leg. Only someone familiar with these ACL dogs would know that he ever had a problem or had surgery. The first dog, 45 pounds, also had the lateral extracapsular repair done. Neither ever had any complications, they healed quickly, muscled out well, had full use of the leg, and never showed any signs of on going discomfort.
Yes complications can and do happen with any surgery but when you are talking about chopping up a dogs leg bone and then screwing and plating the whole mess back together the complications that can come out of that can be horrendous and even lead to loss of the limb or life. For me, I can’t see taking those risks when there are other options.
I posted back in September about my lab having TPLO. It was definitely a huge undertaking and expense and I still question if we made the right decision…my lab tore both rear CCL’s within one week of each other. We only had surgery on one knee and after seeing what our lab has gone through we have decided against any further surgeries at this time. Our Zeke’s other torn CCL seemed to heal while he was recovering from his TPLO surgery. Zeke is currently running and playing again 4 months post-op. It was a long road and we still have setbacks that come and go….no real explanation. I highly advise that you get all of the aftercare costs and med costs. Our original bill of $2700 ended up in the end thus far at probably $5000 once you consider all the meds for setbacks and all of the additional xrays. It is possible that our Zeke’s surgery was a complete success but only time will tell. Now we have to hope and pray that his other knee isn’t reinjured because I don’t think we want to endure another surgery! Good luck to you all!
One comment I have heard a lot in the last couple of years since I’ve been dealing with my own two dogs surgeries is “the orthopedic surgeon said TPLO was the best way to go”. Please people, keep in mind that TPLO is a huge cash cow to these vets. If they are going to spend x amount of time in surgery of course they are going to suggest the most expensive one!
Sorry to say just I do not see very many of these vets doing what’s best for each individual dog. What I have seen are too many McTPLO clinic’s where you can even get it done the same day you have your initial consult. I have watched every dog ahead of me get scheduled for TPLO. On two occasions I was spoken too very rudely by two different vets when I simply asked to have the other options/procedures explained to me. One of them even told me that the extracapsular lateral repair was foolish to even consider and “never” worked! Interestingly it’s worked beautifully on my two dogs.
There was also heavy pressure to schedule before I left the office and when I didn’t they called me daily until I got mad and told them after all this behavior I would never be back in their office for anything.
My point is, educate yourself, be as informed as you can so you can make the best decision for your dog. An honest vet will be happy to discuss all options, pro’s and con’s with you.
I did talk to my vet (same TPLO story), spent many hours of research on the web and then saw the surgury center folks. All gave the same story and made me feel like a creep for even considering anything less than TPLO. I am glad to hear the extrascapular has had good results and will try that if we have a next time.
I really pays to know your vet and your surgeon. I was lucky with mine — we had extensive discussion, including the options of very limited interventions as she already had pretty severe arthritis in her hips and front legs. I think that together we made the best possible decision for my dog, and have had a good outcome. The only “complication” we had was that she managed to break her front right elbow (don’t know how, she was in her run) once she reached the end of her recuperation period. She has, however, also recovered from that after another surgery, 8 more weeks of doggy prison, and lots of PT.
I agree with Rebecca. I know the motivations of my surgical vet…and it’s NOT a boat payment. He truly wanted to help fix my dog’s leg and to get her out of pain…and that’s exactly what he did.
With regards to the first vet that botched the TPLO (Decatur Alabama surgical center), he made a comment like “we’re just going to shave a little of the bone off”…which was totally untrue. What should’ve been said is that they are going to cut through the bone, move the piece down, put some screws through it so we can change the angle on the leg. If I had only known, I could’ve saved my dog so much pain.
Comparatively, the tightrope was a cinch. My dog was up the next day and was released to full activity within a month (unusual, but she was doing so well, the vet thought it was okay to do so).
For those of you using the old fashioned surgery, many of my friends have utilized that surgery in their dogs and they have done marvelously. I agree that the TPLO is the new kid on the block and it is a cash cow to those vets whose primary interest is how much money they can make in a year. I now tend to utilize the older vets since their motivations seem to be more pure. Good luck to all of you. Do the gut check and if it feels wrong (or pressured) remember, “when in doubt, don’t”.
My dog is getting ready to go to Dr. Milton outside of Birmingham, he is having to have his left leg tplo surgery repaired from his first botched surgery at another vets office in Nashville, Tn, could you give me any feedback., if this is the same office I have only heard good things about the vet. My dog is a 6 yr old english cream retriever and like everyone on this site, he is our baby, thank you
I stopped by here doing some research and I am very sorry for all the trauma many of the TPLO patients here have had. That makes me sad. However, I felt it important to indicate that Magnum, my 100ish lb Rottweiler has had the TPLO surgery on his right leg with great success. Recovery went exactly as the vet stated and the biggest issue was keeping him calm for 8 to 12 weeks; he has a little separation anxiety and gets excited when I come home from work and of course a strong prey drive and wants to meet all the cats in the neighborhood. He also loves playing with the neighbors dog. But all in all, it went very well and he uses it as if there is no issue. Now I need to get his left leg done. As another writer above stated, the breed size and activity level is very important to take into consideration when deciding between TPLO and tightrope. In my case, he is heavy and active and there pretty much isn’t another option. I do not relish the recovery or expense, but we do what we do because we love them. I hope this post helps someone. There are success stories.
Update: Magnum has had his second TPLO. This surgeon did an even better job it seems than the last one. We are on week 7 of his recovery and next week should be the doctor visit for checking it. He doesn’t act like he has had any surgery and wants to run and jump and play like he is a new puppy. If anything changes, I will update again. Cheers.
In reply to Gene. No definitive articles or published studies reporting TPLO is the best option for a large breeds, but about 15 years of small animal practice in which I have seen a very large number of severely arthritic large breed dogs with standard cruciate repairs and thick knees. Not much can be done for these pets but pain control and joint supplements, etc. On the other side, my older pets with TPLO surgical repairs seem to have fewer complications once the pet has healed and they certainly don’t come in with as many pain issues later In Life from what I can tell. This is just my clinical experience in a very busy practice, all clients should do their research but any surgery has potential risk and the possibility of failure.
