My big girl Blueberry absolutely loved running after her ball. At 143 lbs, she would fly across the grass or leap into the air, rarely missing her target. Then one day, after a vigorous play session, I noticed a slight limp in her back leg. I thought it was a muscle strain, but despite strict rest for about a week, the limp didn’t improve at all. It was time to see the vet. 

The vet manipulated Berry’s leg, and after observing her movement, he suspected a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). The next step was X-rays, which confirmed a partially torn cruciate ligament. It’s definitely not the news you want to hear, considering the lengthy recovery and the exorbitant costs of treatment! 

I decided to see a specialized veterinary orthopedic surgeon, who explained that Berry would need surgery to correct the damage. This involved a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, or TPLO, which is an orthopedic procedure to stabilize the damaged knee.

Ultimately, I went ahead with the surgery, which was successful, but only a year later, she required a second TPLO on the other leg, and this is where we experienced a few complications. 

If your dog has a CCL tear, you’ll want to know what the pros and cons of TPLO surgery are, coming from someone who experienced it twice! By sharing Blueberry’s recovery, I hope you feel more confident about the treatment you choose for your precious pet. 

What is the Difference Between a Torn and a Partially Torn CCL in Dogs? 

Before we can delve into TPLO surgery, you should understand the difference between a partial CCL tear and a CCL rupture in dogs. The cruciate ligament is responsible for stabilizing the knee joint, so when it’s injured, it no longer holds the knee in position. Much like an ACL tear in people, the shifting joint causes pain, swelling, and limited movement. 

Some dogs are prone to damaging the cruciate ligament due to poor biomechanics, which comes down to genetics. For example, Blueberry had quite a high rear and extra weight that placed unnecessary pressure on her CCL. In addition to structural issues, running, jumping, and slipping can easily tear or rupture the ligament. 

What is a Partial CCL Tear?

In the case of a partial ligament tear, several ligament fibers are still attached to the joint. This can be somewhat good news as small-to medium-sized dogs may benefit from conservative therapy. However, if the ligament completely tears or ruptures, the knee becomes completely unstable and, if not corrected, can lead to severe arthritis. 

The first time Blueberry injured her leg, she partially tore her CCL. The bad news was that her weight and frame meant that she wasn’t a good candidate for conservative therapy, and she wasn’t a very social dog, so regular visits to a doggy orthopedic center were simply off the table. The specialist vet informed me that surgery was the best option to repair her knee and that her second leg was at risk of a tear or rupture because all of her weight would now be placed on the “good” leg. 

What is a Cruciate Ligmament Rupture?

When Berry ruptured her CCL, she would barely touch the ground when walking or standing, which is described as “toe touching.” She struggled to climb steps or get onto the bed, essentially moving on three legs. After much discussion with my regular and specialist vets, Blueberry received TPLO surgery for her CCL injury. 

What is TPLO Surgery for Dogs?

Your dog’s TPLO surgery involves cutting the edge of the tibia, which is the lower leg bone (also known as the shin bone), to alter the knee’s angle. The knee is then stabilized with a metal plate and titanium screws, bypassing the damaged ligament. For active and larger breeds, the TPLO has a greater long-term success rate compared to conservative treatment.  

The Costs of TPLO Surgery for Dogs

Another factor to consider is the cost. Cruciate ligament surgery is expensive. TPLO can range between $2000 and $6000; however, some veterinary clinics may offer a payment plan if you aren’t covered by pet insurance. 

If your vet has suggested a TPLO to repair the torn cruciate ligament, it will take time, patience, and strict care to get your canine companion mobile again. And while it seems overwhelming, more than 90% of dogs that receive surgery for a torn cruciate ligament go on to live a perfectly normal life. Once the bone knits the two segments together, which are reinforced by the plate, your pooch will be able to walk, run, and jump. 

A Breakdown of Blueberry’s TPLO Recovery

To give you an idea of what the TPLO entails, I break down Blueberry’s recovery: 

Week 1-2 

I’m not going to sugarcoat this: the first week of Blueberry’s surgery was the worst. Not only was she in tremendous pain, but the stress of keeping her quiet took its toll on me. If your dog is crate trained, then restricting their movement to the crate will make things a little bit easier. I confined Blueberry to the living room, only letting her out on a lead to relieve herself. For the first two weeks, I slept on the sofa, administered pain medication, and monitored Blueberry’s incision for signs of infection.

Your dog will likely need assistance getting up, especially if they’re large and overweight. I would place a sheet under Blueberry’s belly to gently lift her when she struggled to lift herself off the floor. When the sheet made her uncomfortable, I would allow her to shift and shimmy until she could get herself up. 

