by tploinfo | Oct 16, 2019 | TPLO Recovery, TPLO Surgery
Separating the misconceptions from the facts when it comes to an ACL tear in dogs will help both you and your dog have the best experience possible. There’s a lot of information you can read on the internet about this subject, but not all of it is true. Whether it’s from the surgery itself, how to help your dog recover safely or how long the recovery process takes, we’ve cleared up many of the misconceptions about TPLO surgery.
TPLO Surgery Isn’t Always Required With an ACL Tear
Humans sometimes don’t need surgery following an ACL tear, but that generally isn’t true with dogs. The anatomy of a dog’s knee is much different than a human’s, so much more damage can be done if TPLO surgery isn’t performed on a dog. A severe case of osteoarthritis could develop, additional meniscal tearing could occur and other side effects may be present if TPLO surgery is avoided.
Most Dogs Won’t Tear Both ACL’s
An ACL tear in dogs usually occurs because of wear and tear. So if one side gets a slight tear, then the dog will compensate by putting more weight on the other side to balance themselves out. The result is more wear and tear on the healthy side, which increases the risk of tearing the other ACL.
Dogs Will Be in Significant Pain Following TPLO Surgery
With the technology available today, dogs usually won’t feel a lot of pain immediately following TPLO surgery. The combination of the bone plate and screws used to stabilize the dog’s leg helps the dog feel much more comfortable compared to many other types of surgery. There will still be some discomfort, but significant pain usually isn’t common.
Dogs Must Be Strictly Confined For Weeks
It’s very important to take it easy with your dog following TPLO surgery, including restricting them from doing certain activities they are used to doing. This doesn’t mean they aren’t allowed to go for a walk outside for weeks, but it just means they shouldn’t be chasing birds or squirrels in the park any time soon. If you have stairs, it should be safe for them to climb them if you are there to watch. It’s very possible your dog will feel like playing after a couple of weeks, but as a pet owner you have to refrain from doing excessive activities for a while to ensure the best TPLO recovery.
TPLO Surgery Only Needs to Happen With Show Dogs
An ACL tear in dogs is painful. Most of the time you hear about TPLO surgery being performed on show dogs so they can get back to performing at the highest level. However, you don’t want your pet to be in pain, so TPLO surgery is a viable option for even the average dog. TPLO Info wants to help dog owners learn more about the process of TPLO surgery from start to finish. It’s a very serious procedure and requires a significant commitment from you as a pet owner, but you’ll be at peace knowing your dog will be back to normal in no time.
