Questions you should ask your surgeon:
1. Is my dog to young to have this procedure done?
Any dog over eight months of age can have this procedure done. Many dogs suffer chronic pain from partial ACL tears that could benefit from earlier surgeries. Your dog has the best chance to return to full function of the leg with the TPLO procedure.
2. Is my surgeon licensed to perform the TPLO surgery?
Any surgeon that performs this procedure must be licensed to do so. We are confident that any facility that has the ability to do TPLO’s will offer this as the best possible procedure for the best possible outcome. There are many other ways to fix this problem, but none that can offer 99.9% return to full function. Our surgeon was the first veterinarian in Vermont to be licensed to perform the TPLO. His experience can be seen in the outcome of his patients that have undergone this procedure at S.A.V.E.S..
3. How long will I have to keep my dog confined after surgery?
Recovery and rehabilitation are crucial stages that the owner must be prepared for. The first six to eight weeks after surgery is a time of limited exercise. During this period the bone is healing and we recommend avoiding stairs, jumping up on furniture, and any sudden bolts of energy. Once a radiograph has been taken at the end of the recovery stage showing sufficient bone healing, your dog is ready to move on to the rehabilitation phase. This period of time is spent slowly allowing your dog to return to normal activities. We start out with controlled leash walks, increasing distance by each day. Swimming is a great activity during this time as long as your dog can be off leash and you are confident about his/her listening skills.
4. Will my dog be able to walk after surgery?
Patients recovering from TPLO surgery typically are ambulatory just a few hours after surgery. All patients will go outside for a short walk later that same day. Owners comment frequently about how much more comfortable their dog seems just the following day after surgery. For those dogs with bilateral (both hind legs affected) we routinely operate on both legs the same day. These dogs also walk out on their own after surgery.
5. Will my dog be in a lot of pain?
Your surgeon should have a pain plan for your dog that begins before surgery and lasts for the first few weeks afterwards. We start our plan with the application of a Duragesic Patch, a slow release dermal patch that is applied to the top of the back the day before surgery. This patch will continue to release pain medication for an additional 3-4 days. The morning of surgery all patients are given additional pain medication, and all patients are monitored throughout the surgery day for suffering. Patients are discharged from the hospital with Rimadyl, a specially formulated pain medication for dogs.
6. Who will be with my dog after surgery?
Patients should be monitored closely after surgery for any signs of complication. Our hospital assigns a personal nurse to each patient. The nurse stays with your dog through recovery and tends to any needs he/she may have. The nurse will also be available to give updates through out the day, and is the clients personal contact. The hospital also has the ability to send email pictures of your pets hospital stay to reassure nervous parents. Throughout the day the nurse will monitor pain, and keep the surgeon informed on the patients’ progress. This one-on-one care makes a big difference in helping your dog feel comfortable in the hospital and helps to reassure them when your not their. Our surgeon is always available, and will check on the patient throughout his/her stay in the hospital.
7. Do you have a list of clients who have had a dog go through this procedure with your hospital that would be willing to talk with me about their experience?
It is very important that you feel comfortable with the decision to have a TPLO procedure done on your pet. After talking with the surgeon, the next step should be to talk with clients familiar with the hospital and get a feel for what they went through during and after the surgery. You should ask them how they feel their pet was cared for, was the surgeon friendly and informative, were their questions answered promptly and how did their dog do afterwards? Feel confident that you have made the right decision about your dogs health care.
8. Where would I stay if I were traveling from far away?
Many clients come from great distances to have the TPLO performed on their dog. We have several local motels and inns to choose from that can accommodate many different tastes.
9. What complications might I encounter?
Most dogs go home with some swelling in the leg after surgery. This swelling goes down over the next few days without complication. A clear discharge from the incision site may occur for the first few days home. This is normal but if it turns cloudy, has any odor to it or your dog stops eating and drinking this may be a sign of infection. We ask that you call the hospital with any questions or concerns. Our doctors are always available, 24 hours a day, every day. We have the owner remove the pain patch if they are comfortable doing this, usually 2 days after surgery. Your pet may seem a little more painful the next day after the patch is removed, this is normal and he should adjust within a short while. Continue to give him the oral pain medication that was discharged with him. Excessive licking and chewing at the incision site should be stopped. Your own veterinarian should have a special collar that can be worn to prevent this from happening.
10. Does my dog have to stop taking his/her medications before surgery?
Our surgeon would like his patients off of all pain relief medications (Rimadyl, Etogesic, Aspirin) one week before surgery. Thyroid, seizure, and heart medications should be continued right up until surgery. Always bring these medications with you when your dog is admitted so that we can continue giving them during your pets’ stay. Please don’t hesitate to call the clinic with questions about medications that your dog may be taken that could interfere with his/her surgical plan.
11. What should I bring with me when we come for surgery?
Bring any medical history records, x-rays, or other information about your dogs’ diagnosis. It is also nice for your pet if you bring a favorite blanket or toy. Many of our patients are checked into the hospital the night before surgery, and so if your pet has a favorite food feel free to bring this with you.
12. I am coming from far away, when will I meet with the surgeon?
Clients that travel from great distances many times will come prepared to have surgery that following day after consulting with the surgeon. We can accommodate these requests as long as we know ahead of time. We recommend that you speak with the surgeon on the telephone first, asks the questions that we have listed on this page, then make the trip. Our surgeon is always available for a consultation both before and after surgery, and we will try to accommodate you however we can. We guarantee 100% satisfaction. Asks our clients!
For more information on the TPLO surgery or any other orthopedic procedure performed at S.A.V.E.S., please give the clinic a call at (603) 298-8331.