By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:15:09 +0000

Melanie, My first opinion for my dog was TPLO. She is 170 lb Mastiff who had torn both hind CCL’s. I did some research and yes, TPLO is more expensive, and I would have done it for her, but opted to get a second opinion at a teaching hospital (they perform Encapsulation, TTA, TPLO…not into tight rope yet, but I was certain I didn’t want that). I wanted a true evaluation for all three options. Going in, I was leaning toward TTA or Encapsulation. Because of her size and the fact that she needed both legs done, they recommended TTA. They had done 5 or 6 bilaterals in the past months and all dogs walked out in 4-5 days, assisted with a sling, of course. At 170 lbs, we knew this was our best option. Kendra had her surgery this past Friday and she was walking on Saturday evening. We had two legs done at the same price as one TPLO. Now I would also tell you that our friends had a 195 lb Mastiff who had his first encapsulation at 3 yrs old, the second one needed to be done a couple of years later….he lived to be 13 1/2 and was walking up to the end. So I was very interested in doing encapsulation. There were a few reasons I decided not to do encapsulation – she would not have enough stability to put pressure on both legs at the same time, TTA implants a small plate for that stability. the encapsulation specialist we would have gone to, not available for two more weeks and the fact that the teaching hospital could do any of these procedures, and they would still recommend TTA due to her size and the fact that we could not carry her or lift her. It was an overall approach that would work best for her and for us. Do some more research and get a second opinion, preferably somewhere where they do all of the procedures. We have always had our best results at a Vet teaching hospital…don’t know if you have access to one. Our Vet is very good about referring us to specialists and to the teaching hospital for further opinion. It sounds to me like encapsulation would work for your dog. Make sure they would use at least 2 wires, in case one breaks. The healing process is a bit longer because it relies on the body’s ability to develop scar tissue, which in fact, is what ends up being the stabilizer longer term. This is again why we couldn’t do it. By the way, the plate and bone cutting in a TPLO was more significant…in my mind, than the TTA. And we were told that it would be 4-5 weeks between leg surgeries due to the healing process of the first TPLO. Not a viable option for Kendra.

By: melanie

melanie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:30:13 +0000

i live in australia and have just been to the clinc to see a vet about ccl injury for my 6yr old labrador her name is Holly, she went lame about september last year. she weigh’s about 36kg an she is a lazy dog. Holly is quite happy to laze about the backyard an sleep all day, she does go for walks but not for long.Holly loves swimming in her paddle pool an our large pool. Other than that she sleeps an she is happy, the vet is recommending TPLO but i prefer extra capsular repair as it is less invasive an she is not an active dog the cost is not important. I have read everything possible on your site but still unsure, I am wondering if you could give me some advice on which one to do. I have another lab an she is very active with no ccl injury to speak of yet and i would not hesitate to do tplo on her but Holly i am not sure of. thanking you melanie from australia.

Comments on: What Happens if a CCL Rupture is Not Repaired?

By: Wendy

By: melanie