Restricted movement is vital during the first few weeks as the bone takes time to repair. You’ll also need to keep an eye on the wound, as infection can set in very quickly. For the first week, the leg will be bruised, swollen, and inflamed. An ice pack must be placed on the area every few hours to ease the swelling and inflammation. Don’t try to remove the bandage or fuss over the wound at this stage, but if you notice that the swelling isn’t subsiding, the redness is worsening, or a discharge has developed, it’s time to see your vet. 

Week 3-4 

The third week of CCL recovery still involved confinement and walking on a leash in the yard, but as the wound started healing, a new problem developed. Blueberry began licking and chewing her knee. Because I couldn’t cover the leg and Berry hated the cone collar, I had to supervise her constantly, which wasn’t fun. 

Despite her leg looking quite red and angry during the second and third weeks of recovery, she didn’t develop an infection. Your dog will be given antibiotics along with pain medication. Be sure to provide the medication with or after food, just to avoid stomach irritation, unless otherwise stated by your vet. 

During the recovery, I had to gently lift and bend her leg as part of her physical therapy at home. If you have a social dog, you can attend a physical therapy center with aquatic activities, laser therapy, and trained staff to prevent discomfort. 

Week 5-8

By the fifth week, I was increasing walks around the yard on a leash, and most of the swelling and inflammation had subsided. At this stage I still controlled Blueberry’s activity, but with her incision looking great and her placing more weight on the operated leg, I was confident we were on the mend. 

Stiffness when getting up is expected during your dog’s recovery, but if it persists, give your veterinarian a call. 

After the eight weeks, Blueberry was walking off-lead in the yard, and I would take her for a slow walk halfway up the road and back while on lead every second or third day. Of course, I didn’t allow her to run like lightning or leap onto the furniture, but once we reached the five-to six-month mark, she was back to her regular antics. 

TPLO Complications in Dogs 

Approximately a year after Blueberry’s first TPLO, she developed a limp in her “good” leg. I wanted to cry because I knew she most likely ruptured her CCL. The vet told me that her second cruciate ligament would probably tear because of physical stress and her size. I returned to the specialist vet, and upon examination, he confirmed a rupture. 

The vet proposed using a plate that was removed from the leg of another dog to reduce the costs. I agreed because the plate was a suitable size and I would save on the expense of the procedure. While the surgery was successful, a few weeks later, I noticed a small bubble form on the scar. I assumed that this far along, it was some irritation from licking the leg. But over a two-month period, despite the wound having closed, the bubble would ooze a clear liquid. I kept it clean and thought it simply needed time to heal. It was only when Blueberry received her diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma that the vet recommended removing the plate before proceeding with her chemotherapy. He was afraid that the bacteria from the plate would spread with a weakened immune system. 

Once the bone has knitted together, your dog doesn’t need the plate to move around. It is safe to have the plate removed when an infection occurs. 

Alternative Treatments for CCL Tears in Dogs

Your vet will create a rehabilitation plan, or you’d have to visit a rehabilitation center to strengthen and build your dog’s muscles for joint support. It is a long process involving rest and controlled activity. In addition to exercise, dogs may wear a leg brace to restrict movement and receive anti-inflammatories to ease pain. 

An important part of recovery is keeping your fur friend’s weight in check. A little potbelly or a few extra rolls will place unnecessary pressure on a compromised joint. 

While there are successful cases of conservative therapy for dogs with cruciate ligament tears, many eventually reinjure the weak joint and suffer from a CCL rupture. 

If you think that a three-to six-month recovery is a long time, conservative therapy can take longer to recover from than surgery. In all honesty, conservative care for a cruciate ligament tear is better suited to small or lightweight breeds. Older dogs may also be less tolerant of TPLO surgery, and there’s the risk of being under anesthesia for a few hours during the procedure. 

Helping Your Dog After CCL Surgery 

I recommend investing in a good quality joint supplement to protect your fur companion from rapid joint degeneration. All dogs that undergo TPLO surgery are at higher risk of the early onset of arthritis. I used fish oil, including salmon oil to keep my girl’s joints healthy. 

Ultimately, patience and attentiveness are crucial for your pet’s recovery. You must follow your vet’s instructions, I cannot emphasize this enough. Even if your dog appears to be more active and less painful, stick to the rehabilitation timeline. Rather be overly cautious and control their activity than risk a sudden outburst or a sprint that will compromise the repaired joint.