I am writing out of the UK..and just wanted to post my comment regards TPLO. I have a labrador who at 12 months old started to limp on his right leg. Following checks with the vet surgeon (Specialist), we were advised that the best way to go was TPLO. Problem also escalating as at the same time we were told that is left leg following x-rays seemed to be in a worse state than the limping left!!..we were mortified, as my pup was and is my world…After much deliberation we decided to go with the TPLO on his right, and was hoping surgery to his left wouldnt be necessary until the first leg was at least healed. Nothing is ever that simple, as four weeks post op to his first surgery, the other leg pretty much followed. How could this happen to a 12 month old perfectly healthy labrador of 34lbs, perfect weight for his build? All in the genetics of breeding i am sure!!..So I now have a PUP 4 weeks out of first TPLO, going back to have a second TPLO. This was a truly upsetting time for all of us, however i must say that following both surgerys so close to each other my dog seemed to be pain free, and walking better on both legs as each day went by. For 12 months i was perfectly happy with my decision to go TPLO, no infections,and pain disappearing days after the Op’s, my pup seeming to be back to near normal. The following year (2 yrs old)..he began limping on his original right leg again…i felt physically sick, albeit he didnt appear to be in any pain, but there was a clicking noise that came back when he walked…he was always restricted to leash following these Op’s. I took him back to the Surgeon who suggested he go back in to take a look, and maybe remove the screws and plates, as these would have now served their purpose as the bone was healed. This was now the third op, and was sure i wouldnt put him through anything more, however i was assured this surgery was nothing like the original TPLO’s. All seemed to have gone well, and recovery was pretty instant. We are however now left with him not fully weight bearing on this leg. He does walk with it no problem, but stands to one side. He is now 3, and dare not take him back for a fourth time. He has one leg with plates and screws, and one without, and as long as my boy is free of pain, and is as happy as he is, then so am i. I would however appreciate any advice on future rehabilitation to help him back to fully weight bear on this leg, and other than the daily supplements geeen lip mussel, fresh fish, collagen etc i already give him. He is very fit, and all muscle is fully regained in both his legs. TPLO seems to have worked for us, however, for how long i am not sure…i worry everyday that he may become lame again….and would do anything to avoid this. PPs Total costs in the UK for both these surgerys including follow ups..in excess of £7000…but my boy is worth every penny! I would spend it again!!I do believe breeding genetics play a huge part in these problems..i maybe wrong, but would love to hear what anybode else believes.
So we just recently had to do another ACL repair (Lola’s third now, the first was the botched TPLO on the right leg, the second was the tight rope on the right leg to fix the botched TPLO), then Lola tore her left ACL about two week’s ago. I called our orthopedic vet (Dr. Richard Lanier at Warren Animal Hospital in Warren, Michigan) and he was able to pull a surgical team together for us so we could have the tight rope surgery done over Memorial Day weekend. This has been a hard transition because the initial surgery on the right (the botched TPLO done by the Decatur Surgical Center, Decatur, AL) had not been put together well, so even with the tight rope fix, it was not 100% stable. So now her bad leg was her good leg and she was having to use it more. One of the side effects of TPLOs too is bone spurs…so Lola has a bone spur in that right leg [which makes it a little more tender to walk on], but the data shows to leave that alone since removing it doesn’t mean it won’t come back again.
Anyways, I am happy to say that Lola is doing well. We are alot more cautious on her rehab protocol now that she’s on two repaired legs (we are using the protocol in Appendix 4 of the “Canine Rehab Physical Therapy” book written by Millis, Levin and Taylor).
It’s two week’s post left leg surgery and she is finally able to walk around the big block to do her “business”. Thank you Dr. Lanier and your wonderful surgical team for taking care of Lola. She has two more weeks before she can return to her pet therapy routine at the Millennium nursing home. Her buddies cannot wait to see her!
So it’s now 7 weeks since Lola’s left tightrope surgery and she is almost back to normal. We’ve been able to walk her a good bit and her right leg (on which she previously had a botched TPLO and a tightrope fix to the TPLO) has actually been strengthened due to her having the left side surgery done (see, there is a silver lining to every situation!!). So she no longer has the tetany (shaking) in her legs since both legs are much stronger. She still has a little rotation and a limp on the right side (due to the leg length discrepancy of the first [TPLO] surgery), but she is back to work as a pet therapy dog at the Millennium nursing home and is happy as can be. Yay!
So Lola did end up having a set-back after her third surgery. The meniscuses on both legs were torn (make sure that whoever does your CCL repair checks for mensical tears). This required one more surgery (University of Missouri vet school, Columbia, MO – Dr. Jimi Cook). He was able to fix both legs using a scope (MUCH LESS INVASIVE than a traditional meniscal repair!!). He also took out Lola’s TPLO hardware AND the tight rope hardware on her right leg (the initially botched leg). The surgery was done September 9th, 2011 (road tripped to Columbia, MO for about 2 days). The team at the Mizzou vet school were so absolutely awesome!! Dr. Jimi Cook is the inventor of the Tight Rope method (an alternate and less invasive repair instead of the TPLO). He, by far, is one of the most inventive surgeons I have ever met (which we totally needed since we had a funky right leg with bone missing, etc, on the TPLO side). Lola is now doing GREAT and is basically back to normal. We did underwater treadmill therapy for rehab so she now has nice even little glutes and is running around like a puppy again!!! YAAAAAAAY!!!
My dog is now three weeks out after TPLO, the only complication being on his second surgery and it was only severe bruising, which when put on an antibiotic went away almost immediately. I highly recommend TPLO. Not even half way into the second recovery phase and I already notice the change in my dog. He is his old self again, which I sadly haven’t seen in quite a while. It was expensive and a difficult time (because he wasn’t able to play, was very restricted and took a lot of medicine) but I am so glad we had the surgery. We were very fortunate that they both went so well, and that he is so young he could bounce back (just over 2 years old). If anyone has questions please don’t hesitate to comment. I know how many questions I had going into the procedure myself!
So I have two very active labs. My female tore her ACL at 4 and I was told that TPLO was the best surgery for her activity level and age. She is 2 years post TPLO and is better than ever. You would never know she had any problems. My male is another story however…He was 7 when he tore his ACL and based on the good experience from my girl, I had the TPLO surgery for him too. Every thing went well but 1 year later he is still “not right”. He is not in pain, he is very active, but still, just not right. After several vet visits they have determined that he may have some neurological damage.
