Swimming is an excellent low-impact exercise for pets whether they just need to burn off some energy or as part of a rehabilitation program following an injury. However, the TPLO is one orthopedic procedure in which swimming is not typically part of the recovery protocol. Some rehabilitation specialists believe that swimming predisposes TPLO patients to inflammation of the patellar tendon (patellar tendonitis). The cause of this inflammation is thought to be due to the stress the TPLO may add to the patellar ligament due to the change in the mechanics of the knee. If your pet is a swimmer, discuss this with your veterinary surgeon or rehabilitation specialist.
There are multiple potential causes for lameness following TPLO ranging from simple soft-tissue inflammation associated with over-activity, to implant failure with a resultant tibial fracture. Keeping your pet calm and on-leash for 8 weeks is easier said than done. That said, it’s important to do the best job you can to follow the rehabilitation protocol given to you by your veterinary surgeon. If your pet has come up sore, it’s best to contact your surgeon. They will rule out everything from a simple soft-tissue sprain or strain, infection, meniscal injury, and fractures of the patella, fibula or tibia. Most complications following TPLO are minor and can be medically managed. In some cases, additional surgery may be required to remove an infected plate, remove a torn meniscus, or to address a fracture.
Following TPLO, the bone plate and screws are responsible for holding the two segments of the tibia together until the bone has healed. This healing process takes about 8-12 weeks. In the meantime, the plate must endure all the stresses of weight bearing. Too much activity too soon could lead to implant failure and thus high-impact activity is not advised. If your pet is left free in the home and runs through the house to play or when someone comes to the door, or if your pet is jumping up and down off of furniture, this is considered high-impact activity that could increase the risk of serious complications post-operatively. If your pet is crate trained, it is recommended your pet be confined to the kennel when not outside on-leash to go to the restroom. If your pet is not crate trained, then it’s best to confine your pet to a small room in the home such as an office, a laundry room, or a large walk-in closet. If you are watching TV, or working at a computer, your pet can be with you, but again it is imperative that they are not allowed to run freely in the home.
Pets are often kept off food and sometimes off water for 12 hours prior to surgery. They are then given medications that can alter the motility of the gut. It is common for pets to urinate and/or defecate while under anesthesia or for the hospital staff to express the bladder so that patients don’t wake up with a full bladder. They then go home and may not have an appetite or want to drink for a day after having anesthesia. Finally, pets may have difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate following surgery on a leg. For all these reasons, it can often take multiple days following surgery for pets to go to the restroom.
It’s not uncommon for dogs to not want to eat following anesthesia. Don’t be surprised if it takes a few days for your pet’s appetite to get back to normal. Sometimes your veterinarian may recommend feeding a bland diet consisting of rice, low-fat cottage cheese, plain yogurt, or boiled chicken (without the skin) for a few days following surgery and then gradually transitioning back to your pet’s normal diet.
Your ACL vs Your Dogs CCL
The cranial cruciate ligament in dogs, (often referred to as the CCL, ACL or cruciate) is a strip of tissue connecting the tibia (shin bone) to the femur (thigh bone). In people, this ligament is known as the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL.
Unlike the ACL in people, in dogs, the cruciate ligament is load-bearing due to the fact that a dogs leg remains bent while they are standing. If your dogs cruciate becomes injured or torn, your dogs knee will become unstable, reducing your pups ability to run and walk normally and causing pain.
During the first eight weeks, we are completely relying on the implants (plate and screws) to stabilize the surgery site. It takes a minimum of eight weeks for bones to heal and good scar tissue to form. This process can take longer in geriatric pets or those with other systemic health conditions.
In dogs, the presence of arthritis is typically secondary to an underlying disease process (elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear, fracture, etc.). Frequently, treatment of the underlying cause will greatly increase a patient’s comfort level. However, arthritis can be a debilitating and painful disease in dogs and reverse the disease process is not possible. However, some interventions may slow the progression of arthritis. The following information gives an overview of the treatment of and prevention of further arthritis development. If at any point, you have questions about the potential therapies listed below, please contact your veterinarian.
Though physical rehabilitation protocols have been found to be beneficial in the recovery following TPLO, there is not an established rehabilitation protocol approved by all surgeons or rehabilitation specialists across the world. If you have elected to proceed with a TPLO on your pet, we strongly recommend that you follow the recovery protocol provided to you by your veterinary surgeon. However, this protocol may give you a general idea of the recovery period. Some pets may limp after surgery. If this occurs, please have your dog seen by your veterinarian so a treatment plan can be instituted. Finally, there is an arthritis protocol with helpful information about managing arthritis for the life of your pet.
There are multiple reasons why a patient may not want to bear weight on a limb following surgery. If your pet is not bearing weight within 2 weeks of surgery or develops an acute onset of lameness any time after surgery, please contact your veterinarian. Below are some of the more common reasons why a pet may limp following surgery.
Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL or ACL) tears in dogs are typically a degenerative process and in most cases is associated with the development of osteoarthritis. Whether medical or surgical management is elected to treat the injury, a commitment to managing arthritis can help increase the odds of a successful long-term outcome. There are four important cornerstones of arthritis treatment (please see below for detailed explanations on each of these):
Why is my dog still limping after TPLO surgery?
If your dog has required ACL surgery and is still limping afterwards, you may be worried if the surgery has been effective.
ACL surgery is common in dogs, and limping post-operation is even more so. Dogs can’t immediately put their weight on the operated limb, so it is natural for them to bear weight on their other legs—and that means limping. It’s normal for this to continue for several weeks after surgery.
But how long should the limping last after dog cruciate ligament surgery? There are milestones post-surgery that you need to monitor, and keeping up with regular vet appointments is the best way to monitor your dog’s recovery.
Some dogs may continue to limp after surgery, and in this case, ensuring your dog isn’t in ongoing pain is the priority. Physical therapy and medical management can help ensure your dog makes a full recovery from cruciate surgery.