TPLO Surgery

[t951]

It looks like my lab has torn her tendons in her back right leg and will need TPLO surgery. She goes in tomorrow.

Has anyone here had this procedure done on their dog?

Any tips? How was the recovery?

She's the gorgeous girl on the right....

[KFC911]

Don't know anything about TPLO, but I know two spoiled (nothing wrong with that) good lookin' dogs when I see 'em ! Good luck!

[stomachmonkey]

Have had it done twice on our Mastiff. Easily twice the size of your girl and it literally saved her life.

It's almost always an issue with the angle that the joint meets.

Is actually predictable.

Bad news is if the dog does one they are almost certain to tear the other within a year.

Surgery looks worse than it is.

Really the only option for a larger dog.

My advice, take out pet insurance. Will save you a boatload of cash when it comes time to do the second leg.

Insurance does not cover a pre existing but I look at it this way, if i break my right arm that does not guarantee I'll break the left.

Stairs are a no no, restrict movement, take a towel and sling it under her abdomen and support her when she goes out for bathroom walks.

Good luck, it'll be fine.

[t951]

stomachmonkey,

thanks for the info. she is 8, i wonder if i can still get pet insurance for her.
did you crate your mastiff? how long did it take her to get better?
i have read what you said, and i was told the same thing, it will most likely happen to her other leg.
is your dog fine now?

kc911,
you are very right! spoiled and loved. wouldn't have it any other way!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by t951

stomachmonkey,

thanks for the info. she is 8, i wonder if i can still get pet insurance for her.
did you crate your mastiff? how long did it take her to get better?
i have read what you said, and i was told the same thing, it will most likely happen to her other leg.
is your dog fine now?

kc911,
you are very right! spoiled and loved. wouldn't have it any other way!

Hi,

She tore the 1st at 5 yrs old then the other pretty much a year to the day.

We had to put her to sleep at 9 due to bone cancer in the hip. Obviously nothing to do with the TPLOs.

10-11 is average span for the big ones anyway so she had a pretty full life.

You would never have known she had the surgeries. Her gait was a bit different and she looked slightly bow legged but it did not impede her in any way whatsoever.

She still ran as fast as before and swam just as strong.

She was up and around within a couple of days but full recovery was a few months. They look better before they really are. It's really the bone mending properly that takes so long. You need to remember that because if they break it things can get bad in a hurry.

We did not crate her, just limited her space so she could move turn around and roll over freely but that's about it.

I'd give the insurance a shot. You really have nothing to lose. How does her Vet feel about her odds of tearing the other one?

[john walker's workshop]

$3200 for one side on my lab. cut the joint/reposition it and steel plate. he hasn't messed up the other one yet, in 4 years. i built a ramp so he wouldn't have to climb stairs in/out of the house. no running for a while, so you can't let him outside without a leash. good to go after a couple of months or so. never seemed to slow him down from the beginning. supposedly, they've found that a less invasive/cheaper method is just as good.

[TechnoViking]

We spent about 4 large on our lab mix for one leg about 3 years ago. He's been fine since.

Worst part was the recovery when he was all groggy from the anesthesia. Couldn't get up to go to the bathroom. I tried to help him out the door and must have touched his leg. He bit my hand pretty good.

[t951]

stomachmonkey,
the vet basically said it is par for the course, more than 50% chance.

jww,
3200!!! wow, i think we were quoted 2500. glad to hear that your lab didnt need the other leg done. i asked the surgeon about the other method, she said that she wasn't as experienced with that tactic. she told us that she has this method down and that she is very comfortable with it.

[emcon5]

My German Shorthair had a knee done early 2006.

We kept him sedated, and in a crate until he was healed, only going outside on a leash under supervision. It sucked for a while, but it was necessary for it to heal. He is back to his normal self now.