So bottom line is I acted on the advice of experts. I am not an expert. So I did the best that I can do and will likely second guess my decisions forever. Just like our own parents did the best that they can do, we can only do what we think is best for our dogs. So whatever decision you make, please try to cut yourself some slack. You (and I) are not perfect, and the experts are clearly not perfect. So do your research, ask your vets and surgeons, then make your decision and pray for the best outcome. Good luck to anyone who is going through this.
Thank you, Frances. So true and so well put. There is no such thing as a risk free surgery and any repair has the potential to go well or not. I spent months regretting a poor outcome with a TPLO and wishing I had chosen a traditional repair. I felt so guilty and horrified at what my poor boy was going through. And then a friend of mine had a poor outcome with a traditional repair. It made me realize that beating myself up was misplaced energy. Now, if we can only figure out why there seem to be so many dogs with CCL tears. That is the issue that seems to need addressing.
We are in our 6th month of conservative management with our Rottie, we have given he all the usual supplements and regular injections of Carthrophen Vet (is not a pain killer ) We will be letting her off lead gradually over the coming months starting with a minute and slowly increasing. We have been swimming her which is great as she uses her back leg and it is helping to increase her range of movement, it is great as she can play fetch in the water without risk of re-injury.
When we took our Rottie to the Vet, yes he wanted to operate on both legs, my worry with TPLO is that if you are altering the angle of the knee then it must effect the way the dog is walking and this must effect the spine, causing more problems, also if this op goes very wrong than the animal may have to have it’s hind leg amputated, dogs can do well without their front leg but a hind leg!
Hi Daisy,
I am so glad that your rottie is doing well with CM! My 105 pound Shiloh Shepherd made a complete recovery from her torn ACL without surgery!!!! She is about 2 1/2 years post ACL tear and you would never know that she had it torn in the first place!!!
I lost two of my beloved canines when they developed osteosarcoma post TPLO surgeries. This is when the doctors were using implants that were not medical grade metal. The implants corroded into their tibias. The osteosarcoma that developed metastasized to their spines. Sadly, thousands of dollars and cancer treatments could do NOTHING to help them!!!! I wish to God I would have known about CM back then. (I lost them and a third dog in between these two all within 12 months of each other.
And by the way, my Trouble (shep/husky) DID have to have his leg amputated. It was his rear left leg….. and he got around just fine….. the only thing is that he needed some support going up steps, but he could go down them just fine. The very aggressive plate related cancer (as the surgeons called it) took his life four months post amputation. God I miss him!!!
So glad again your rottie is doing well!!!
Trouble & Fly’s mom
I have a 3 1/2 yr old, 100lbs male Rottie named Trigger. He tore his CCL and Meniscus and will be undergoing TPLO tomorrow. I am really nervous about this and have been doing so much research this week it is insane (I feel like I’m actually going crazy with this!). I really want what is best for him and with what has been said here it scares the shit out of me! I have also read amazing recovery stories and spoke to a few people who’ve had it too and everything went well (even 5-7 yrs later..). My main concern is bone cancer and other serious complications. I spoke to about 15 Vets in my region (Ottawa/Gatineau, Canada) and also a few other Vets in other cities in Canada and everyone recommended the TPLO since I have a bigger dog who’s active and often off-leash (camping, dogpark etc..) They all pretty much told me they weren’t comfortable doing the normal suture since there is a big chance it would break and he’d be back at square one..I was also told he would likely have more arthristis with the normal 1500$ procedure. I am in a way happy that they were honest and let me know they didn’t feel they’d have a successful job done (of course that right there eliminates me wanting to see them for that kind of procedure). As for the TPLO, there are only 2 specialist in our region, who’ve been doing it for over 10 yrs with a high success rate (the one who’s doing mine tomorrow is the only one who does ALL the clinics in my area–which is about 15 to 20 vet clinics). This is comforting, but it still doesn’t change that the TPLO procedure still has me a little concerned since it is so invasive compared to the other surgery. I’ve had elbow work done on my Rottie when he was 1 (non-cancer tumors) and they were done at the clinic I’m going to tomorrow and everything went well and I do trust them…so I really am hoping all goes well tomorrow, but I must say I’m really really sick to my stomach right now not knowing what to expect…in a way I wish I didn’t read all these bad stories (I am sorry to everyone who had to go through the rough patches, so sad!)..but on the other hand, I’m happy I’m going there informed. I must of called my vet 10 times this week with plenty of questions LOL. Oh well, find me annoying if you will..but I’m a mama who needs to watch out for her baby haha.
I’ll let you guys know how things go.
Wish us luck!
Jenn
Hi Jenn,
So sorry your Trigger has a torn ACL. If your dog’s ligament is NOT ruptured, you may wish to look into conservative management. Because my beloved Trouble and Fly BOTH developed cancer (osteosarcoma) after having the TPLOs done (and spending thousands of dollars could not save their lives!!!) I looked into CM when my 105 pound Shiloh Shepherd tore her ACL. Long story short: she made a complete remarkable recovery without surgery!!!! Her ex vet said this wouldn’t happen with a large dog. I had an orthopedic brace made which stabilized her knee, preventing it from having full range of motion so the ligament would not rupture, and then scar tissue formed to replace the ligament! You can see videos of my Kimber running around with her brace and two years later without the brace to see that it IS possible for a large dog to heal without surgery! And if you are concerned about it snapping when running, just put the brace on for rough activitiy!
I wish to God I would have known about CM and braces for Trouble and Fly….
Good luck. I wish you the best with Trigger. Here is a great site to learn the truth about ACL tears and procedures: tiggerpoz.com
Hi Miss Jenn,
I can totally relate to your situation. My experience with my dog Lola was not a good one with TPLO. If I could’ve done something differently, I would’ve had her leg fixed with the TIGHT ROPE instead. There are two vets that are absolutely wonderful with the tight rope method.
1) Dr. Jimi Cook (the inventor of the Tight Rope method) at the University of Missouri Vet School in Columbia, MO is probably the best surgical vet I have EVER met. In fact, NASA had him operate on one of their astronaut chimps when he blew his CCL out (quite a successful operation too!). He helped Lola with her last surgery and also fixed her mensicuses via scope (both legs) and removed the TPLO hardware.
