The overall intent of the surgery is to reduce the amount that the tibia shifts forward during a stride. This is accomplished by making a semicircular cut through the top of the tibia, rotating the top of the tibia, and using a bone plate to allow the tibia to heal. This realignment of the surfaces within the knee helps to provide stability during a stride and helps to reduce future joint inflammation and osteoarthritis. By carefully adjusting the angle or slope of the top of the tibia, surgeons can create a more normal configuration pf the knee joint and reduce mechanical stress.

Your pet will need a comprehensive exam and consultation with our Doctors to confirm Diagnosis and to discuss treatment and surgical options. At that visit, your pet will undergo radiographs of both knees, along with a physical exam. If surgery is planned for your pet, a patient's overall health is important to know prior to anesthesia. Pre-surgical blood work will be taken prior to surgery to allow your Doctor to evaluate certain vital organ functions prior to administering medications that altar the body's physiology before, during and post-op for your pet.

For most dogs of any size, and particularly for large, active dogs, surgery is the best way to return them to full function and lessen problems with osteoarthritis later in life.

There is no surgery of any kind that is risk-free, and TPLO has a list of known potential complications. However, most complications are rare, they can include general anesthesia risks, infection, to implant failure.

Most common complications following surgery is bruising and swelling. Our surgery team will instruct you how that handle this at home to help treat and prevent with icing therapy.

We encourage you to discuss and ask any questions with the Doctor at the time of your pet's exam prior to surgery day.

The TPLO surgery is an invasive surgery and it is most important that post surgical aftercare is followed closely to help guarantee the most successful outcome possible for your pet.

Your Pet will be under strict post-operative activity restriction and will receive appropriate pain control medications before, during and after surgery. At the time of surgery your will receive a nerve block that will last an extended amount of time post-operatively to allow oral medications to take affect to make sure your pet stays comfortable at all times.

Your pet will also received Therapeutic Laser Therapy to help with healing and pain control. This therapy will be discussed and scheduled at the time of discharge from surgery.

Healing from TPLO Surgery is generally rapid.

About half of all canine patients begin walking on their surgical leg within 24 hours of surgery and two weeks after the operation, most dogs bear moderate to complete weight on the affected leg.

By ten weeks, most dogs do not have an appreciable limp or gait abnormality.

By four months after the operation, most dogs begin walking and playing normally, with only the most stressful activities still restricted.

Full physical activity is usually resumed at six months post op. ​

Pain management during and after knee surgery is critical, so be sure to give all medications as prescribed and use them until they are gone.

If at any time you feel that your pet is painful or uncomfortable, please contact us to receive guidance.