[targa911S]

Big Henry (R.I.P.) had it when he was 2 years old, and yes he blew the other one out before we could even get him to surgery on the first one. It is really the only option on big dogs. On e little ones they can use mono filament but they can't do that on the big ones. the short story is that he lived, walked and ran again for 11 years with no problems other than some bad days because of weather. They basically re-engineer the knee. Shown here:




At the time Henry had it done, there were few vets that could do it and they had to be trained by the inventor of the procedure. It was pricey like $2,000.00 for each leg. He was a bit bow legged as a result, but his legs were sturdy as ever and he lived a long active life. Rehab was keeping them down for a few days, then towel walking at first so he could "take care of biz", and then daily walks. You are in Fl so let her swim in your pool. Good no impact exercise.

You are in FL. Who is doing the job? I had Henry done when we lived in Clearwater, could it be the same Vet?

[stomachmonkey]

Ask your vet about the swimming.

We had 2 different guys do the knees and they both said to hold off on the swimming for a few months.

Dakota was also big, 150 lbs. The bigger the dog the more potential for problems so that may have been why no swimming was advised.

TPLO is the only option for large dogs. The fishing line won't work. There are small dogs running around with blown ACLS but you may never even know it.

We were at $2,800 for the 1st knee, $3,200 for the 2nd. The second knee they went in with a scope 1st to clean out which resulted in a smaller incision and less time in the OR so we felt it was worth it.

Don't freak out when you see her, they are gonna filet her from the hip to the ankle.

Think I have some pics of Dakota post op. Will post if I can find them.

[t951]

We are going to AVS in Maitland (near Orlando). They are supposed to be the best. You cannot see them directly, your animal has to be referred by another vet.

The scope thing, I wonder (and hope) they can do that tomorrow. My wife is so stressed out. (In the next 3 days she has a job interview, our dog has TPLO surgery, I am currently laid off and her mother is having major surgery due to uterine cancer!!)

The tough thing with the dog is going to be the swimming. She swims EVERY day.

I am so NOT looking forward to seeing her cut up. She is the most loving, gentle girl that has ever lived. Pure sweetness. This is killing us.

Anyway, thanks for all of the information. I can post an update afterwards if anyone is interested.

I am amazed at the number of us that have that procedure done for our furry family members!

[targa911S]

It will be ok. As you said a lot of us here have had to have it done for them. The clinic in Clearwater was the same way, referral only. But believe us it will be ok. Your baby will be just fine. She will need your help at first but they are pretty resilient and she will be bouncing around in no time.

And hell yeah keep us posted.

[911Rips]

My 165lb Great Dane blew out his right side and had the TPLO surgery 1.5 years ago, worked through the three month recovery and immediately blew out the left side last spring. The key in recovery is following Vets' directions on keeping them leashed so they have time to heal.
Rudy is doing fine now and runs like the wind. His steel plates are like Sky Scraper beams.
Good luck!
Paul

[targa911S]

I know this sounds sick but when we got Big Henry's ashes back, I looked for the metal beams. They were nowhere to be found. Must have been a really hot fire or they sifted out.

[targa911S]

Soooooo how did it go today? How is the baby? I thought about you and she all day today.

[t951]

Emma was out of surgery at 530p yest. They said she was groggy-eyed but fine. I am hoping for an update around lunchtime. We pick her up at 4p. We are so nervous! I am on sterilization duty making sure she can't get her wound dirty.

Thanks for asking. I will post pics and update in a little bit.

[targa911S]

Good! Glad it went well. That leg will be wrapped like a mummy from hip to toe so relax on the sterilization. Give her a hug for us, and Jack sez " yeeha!" ( Buddy too!)

[targa911S]

So how did it all go? How's the girl after the weekend? How about some pics?

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by targa911S

I know this sounds sick but when we got Big Henry's ashes back, I looked for the metal beams. They were nowhere to be found. Must have been a really hot fire or they sifted out.

Small aside to answer your question:

I once met a guy in a bar who worked at a crematorium. (for humans).

He assured me that you never actually get the ashes of your loved one. Instead they incinerate all day and then divide the total ashes up amongst all the waiting urns at the end of the day.

So that's not necessarily only aunt Doris on the mantelpiece.