2) The other vet who is wonderful is Dr. Richard Lanier at Warren Animal Clinic in Warren, MI. Lola had two tight rope methods done by him (one to fix her botched right leg and one to fix her left leg when it blew).
The vet school at Missouri, though, probably will cost about 50% of what you would pay at a private vet. My Lola is now back to “normal” after 4 operations. Dr. Jimi Cook and Dr. Lanier helped her get there (and thank God for the pet insurance too!!). We were in Michigan last week and Lola ‘ZOOM ZOOMED’ for the first time in THREE YEARS!! I’m so glad the post-TPLO horror is finally over. I would’ve never put her through this if I had known how bad it was going to be. I’ll keep you and your pup in my prayers tonight.
Marie (and Lola Bear)
Jenn,
I’m not going to sugarcoat watching your dog go through TPLO – it was terrible. I get upset thinking back to it. I will, however, say that after 8 months since my dog’s first TPLO (he had both legs done back to back) it was worth it. The first went well, no issues and my dog seemed to recover quickly, the second didn’t go as smooth. He got an infection and had serious swelling. My dog is all white so the bruising was absolutely horrifying (his leg was BLACK). After a trip to the vet for some antibiotics, and lots of heat on his ankle, he got better fairly quick, but I was exactly where you were.
It’s scary and not easy. Your dog will need a lot of help and carrying a 100lb. dog around won’t be easy. But it’s worth it! My baby is like a new dog, running everywhere, a lot more agility and always a big smile. Before he would get tired extremely quickly and have to lay down at the dog park. Now he owns it.
The first week will be the worst, but know that it WILL get easier and better. Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions, but this is worth it. I would also suggest, and I know this isn’t easy, but if you could take off as much time in the beginning of the surgery it will help you both a lot. Follow the rules your vet gives you and pray for the best. GOOD LUCK!
I have two labs that both went through TPLO. My first dog went through the surgery swimmingly the second was a little more troublesome but they are both doing ok now on the legs that were operated on.
Emily is right, the first week is the absolute worst. The best advice on that is to get your house ready if you have not already. I had to turn my couches and chairs to the wall so that they would not be tempted to jump up on them. I also got a bunch of x-pens (borrowed mostly) rather than using a crate since they are larger. I also put the mattresses down on the floor and surrounded one with a x-pen so my make could still sleep with me at night.
Not sure what kind of floors you have but once they get a little bit more freedom during the recovery road and are allowed to walk a bit, you want to make sure they do not slip. Home Depot sells peel and stick carpet tiles that I used to make a pathway for any open floor space between area rugs.
Depending on how long Trigger is at the vet’s when he comes home he may still be woozy from the anesthesia. They get really anxious and can’t settle down so if you can leave him at the vet’s one ore more days that is very helpful. I know the inclination is “I want him home with me” but being in the care of professionals for an extra day is not a bad thing. Just make sure they know and agree to the rehab steps (icing and range of motion exercises).
In terms of the bone cancer, (Full disclosure, I am NOT a vet but this is what my vet and the surgeon told me) when they first started doing these surgeries they used different hardware (plates and screws) and now most vets are using different materials that supposedly will minimize that risk. Not sure if it is true but having to dogs with titanium plates in there legs I want to believe it is true.
It is a tough surgery but you and Trigger will get through it. After a few weeks, living a more confined and contained life with Trigger becomes the “new normal”. Just know that it will be better. Once day you will wake up and all will be right with the world again. Good luck to you and Trigger.
Thank you all for your wonderful responses! I will respond to one at a time..
Trouble and Fly’s Mom— I actually saw your clips on YouTube and commented on one of them saying that because of you, I wouldn’t get TPLO done (unfortunately, it wasn’t an option in my case and in my region), but I must admit, you clip on YouTube HORRIFIED me of TPLO !! Trigger has a full CCL tear and also had a full Meniscus tear so just letting him heal wouldn’t have worked (I tried to let him heal for 2 months and I think it made it worst..) Also, the website tiggerpoz, is the other BIG reason I didn’t want TPLO..I read all about it…once again, unfortunately, it couldn’t be an option for me =( . I am really sorry about your loss! I can only imagine how hurtful it must of been!! Can you tell me how long it took between the TPLO and the death to occur (and how old were they?). I believe you said they used metal for your operations? ..I asked my surgeon and he uses Surgical Stainless steel. He does about 300 operations a year (he is a mobile specialist just for that in our region) and he has only seen about 1% of cases come back with a problem (either infection, cancer or something of this sort). My normal vet (where the procedure was done) told me that all the operations he’s done at their clinic has always been a success and that they never had someone come back with a complaint…so much so, that people see him to do the 2nd leg for TPLO if need be. I am kind of reassured by that anyways! =)
Emily— It must of been horrible to see your little one all bruised up, that’s horrible =(. So far, I only see one little bruise, but nothing more and the incision looks really good and clean so far! It will be EXTREMELY hard to carry my 100lbs boy (my back is already killing me and it’s only been 2-3 hours since we’ve been home LOL!, but he is worth the back breaking!!..he is sitting up and putting a LITTLE bit his foot down when he’s standing up so hopefully this week goes better than what you experienced.
Also, I do not work on weekends (this is why I wanted to do it a Friday) and I will be working from home on Monday and Tuesday..back in the office on the Wednesday — I think just being home for all the Meds time will definitely help and be a little less stressful, because these meds are insane (I marked them in my cell calendar because there are so many to take at different times and doses!)…on Wednesday, he’ll only be on Matacam for the next 3 1/2 weeks once every 24h, so this will be EASY to do LOL. I am glad your baby had a good recovery and is now really playful and energetic..thank you for the wonderful encouragement! =). I’m really looking forward to the 8 week mark to ensure the bone has healed, and then to the 4month mark for him to be able to do a little bit more without pushing the limits!
All in all, so far so good.. I know this is only the first day he’s back…but I was expecting WAY worst! I am taking mini vid-clips that I will post on YouTube if I figure out how that works (I never posted vids on youtube haha). I’ll share the links when they’re up =)
Thank you all again for all the replies..it is much appreciated and so far, I really think I did the right choice going with the TPLO…wishing nothing bad comes out of it!
Have a good night, weekend!
Jenn
Frances (that’s my Mom’s name
) — Glad your dogs are doing well today!! How long as it been since the operations?
