Does Your Pet Need TPLO Surgery?
Dogs have four legs, and they sure love to use them. Once they see you return from work, they’ll run to you, hop all around, and sprint around the room in excitement. Seeing your dog exhibit such exuberance is a delight, but that can be quickly taken away by a CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) injury. If you and your dog reside in San Jose, our team at Alum Rock Animal Hospital can provide treatment for that particular health problem. To be more specific, we can treat your pet’s CCL injury using TPLO surgery. Find out more about that particular type of pet surgery by continuing below.
Why Are CCL Injuries Bad for Dogs?
Before we get to the topic of TPLO surgery, let’s first discuss the injury it’s supposed to treat. The cranial cruciate ligament is an important part of the dog’s body as it helps distribute weight and absorb impact when they land on their feet. It’s also one of the ligaments responsible for keeping a dog’s knee joint in place. The knee becomes unstable as soon as the CCL sustains damage. Because of that, your dog may have trouble moving around.
Even getting up from a rested position may be challenging due to their damaged ligament. The pain they’re experiencing at this point may also be quite significant. A CCL tear can also get worse the longer it remains unaddressed. If your pet suffers a complete CCL tear, they may be unable to put any weight on their injured leg. The muscles in their leg may also atrophy if the injury is not treated in time. Visit an animal hospital near you ASAP and request treatment from the resident vet.
How Does TPLO Surgery Address a CCL Injury?
TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) surgery is not always the treatment option for canine CCL injuries that a veterinarian will provide. The vet may also opt for some combination of medication, physical therapy, and rest to address that injury. However, bigger breeds usually need to go under the knife if they have a torn CCL. The goal of TPLO surgery is to make the knee joint more stable by limiting the movement of the tibia.
Leveling the tibia and repositioning structures in the knee joint help accomplish that goal. Once your dog’s knees have greater stability, they are less likely to suffer ill effects from motions such as running or jumping. Your veterinarian will also tell you that recovery from TPLO surgery takes a while. Even on the short end, the expected recovery time from this pet surgery takes around four months. Some dogs may need as much as six months to recover fully from the procedure.
Determine the Need for Pet Surgery
Are you looking for a veterinarian near you? Should you schedule TPLO surgery for your injured dog? Find out by calling us at Alum Rock Animal Hospital. You can also drop by our animal hospital in San Jose to discuss treatment options for your pet’s CCL injury.