Anyone here with a dog that has had a TPLO procedure?

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ProjectBazza

ProjectBazza

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Just received confirmation this morning that one of our dogs needs this. I've had over a dozen dogs over the years, but never been through this, so looking for "been there, done that" stories and/or "tails".

Thanks.
 
Can you describe it or tell us what it's for?

If the T stands for thyroid, we had a cat that had to have his thyroid irradiated.

For 30 days, his poop was radioactive and there were specific handling and disposal procedures.

Sadly, it only bought him about 8 months. I'd do it over again, as they were 8 pretty good months.
 
ProjectBazza said:
Just received confirmation this morning that one of our dogs needs this. I've had over a dozen dogs over the years, but never been through this, so looking for "been there, done that" stories and/or "tails".

Thanks.
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My Beagle had this done when he was about 3 years old.. the vet warned me that while that one's healing he will blow out the other knee due to using it and not the fixed one.... he was right... i ended up with $3200 into 2 knees.. BUT.. that dog never had a issue for the rest of his life. and he was insane and would run/jump like a madman even after that...

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) | VCA Animal Hospital | VCA Animal Hospitals

Learn about tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (tplo). VCA Animal Hospital offers professional guidance to help you ensure the health and happiness of your pet.
vcahospitals.com vcahospitals.com
 
TPLO: Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy. Think canine version of a torn ACL.

Basically what they do is cut the bone, rotate the tibia 90 degrees, and let it heal. Supposed to be "the fix" for this ailment, but it just sounds so invasive to us.

One link: When Does My Dog Need TPLO Surgery? | Veterinary Surgical Specialists

Two link: Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Canines: Patient Selection and Reported Outcomes

Sounds really scary to, so I guess I'm just trying to "man up" about this.
 
ProjectBazza said:
TPLO: Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy. Think canine version of a torn ACL.

Basically what they do is cut the bone, rotate the tibia 90 degrees, and let it heal. Supposed to be "the fix" for this ailment, but it just sounds so invasive to us.

One link: When Does My Dog Need TPLO Surgery? | Veterinary Surgical Specialists

Two link: Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Canines: Patient Selection and Reported Outcomes

Sounds really scary to, so I guess I'm just trying to "man up" about this.
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ohh god no... mine wasn't done that way.. there are 2 ways to do it.. one way is they cut out the old ligaments and drill holes in the bone and run basically thick fishing line replacing the ACL.. in time scar tissue grows over it and it's strong...
The second way (which i had forgotten bout) is CRAZY hard on the dog and is not fixable if something goes wrong... if the first method goes bad they can just do it again....
 
Icetech said:
My Beagle had this done when he was about 3 years old.. the vet warned me that while that one's healing he will blow out the other knee due to using it and not the fixed one.... he was right... i ended up with $3200 into 2 knees.. BUT.. that dog never had a issue for the rest of his life. and he was insane and would run/jump like a madman even after that...

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) | VCA Animal Hospital | VCA Animal Hospitals

Learn about tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (tplo). VCA Animal Hospital offers professional guidance to help you ensure the health and happiness of your pet.
vcahospitals.com vcahospitals.com
Click to expand...
Thank you!!!

That was (is!) one of our concerns as well, and all three vets we've visited (long story) have told us this could happen.

Current price for this around here is $3,500-$4,000 per knee. Thankfully her right knee is still "good", but like you said....
 
ProjectBazza said:
Thank you!!!

That was (is!) one of our concerns as well, and all three vets we've visited (long story) have told us this could happen.

Current price for this around here is $3,500-$4,000 per knee. Thankfully her right knee is still "good", but like you said....
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i would find a different vet.. if you were in michigan i would send you to mine.. he is amazing and saved my dogs life when other vets said they would have killed him (chicken bones...) I paid 1600 each knee cash.. BUT.. my vet loved my dog so much they had a plaque put out front for him when he died...

P.S. Beagles are amazing dogs and crazy smart... gotta train em with food or they will never listen though :)

ike (1).jpg
 
Icetech said:
ohh god no... mine wasn't done that way.. there are 2 ways to do it.. one way is they cut out the old ligaments and drill holes in the bone and run basically thick fishing line replacing the ACL.. in time scar tissue grows over it and it's strong...
The second way (which i had forgotten bout) is CRAZY hard on the dog and is not fixable if something goes wrong... if the first method goes bad they can just do it again....
Click to expand...
Oh, boy!

The method you mention here is the Tightrope Method, but all of the vets told us our pup wasn't a good candidate for that due to her arthritis.

And she's only 5 years old.

Claire.jpg
 
ProjectBazza said:
Oh, boy!

The method you mention here is the Tightrope Method, but all of the vets told us our pup wasn't a good candidate for that.

View attachment 1716230909
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Well... pewp... a bit older too? (assuming from the gray muzzle) I just looked up the TPLO and it leaved a metal plate and screws and **** :( Sorry your dog is going through this... hope it comes out well..

I can handle people getting hurt no problem...but a hurt dog wrecks me... weird eh/
 
Icetech said:
I can handle people getting hurt no problem...but a hurt dog wrecks me... weird eh/
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Not really, no. I've been close to tears for the past 3-4 days about this, for the exact same reason.

I think it has something to do with the fact that people can understand, and comprehend, what's happening to them, while our dogs just trust us to love them, care for them, and not cause them any pain.
 
BTW.. i would still talk to other vets... the procedure we did is called ELSS.. Just read up... they say most vets don't do it on dogs over 35#.. my vet does them bigger.. my beagle was 55# of muscle (guy was a beast) and it worked fine..
 