Trigger got his operation done this morning and I went to pick him up at 6:30 tonight! I could of left him at the Vets, but no-one is there during the night, so I’d rather have him here. He’s been GREAT!! I thought I’d cry seeing him tonight, but nope..my crying was this morning before the OP haha (I was balling my eyes out at the Vet when I left him this morning lol). He is really quiet right now, sleeping, resting and not too concerned about whats going on around him (except his treats of course– he remembers those!! haha), He’s doing A LOT better than I was expecting =). As for getting used to being confined with him..that won’t be a problem… he is a pretty quiet boy unless I bring him to the park, camping or any outdoor activities…other than that, he mostly just lies by my side until I make a move..he’s definitely a mama’s boy (he even sleeps giving me his paw..REALLY CUTE!) haha. — I have a BF, but the BF doesnt like to cuddle at night, so I’m fine with “cuddling” Trigger instead haha!. ..out of this whole ordeal, I think the worst part will be seing him not being able to play with the other dogs. We have 2 other female puppy (3months) Rotties and a 3 yr old Border Collie. The pups take Trigger like he was their dad (he’s not the dad)…so ya, that part of confinment will be hard, but needs to be done for at least a few weeks until his legs incisions healed at least…then I’ll let them be around with no playing outside..just a little “tug&pull” (lying down) with them inside the house under supervision =)
Hi Jenn,
I remember now that you had signed the youtube page. I hope you and Trigger are doing well. Hopefully, he will heal without any complications and be like a puppy soon. My Trouble was 6 and 7 when he had his TPLOs. He began to show complication when he was 10. It takes time for the metal implant to corrode, and because the vets don’t do follow up exams 3 years later, many don’t know that these dogs have developed osteosarcoma, or like my dogs, the vets misdiagnose and repeatedly tell people there’s no cancer….only arthritis. Anyway, three years after Trouble’s second TPLO is when he was diagnosed with cancer directly at the site of the implant. He had his leg amutated and died exactly four months later when the cancer had metastasized to his spine. When my Fly exhibited similar symptoms, I knew she had osteosarcoma, as she had the same non medical grade metal implant s (Slocum implants) as patented by the doctor who developed the TPLO Procedure. The doctors repeatedly told me she didn’t have cancer…only arthritis. Her implant had been in her for 5 years. She was 3 when she had her TPLO. Doctor number 5 could see the tumor on the original x-rays…. like Trouble, it was already in her spine. We took her to a vet school for chemo, radiation, and a bunch of other tests that they told us would give Fly 4-6 months to live…8 if we were lucky. So of course I handed my charge card for them to take about $3400.00 to buy her this time. Sadly, they neglected to tell us how large her tumor was and she died 35 days into treatment….. treatments that did absolutely nothing for her. So she died when she was 8. Had this facility been honest and ethical, they would have said the best treatment plan for Fly would have been to just keep her comfortable. But had they done this, they never would have made their thousands of dollars. Shame on them.
Keep an eye on Trigger a few years from now. If he shows any signs of lameness, take him to a competent vet. It’s not just metal that can cause cancer but trauma to the bone…… and cutting the bone and screwing screws into it is a form of trauma. I wish you all the best for Trigger. Oh, by the way, my Fly had the traditional repair done first…. the nylon had loosened and her meniscus had torn which is why she had her TPLO. From what I know now, the only reason why a meniscus would have to be removed would be if it is causing pain. If there is no pain, no reason to remove it. My mother had a torn meniscus…. doctors did nothing and it healed on its own. There is actually more arthritis when the meniscus is removed…. there’s a purpose for the meniscus. Hopefully they .did the appropriate procedure for Trigger’s meniscus. I’ll keep him in my prayers for a complete safe recovery. In the future, you may consider having a brace made for any large dogs you have just to prevent a torn ACL. Best wishes to you both.
Jenn, you may wish to consider purchasing a sling or borrowing one from your vet. I got mine at “4 flags over Aspen” dot com, online. It makes getting in and out of vehicles a lot easier!
You may find one at the pet shop. Tho my ordered one only took two days. I was so happy. I’d sort of fashioned one out of a remnant of fleece by folding it lengthwise, leaving the middle uncut, while creating 3 strips at each end to braid and knot together for handles. It worked, until I had the real deal.
Anyway, it’s good to have your dog HOME, isn’t it? Expect this first week to be a bit difficult, but I’m sure you’re up to the job. I’ll keep him in my prayers for a full and safe recovery!
Thank you for all of the information Trouble & Fly’s Mom! I am in a way relieved that your pups took years and not months to develop the cancer (I thought it was shortly after the TPLO that they were diagnosed)..I will for sure keep an eye out on my boy! So far, I think Trigger had bad genetics..he had to have surgery on his elbows when he was 1..he has a hernia..and now this. I will look into a brace for his other leg! As for my other pups Rotties..their parents are in good health with no sign of any problems, but will still keep an eye out for sure! and the Border Collie..I think he’ll be fine.
As for my Vet, I think he is really good at what he does..He did not remove the meniscus, he only removed 50% (the damaged area) of the one that had issues ..and he did it with a scope which is A LOT better.
I can’t believe your Vet took your $$ to TRY an heal her when they knew she wouldn’t make it….some people are really horrible, but they will get what they deserve someday!!!!
Thank you for keeping Trigger in your prayers =). I must say..today was a bit harder than yesterday. He felt like being more active and it was harder to GO SLOW on the short leash to take him out for his business…Im hoping he didnt hurt himself doing it.He did rest for at least 97% of the day so at least that’s good! …how long did it take your dogs to be able to go out without support? How long did it take your dogs to be able to walk a little? ..I honestly am scared of going back to work on Wednesday (but don’t have a choice to go in because I have a deadline for a project)…but let me tell you, it’s been a 24/7 day job here taking care of Trigs…I barely slept last night, making sure he was OK (which is not like me, I normally sleep really deep ….I must have the “mom instinct” without being an actual Mom haha
Should Trigger be able to walk slowly on his leg without support in the next week or two?
Lucy— How long would I need the support for? If it’s only for a week, I think I’d rather stay with the towel since it has already cost me $3500 and don’t have much more $$ to put into this =(. If I would need to use the “towel” for another month..then I’d consider it, because I’m really breaking my back right now!!
