TPLO Recovery: Your Post-Operative Priorities

As you know, during TPLO surgery part of your dog’s tibia is actually removed and repositioned to better support the femur to take stress off the ligaments. That bone graft is secured by a plate and screws, but it still needs to “knit” to become fully stable.

Post-surgical recuperation, in general, isn’t much different with dogs than it is with people who’ve just had knee surgery. You generally have five main goals:

· Let the anesthesia clear his system
· Keep the surgical wounds protected, clean, and dressed
· Allow the bones and surrounding tissue to heal by restricting activity
· Maintain your dog’s comfort
· Minimize disruption to your household routine

The usual recovery period for TPLO surgery is eight weeks, though your dog’s breed, age, and size might affect his progress in either direction. Your surgical vet will most likely give you a timeline similar to this:

Days 1-2
In most cases, you’ll bring your dog home the same day as his surgery. He’s going to be sore and a little groggy. Your veterinarian will provide you with a care sheet, and she’ll either give you an anti-inflammatory pain medication or recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever. If your dog is a large breed, ask your vet for tips on how to safely carry or support him.

Once you’re home, make sure your dog has a quiet place to rest, preferably on the margins of your home’s activity where he doesn’t feel isolated but won’t be disturbed. Use safety gates to restrict access to stairs and long “runways”, and keep exterior doors closed.

During the first 4-5 days, apply an ice pack wrapped in a dish towel to the joint for 15 minutes at a time. Frozen peas work great, “molding” to the joint for best coverage. Cold treatment will help reduce swelling and discomfort. After 5 days, switch to a heat pack—no hotter than what’s comfortable on your own skin.

Your dog’s digestive system might be a bit upset, so try feeding him small meals of cooked rice and chicken meat for the first 24 hours.

Plan on helping your dog to get around and relieve himself for the first day or so, though it’s good to let him put a little weight on his healing joint as soon as he’s able. This actually helps recover muscle mass, range-of-motion, and bone density. Just don’t let him overdo it!

Your dog will have to wear a special collar to prevent him from chewing his surgical site. Even so, keep an eye on the bandages to make sure they remain in place and follow your vet’s instructions for cleaning the wound site.

Weeks 1-2

Once the surgery drugs are out of his system, your pet’s going to want to get up and move around. Dogs tend to heal quickly, but they can also be good at hiding discomfort. Don’t let him trick you into thinking he’s “all better”! Too much activity too soon can set him back in his TPLO recovery.
Take your dog outside for five-minutes on leash walks to help keep the muscles and knee joint moving freely, but avoid the following at all costs:
· Play behavior with other dogs
· High-impact activity (running, jumping)
· Steep stairs
· Climbing on (or jumping off) furniture

Keep checking the wound site, and never leave the special collar off your dog when he’s unsupervised. Licking and chewing the site can cause serious infection to both the skin and to the healing joint itself.

You should be able to leave your dog unattended most of the day if your household members are at work or school, though someone will need to come in to let him out on-leash for potty breaks on his regular schedule. Dog doors should be kept locked to prevent unrestricted access to large spaces, and if your dog is crate trained, he will be less likely to have an accident. Though more than a couple hours in a small space will cause him to become stiff.

Weeks 2-8

By now, your dog is probably full of energy and moving better than he has in years. Don’t be tempted to push his limits just yet! After about the eighth week, your vet will most likely clear him for regular activity, but until then you’ll need to gradually increase the time you spend outside walking on the leash. By the seventh or eighth week, for example, you’ll be up to two 20-30 minute walks, with short “potty breaks” throughout the day. You might want to continue using heat treatments after his walks, or anytime he appears a little sore.

During this period, you’ll visit your vet for a follow-up, and she’ll remove your dog’s stitches or staples. Be sure to follow her instructions for any further wound care or pain management. However, dogs usually don’t need pain medication after the first couple days.

About PUSM

Shenyang Pusman Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. was established in 2006. It is a professional enterprise integrating R & D, manufacturing and sales. It specializes in producing medical equipment according to national standards. Our company's main products: medical electric saw drill series; imported brushless motor series; domestic high-quality brushless motor series; medical electric drill pendulum saw integrated multi-functional system; hand, foot and ankle special system; pedicle screw screwing into special power; external Fixed needles are screwed into special power; external fixation series; bone cement cannula; bone cement guns and other orthopedic surgical instruments.

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