Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)

It is not uncommon for pets to have delayed urination or bowel movements after surgery. Pets are often kept off food and sometimes water for 12 hours prior to surgery. Medications given during surgery can alter gut motility. Additionally, pets may urinate or defecate while under anaesthesia, or hospital staff may express their bladder to prevent them from waking up with a full bladder. After surgery, pets might not have an appetite or want to drink for a day, and they may have difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate, especially if surgery involved their legs. For these reasons, it can take a few days for pets to resume normal urination and bowel movements. Rest assured, when they need to urinate or defecate, they will.

It’s not uncommon for dogs to lose their appetite following anaesthesia and it can take a few days for your pet’s appetite to return to normal. Generally, by the following morning they will be ready for at least a small meal.

Some dogs may have mild diarrhea following anaesthesia due to the stress associated with the procedure. However, both diarrhea and vomiting can be serious, life-threatening symptoms. If your pet has diarrhea or is vomiting, it’s important to contact your veterinarian for advice.

All dogs respond differently to anaesthesia, and it can take some pets longer than others to get back to their normal self. If your pet’s attitude isn’t back to normal within a few days of surgery, it is important to have them evaluated by a veterinarian.

While it doesn’t occur after every surgery, swelling around the ankle can develop approximately 2-5 days following TPLO surgery on the leg. It will typically go down without any treatment over the course of a few days. If it is painful, or you remain concerned, it is important to contact your veterinarian for advice.

There is no universally approved rehabilitation or activity protocol established by all surgeons or rehabilitation specialists. Following TPLO surgery, the bone plate and screws hold the two segments of the tibia together until the bone heals, which takes about 8-12 weeks. During this time, the plate must endure all the stresses of weight-bearing. Excessive activity too soon can lead to implant failure. Generally, stairs should be avoided early in the recovery period. However, if stairs are unavoidable, it is typically acceptable for your pet to walk up or down them. It is crucial not to let your pet run up or down the stairs or jump off them. Always use a leash while your pet is healing, and a sling (or towel) can be used under the belly when navigating stairs to prevent slipping and falling. The sling also helps you control your pet’s pace.

The most likely cause of a popping noise from the knee is the femur sliding past or over the meniscus. Sometimes this popping noise may be associated with pain, other times it will not. If your pet is in pain, there may be a meniscal tear present. In some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove the torn portion of the meniscus, while other times, medical management may be pursued. If there is no pain or lameness associated with the popping noise, then typically no treatment is required and, in those cases, it frequently resolves as the tissues heal and strengthen.

Following TPLO surgery, the bone plate and screws hold the two segments of the tibia together until the bone has healed, which takes about 8-12 weeks. During this healing period, the plate must bear all the stresses of weight-bearing, and too much activity too soon can lead to implant failure. High-impact activities such as running through the house or jumping off furniture should be avoided as they could increase the risk of serious complications. If your pet is crate trained, it is recommended to confine them to the kennel when not outside on a leash to go to the restroom. If your pet is not crate trained, confine them to a small room in the home, such as an office, laundry room, or large walk-in closet. When you are watching TV or working at a computer, your pet can be with you, but ensure they are not allowed to run freely in the home.

Following TPLO surgery, the bone plate and screws hold the two segments of the tibia together until the bone has healed, which takes about 8-12 weeks. During this healing period, the plate must endure all the stresses of weight-bearing. Excessive activity too soon can lead to implant failure, so high-impact activities are not advised. It is strongly recommended that off-leash activity is not allowed until radiographs confirm complete bone healing.

There are multiple potential causes for lameness following TPLO, ranging from simple soft-tissue inflammation due to over-activity to implant failure resulting in a tibial fracture. If your pet is sore, it’s best to contact your veterinarian. 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 address a fracture. To minimize the risks of post operative concerns and complications it’s important to keep your pet calm and on-leash for 8 weeks as well as follow the rehabilitation protocol given by your veterinary surgeon as best as possible. 

Every pet recovers from surgery at a different pace. While some pets appear to have made a full recovery within weeks of surgery, others may take months to reach their full potential. Studies have shown that it can take 6-12 months following surgery for patients to exhibit limb function indistinguishable from a control population. If your pet’s level of function is of concern, it is important to contact your veterinarian for recommendations to help get your pet back to peak function.