)
As for the first week being difficult, I can definitely understand that lol..only day 1 home and it’s been rough. I think it makes it harder in my case because my BF is working 16h shifts during the weekend and we have 3 others dogs (2 being only 3 month old pups)..I cannot neglect the other dogs, so it’s been really stressful trying to furfill everyone’s needs, but I’m doing it — with the help of my little sister who is 12 and accepted to come over for the weekend to give me a hand (God praise her!
I have a question for you guys.. last night when I brought Trigger home, he had a little bruise, but nothing major…. today, the bruise got a lot bigger! is this normal or something to worry about?? I called the hospital and they told me not to worry, it’s normal….but I’d rather speak to people who have lived this then people who only answer what the doc says, but the doc hasn’t really been home with the dogs to see the actual results!
Thanks everyone once again for the great chats..looking forward on getting more info on what to expect (maybe I wont need to freak out on every little change lol)
Jenn
Hi Jenn,
I can’t believe your TPLO surgeon didn’t send you home with a sling!!!!!! What the hell is wrong with him?!!!! Both of my dogs were sent home with slings (of course I was billed for them) but the sling is easier than a towel.. I remember I used a towel for my paralyzed German Shepherd…. it was horrible on my back and arms.
To be honest, I can’t remember how long I walked them with support….. it was probably for a few weeks. Did the facility send a list of home instructions with you? Don’t assume that he’s fine just because he has the desire to be run and be playful. That bone needs to heal…. it is better to be safe than sorry. Take it slowly with Trigger…..
As for the bruising, just for your info, when my Fly had her traditional repair, she was sooooo bruised and swollen…. I was in contact with a homeopathic animal practitioner from Australia and she told me to give Fly the homeopathic remedy arnica. The arnica was amazing! Her swelling went down and the bruising was only there minimally. Hope Trigger does well. I’ll keep you both in my prayers.
I’m still using it for Stetson getting into the Jeep. I catch him under his belly with my arm getting out. His surgery was in August. For everyday walking, you don’t need it beyond the first week or so. The large unlined is only $19.00. Remember at first, I mentioned I’d made my own with the folded and braided fleece. It had a bit more give, but worked fine anyway. You could also find the stuff they make the straps with and machine sew a long “U” shape to the folded ends of your towel… thru all thicknesses. Look up the Quick Lift online so you have an idea.
Like I said, I’m still using it for the vehicle. While, he is certainly “capable” of jumping in on his own, his muscles are not ready for that until after the fourth month. They may injure the soft tissue jumping in and set themselves back 6-8 weeks . Stetson had a soft tissue injury while tethered when a young woodchuck wandered alongside my shed looking to build himself a new home under it. For Raven, I only needed it about 4 months of vehicle entry.
My dogs went to weekly hydrotherapy sessions, the underwater treadmill. So constant transportation was a must. I also opted to take them to locales such as the lake and nearby exercise parks for their walks. If you’re doing your walking in your immediate neighborhood, you’d only need it for the vet visits, I’m thinking. But they DO save your back. I’ve not regretted the investment, and I had 2 dogs to be hauled around like Mapes Moving and Storage!
Hi Jenn,
One of my dogs had the TPLO 3.5 years ago and she is still ok and cancer free. My vet, who does referrals does follow all the surgeons’s TPLO patients because both of his pets had TPLO. So he is just as concerned about cancer as I am.
My other dog had the TPLO 2 years ago now and is still cancer free. He had some bruising, swelling, fluid collecting on his knee and some popping and clicking. They said I should not worry but I did and brought him back down to the ver at least once a week for the first 3 weeks because I was so paranoid. But 2 years later he is ok.
I used a slip lead as a brace. Instead of putting the lead around his head, I slipped it around his hind quarters. So not sure where you live but look into freecycle.org. It is a place where people recycle stuff for free. Groups are formed in communitied all across teh US and UK (maybe elsewhere too). It allows you to post a “wanted” and people in the community will email you or post back if they have anything. I got some x-pens and crates through there all free then when I was done with them and I saw someone need them I gave them away. So you might be able to get someone to give you one they no longer need. I have even “loaned” stuff if I wanted to help but also wanted to get it back.
Also, if you have not watched the video on this site for slow, controlled, leash walking, try it. I always thought I knew what that meant until I watched the video. I kept my dog on a short leash but once they start feeling better, they are back to lunging at squirrels and crows and whatever else attracts them. I am glad I found the video while my guy Chester was still recovering cause he is a big lunger and has never made peace with the crows in my yard!
Good luck Jenn. You and Trigger are in my prayers.
Hi Jenn,
I just wrote you a message and it disappeared… so I’ll try to recap. I’m surprised your surgeon didn’t send you home with a sling for Trigger. Both Fly and Trouble had slings. I can’t remember exactly how long I helped support them but it was probably a few weeks. Remember you need to let that bone heal…… traumatizing it is not good! The facility I took Fly and Trouble to had given me a protocol of instructions as to when they could walk, physical therapy, etc.
As for the bruising, when Fly had her traditional repair done, she was sooooo bruised and swollen. I had contacted a homeopathic animal practitioner in Australia and she told me to give her the homeopathic remedy arcnica. I did this and the next morning the selling was down and the bruising was minimal….. it was amazing!
I know it is very stressful being a caregiver… but keep Trigger quiet. If you don’t have a crate, get a pen…it’s for his own good. I know you’ll take good care of him…. just be patient. I’ll keep you both in my prayers. Hang in there.
Thank you everyone for the info! I will look into all of your suggestions =)
My 104 lb, vey active 7 year old german shepherd had TPLO surgery, January 19,2012.
I begged and pleaded for the surgeon to send him home with sedatives as Chief is like a kid with Attention Deficit Disorder. Always hyper and on the go. The type that would wear the lamp shade at a party so to speak. He has a wonderful personality and used to do nursing home visits. All that said he came home with pain killers and metacam. Next he developed an urinary infection and many messes were cleaned up. He was put on antibiotics.
The surgeon called me on January 25 to tell me that the small tumour they had removed from his front leg was benign – note this has nothing to do with the TPLO surgery. The surgeon told me that day that he would look into giving Chief sedatives when he came in the following week for removal of his stitches. I told him that Chief was very hard to handle and was very hyper despite being on a leash, wearing a cone and a sling when going outside. Actually I was at wits end as I would have to grab his collar as he came out of his crate and try to settle down and prevent excessive movement. I work out 5 days a week and am very strong. Yet I was having a hard time controlling him. He was just so hyper. Even the pinch collar did not have much effect. He never fell and was not running and jumping but he would circle around almost in a panic attack while I was trying to stop him. That was today and I came home along.