What's funny is beagles never seem to notice pain... mine never let me know he was having issues, one day we are walking into work (he went to work with me every day) and was keeping 1 back leg up... happy as can be.. just.. i guess this is life now :) vet wiggled his knee and said yup.. time to fix er up..
 
Icetech said:
What's funny is beagles never seem to notice pain... mine never let me know he was having issues, one day we are walking into work (he went to work with me every day) and was keeping 1 back leg up... happy as can be.. just.. i guess this is life now :) vet wiggled his knee and said yup.. time to fix er up..
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Yup. Claire, our pup, has been a "trooper" about this. She absolutely loves to run "full out" in the woods around our place, just for the joy of running, but she's been coming-up lame lately. No complaints, as she's pretty stoic, but quite a bit of stiffness and limping. Breaks our heart to see it.
 
I have no advice to add, but want to wish Ms. Claire the best of luck with a full recovery. I'd bet she knows how lucky she is for y'all to be her people. Dogs can see SUCKER written on my forehead in bright red letters...lol. Wife & I have been dogless since 7-21-22. We love Shi Tzu's and are going tonight to meet one named Thurman in a rescue. He's an older dog that needs some help. Hopefully, he will like us and we can give him a safe and happy home for the rest of his life.

:thumbsup:
 
That's awesome, i like when people adopt the older ones :)
 
JDMopar said:
I have no advice to add, but want to wish Ms. Claire the best of luck with a full recovery. I'd bet she knows how lucky she is for y'all to be her people. Dogs can see SUCKER written on my forehead in bright red letters...lol. Wife & I have been dogless since 7-21-22. We love Shi Tzu's and are going tonight to meet one named Thurman in a rescue. He's an older dog that needs some help. Hopefully, he will like us and we can give him a safe and happy home for the rest of his life.

:thumbsup:
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Thank you.

And another "Thank you!" for possibly adopting an older dog from a Rescue! That speaks volumes about your character, IMO, and I salute you!
 
Dog's are people too...Actually better than most. Beautiful pup we wish her the best of luck whichever path you choose. There is certainly nothing wrong with being in tears over a wonderful family member like Ms. Claire. I have a fountain of tears when something goes awry with one of our dogs.
 
Hoping for the best for Claire, she looks like a great pup!
I know exactly what you mean about the affect it has when one of the dogs is ill.
My boy Charlie (avatar pic), has lost his appetite of late. My wife has tried several different things to entice him with little results. She took him to the vet on Monday and had x rays and blood work done. They found a mass on his spleen and we are taking him back Friday for ultrasound. It's been weighing pretty heavily on us both. He's 11 now, and neither of us is ready to let him go, but I know it's not necessarily going to be our choice.
 
missing linc said:
Hoping for the best for Claire, she looks like a great pup!
I know exactly what you mean about the affect it has when one of the dogs is ill.
My boy Charlie (avatar pic), has lost his appetite of late. My wife has tried several different things to entice him with little results. She took him to the vet on Monday and had x rays and blood work done. They found a mass on his spleen and we are taking him back Friday for ultrasound. It's been weighing pretty heavily on us both. He's 11 now, and neither of us is ready to let him go, but I know it's not necessarily going to be our choice.
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My heart goes out to you, your wife, and Charlie, and I sincerely hope it's not serious.

I had my spleen taken out when I was 12, and I'm still good to go.

But about 30 years ago I had a dog that got hit by a car, and the only thing of consequence that was damaged was her spleen. I probably don't need to tell you the rest...

Good luck this Friday! I'll be sending some Positive Waves your way.

donald-sutherland.gif
 
ProjectBazza said:
My heart goes out to you, your wife, and Charlie, and I sincerely hope it's not serious.

I had my spleen taken out when I was 12, and I'm still good to go.

But about 30 years ago I had a dog that got hit by a car, and the only thing of consequence that was damaged was her spleen. I probably don't need to tell you the rest...

Good luck this Friday! I'll be sending some Positive Waves your way.

View attachment 1716231104
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Thank you.
 
Our pup had it done a few years ago, while she was recovering, the other one went out. Between the two procedures, she was drugged and in a pen for over 6 months. It took about another 6 months for her to fully recover, not sure if it was from the procedure or all of the meds she was taking. She was a whole new dog though, tons of energy and always wanting to play. However, 3 or 4 years later now, she is getting some arthritis in the first knee they did. We have been giving her joint supplements, which seem to help. It doesn't appear to bother her once she is moving, but when she goes to stand after laying down for a while, it looks a bit painful.
 
Icetech said:
ohh god no... mine wasn't done that way.. there are 2 ways to do it.. one way is they cut out the old ligaments and drill holes in the bone and run basically thick fishing line replacing the ACL.. in time scar tissue grows over it and it's strong...
The second way (which i had forgotten bout) is CRAZY hard on the dog and is not fixable if something goes wrong... if the first method goes bad they can just do it again....
Click to expand...
We had a yellow lab that had two bad knees, one worse than the other. We didn't have the cash to spend the $6000 to do the TPLO so we went the cheaper route.....and about a year later it failed and damaged his leg worse than it was before. We had to have his leg amputated.

IMG_2949.JPG
 
Did this last spring. The dog is better BUT his leg gets stiff at night. He likes to run and when he does, it really gets stiff on him at night. The next morning, he is fine. Is it perfect, no, but we are glad we did the surgery.
 
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