Have you ever watched a football game and seen a player go down grabbing their leg? The announcer might say something like, "That looks like a possible ACL tear." They are talking about the anterior cruciate ligament. The same type of injury can happen to your dog, but it's actually a different ligament called the cranial cruciate ligament. If that happens to your dog, and you live in Huntsville, AL, bring your furry friend to Huntsville Animal Clinic for TPLO surgery.
What Does This Surgery Do?
When your dog ruptures its CCL, its knee will become unstable. Your vet will likely recommend Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgery, which will give your dog the range of motion when it strides that it lost before due to the ruptured ligament.
What Happens During the Surgery?
When you bring your dog to the animal hospital, the staff will put it under anesthesia so that the veterinarian can perform the surgery. This involves cutting the bone, putting it in a new position, and then securing everything with a plate and some screws.
What Happens During Recovery
This process is very similar to what humans go through after surgery. There needs to be a period of time when there is very little to no physical activity. You might have to put a cone around its head to keep it from licking the surgery site and removing any sutures. Expect to make a few follow-up visits so that the vet can check how things are healing.
It's important to monitor your dog's health while it recovers. Limit its activities so that it won't suffer any setbacks. If you notice that it's lethargic or seems to be in pain even when it should be healing, or if you see any discharge from the surgery site, contact the animal hospital immediately.
You can take your dog out for it to do its usual business but try to do it in a place where it won't get excited at seeing something like a squirrel and strain at its leash. You may even bring it to rehab and hydrotherapy as it gets its gait back. Talk with your vet about whether this is the best option for your dog. It's a safe surgery for almost all breeds, but you should make sure. Then you can be ready to assist your dog as it heals.
Contact Our Veterinarian at Huntsville Animal Clinic
Are you looking for a veterinarian near you? We're ready to help at Huntsville Animal Clinic. Contact us for an appointment with a skilled vet who can perform pet surgery, among other veterinary procedures.