Chief has been readmitted to the hospital. They took x-rays and 3 of the screws have come loose. They will be operating tomorrow morning. I believe the surgeon said that the plate was in place. I really did not retain everything he said as I am so upset. The surgery has to be minor as the total cost is only $800.00 and that include the xrays and required sedation today to do the xrays, hospital stay for two days, and the surgery tomorrow. The only additional fee will be for the antibiotics he needs as his urinary infection is not cleared up.
My initial surgery cost in total was close to $4000.00 all in. The house is so quiet tonight. Chief’s twin sister Justice and step brother Deputy Clyde are also very sad and keep looking for him. His younger step brother Judge is being kept by a friend. Chief just has to get better as he saved my life a few years ago and now I have to help him recover.
Wow, that is really sad that he had complications =(
I got my Rottie TPLO surgery done on January 13th 2012 and so far so good! The first days were very hard and he seemed to be sad (probably the meds), so I felt heartbroken seeing him like that, but NOW..omg..all he wants to do is run and play with our 3 other dogs! My only concern with him the first few days was that it took him about 5 days before going to do his business (#2′s)…the rest was fine, he ate well, slept well and interacted well. I brought him to the vet about 2 weeks ago to remove stitches and the Vet said all looked well. He is walking on his leg (since the first day) ..and I’m hoping that all goes well when we go for the 2months follow-up XRay on March 13th!
Hope your little baby gets better soon!! Good luck!
Yes it was just my luck as my research on TPLO indicates that only 10 -15% of the surgeries have complications.
I am waiting on the surgeon to call as his surgery was first thing this morning.
Thanks for your response Jenn. I will keep you posted.
My lab had same surgery they did same thing he rejected the implant and had to have it removed. The old corded repair is much better and the vet never mentioned options to us. Now after 4 surgerys my poor yellow lab has scars and the vets answer is well sometimes that happens .
We were also never told that a ligament can heal on its own. Do not leave that plate in there have them wire it lesss complications sorrty to tell you all this but tpl surgery is just major income for the vets.
Good luck today Cathy!
I think it all depends on your surgeon/Vet…for me the TPLO was my only option..I tried putting him on restricted exercise and on bed rest for a month and a half and he was only getting worst…so surgery it was. I called many clinics in my area and no-one felt comfortable doing the tight-rope procedure on my dog as he is a Large breed..I’m kind of happy they were honest about not feeling comfortable rather than do it and it fails or has major complications..
The surgeon who did TPLO on my Trigger boy is a specialist in the departement..it’s ALL he does! and he’s been doing knee surgeries for over 20 yrs. He is actually the only specialist ALL the clinics in my region use! He was very good, answered all my questions, uses less invasive tools (this is why it cost me $2000 to have him), uses stainless steel surgecial plate/screws…anyways all in all he seemed to really know what he was doing! I spoke to my Vet (which I know very well) and he told me that he’s never had a dog come back for a complaint after a surgery with Dr. Philibert (the specialist). Anyways..I’m in the Ottawa/ Gatineau region in Canada and if any of you need TPLO surgery done…I really do recommend seeing Dr. Philibert!
All this to say that I think recovery has a lot to do with how the surgeon did the surgery! So far, it’s only been 3 weeks since Trigger’s surgery, but everything has been going really well! His incision area healed well..and he’s been walking on it since the first day after the operation (of course I keep him on a tight tight leash)..but since the first week, he’s already been wanting to play and run around which is sad because I need to tell him No all the time LOL…
I also decided to sign up (free) to Top Dog Health..you should really check it out. The staff there are very fast at responding to any questions you have! I also bought the joint pills: GlycanAid-HA. I’m not sure if it works yet (only started them about a week ago), but they seem to be really good from what I read. They are expensive, but if it can help my dog recovery better and faster and MAYBE prevent his other knee from tearing, I’m all down for trying the pills! ..
Good luck everyone..it’s not an easy situation to be in when you love you baby so much and just want the best for him/her!
Thanks for the response. Chief was done by a board certified surgeon at Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Ottawa. Philibert used to work there before going on his own. My quote for Phllibert was the same as Alta Vista. Both close to 4,000.00 including all drug, surgery, post op xrays, etc, etc. The surgery itself was probably around 2,000.00. My vet suggested Alta Vista due to the aftercare if needed as they are a 24/7 emergency and general practice clinic. I am not blaming the surgeon except that Chief should never have come home without sedatives to be used if needed and trust me they were needed. Chief has the human equivalent of attention deficit disorder. He is a wonderful dog and I have dealt with his disorder by keeping him properly exercised and thus tired. No problem with Chief as long as he gets lots of exercise.
I spoke with several vets before making my decision. Philibert there was a 3 week wait before he could be done and my vet did not think he should wait that long. Alta Vista has 3 board certified surgeons on staff and all have great credentials.
Chief is now home from his second surgery to repair the damage he caused to himself. The surgeon told me there was nothing I did wrong and could not have prevented this given his ADD, which by the way he now realizes the full extent of how bad it is. My own vet told me that she could not imagine sending Chief home from surgery without sedatives but then again she knows him well. My only regret is not that I was not assertive/aggressive enough . I should have refused to leave until given sedatives after the first surgery two weeks ago. Oh well guess I am still trying to blame myself. Anyways he is not sedated and is currently lying on his bed on the floor beside me sound
asleep.
He now has an external fixator on him and his leg is bandaged. This will give the leg more support which is good but it also means bandage changes every 3-4 days by my regular vet and yes another cost.
To date I have spent:
$185.00 – my vet – exam and blood work
$3,700.00 – first surgery
$95.00 – urinalysis and medication due to urinary infection
$800.00 – second surgery
$300.00 – 400.00 for culture urinary test as his infection did not clear entirely up with antibiotics given and pain killers and his sedative
$27.00 – antibiotics
More to come as not done yet and now already around $5,200.00. If all goes well this time I expect the total to be over $6,000 grand as still have to pay for bandage changes, more meds and final xrays. Might even be $6,500.00.
He is worth it. I only want him to get better so we can start hiking on the ATV trails again and running through the bush behind where we live.
I do have bad luck as Chief’s twin sister Justice also has a damaged ACL. Hers is only a partial tear and she will be operated on once Chief is further along in his recovery. Another $4,000 grand for her. She is mild mannered and I do not expect the same trouble but no way am I leaving the next time without sedatives just in case.
Sorry this was so long. Thanks for reading. My advice is always verify that the surgeon is board certified for those in Ontario, Canada.
Cathy
Dear Cathy,
I read your posts about Chief…. I am soooo sorry he had such terrible complications resulting from his TPLO. Not to scare you, but both of my Shepherds developed osteosarcoma (bone cancer) after their metal implants from their TPLOs corroded into their tibias. Thousands of dollars could not save their lives or my broken heart.
I see that your Justic has a torn ACL. PLEASE…. look into conservative mangagement. My 105 pound Shiloh Shepherd tore her acl and I was NOT going to lose a third dog as from having an unnecessary TPLO. I had an orthopedic brace made for Kimber, did physical therapy, massage, water therapy, etc and YES….. SHE MADE A COMPLETE RECOVERY FROM HER TORN ACL WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF SURGERY!!!!!! It will be three years this May that she had torn it and she runs around like a wild girl! You’d never know that she had a torn ACL…. my regular vet wanted nothing to do with CM as he had his mind made up it wouldn’t work for a large dog. Well, Kimber is LIVING PROOF that a large dog may recuperate perfectly without surgery. Scar tissue formed to replace the ligament. You can see videos of Kimber with her brace while she was recuperating and without her brace (she only wore it for about 8 months. Just go to youtube and do a search for Kimber and conservative management. There is also a wonderful support group called “conservative management” at yahoogroups. There you will find lots of success cases and files to read. Thank God I did NOT listen to my vet for Kimber like I did for Trouble and Fly…. they would still be here had I known about CM. Best wishes to you and your pack.
Oh wow! Well that is really ashame! I also called Alta Vista, but since Dr. Philibert was able to come the same week I called my vet (he was doing another TPLO at my Vet), I decided to get him done there. My dog is pretty quiet for the most part, but as soon as I pick up that leash..watch out! lol. He’s 100lbs so it’s not always easy to keep him quiet (plus I have 2 other Rotties and a Border Collie he’d LOVE to play with), but unfortunately for him…it won’t be anytime soon! I let them be together inside the house one at a time, but no playing (other than tug of war between toys which he lies down to do haha)
I really hope Chief recovers well this time and pray that his 2nd leg is OK. Hope your other baby recovers well too when she gets it done!! You could maybe try “tight-rope” surgery with her instead of TPLO if she is less excited and weights under 70-80lbs..? If my boy ever has his left ACL tear, I’m likely going to do the tight rope surgery and his right leg should be strong enough to support it with the TPLO. The cost is SOOOOO much less..about $1000! Unfortunately not a lot of people want to do this procedure on my dog because he’s a larger breed, but I spoke to Dr. Philibert, and he is able to do it also…so I’d definitely want to go that route for the 2nd leg is ever it happens!
BTW…your 2nd dog who needs to get TPLO..did you already bring her to the vet to get checked?? if not, you should call Pet insurance before going to the Vet…they’ll cover 80%!! ..my mistake is that I went to the Vet to get a diagnostic before calling pet insurance…I could of paid only about 800$ for TPLO instead of 3800$!!! lol…just a thought
Good luck!
Wow. Cathy I am so sorry Chief ended up with so many sideline complications. That is rough. Tho I do know what it is to have to do surgeries on 2 dogs. Stets and Raven were 9 weeks apart with their surgeries… thanks to the monsoon season, prior to the eventual flood we had in our area. I hope your girl, Justice, has a better go of it.
Stets had a post operative, woodchuck realted injury… yes he was tethered, and the bone was healed but even a soft tissue injury can set you back 6-8 weeks in therapy. Raven’s recovery was straight forward and uncomplicated. In fact, her thigh measurements are absolutely equal… 100% recovery!
These are young active and athletically productive (agility) dogs. They love it so. Maybe they’ll be able to get back into it, mabe not. But whatever level… the dogs are worth the cost.
Jenn, I agree the skill of the surgeon has a great deal to do with it. with both dogs, I had little to no swelling… at all. They had the less complicated and less gruesome TTO. They were on their feet and able to walk the next day. Glad Trigger is doing well!
Heh Jen,
If I did not have bad luck I would not have any luck at all. Chief weighs now about 101 -103 since his surgeries but normally weighs in around 105 – 110 and his sister Justice is about the same. They come from big lines and are solid dogs. Ironic that Deputy Clyde is a year older (8), overweight (he does not exercise as much) despite being fed the same and he is showing no signs of arthritis, knee injuries,etc. He is healthy. I don’t know his background as I adopted him from a shelter at 1.5 yrs old. I guess one never knows why these things happen.
I explored all my options and decided due to the size of the dogs that tight rope was not the way to go. No sure now after this experience.
Yes, Justice has already been assessed. I self insured my dogs when they were puppies by putting away so much a month for each dog – instead of an RESP they have a DDIP – Doggie disability injury plan. Just thought that one up, think I am short on sleep and getting a bit delusional. All kidding aside they do have money put aside for this type of problem. I looked in to pet insurance and they wanted close to $100.00 with tax per dog 7 years ago. German Shepherd rate higher not sure. They at least then also only paid so much and there were deductibles and all that crap. All that said as much as I don’t like to spend the money, it is available.
It is the pain and agony they go through that hurts me more than spending their money. I am trying to keep my head up as in January 2005 I my german shepherd Felon went to the vet and was diagnosed with lymphoma. Despite chemo treatments and the best of care he had to be euthanized on March 12 as the cancer spread and he was in bad shape. At least with this they can get better. I try and keep this in mind and look at the bright side.
Hope your baby continues to do well. I also have four dogs – all German Shepherds. My two yr old Judge is with a friend for the next few weeks as he has a young dog and they tire one another out. It would be almost impossible for me to exercise him enough while taking care of Chief and Justice shortly. Clyde is inactive and a short outing is just fine as far as he is concerned.
Thanks for your concern. Keep me posted on your baby and his recovery.
Cathy