TPLO Surgery

Seeing your pet limping around can be alarming. This behavior can be caused by a sudden injury or one that develops from wear and tear. Pets may end up needing a procedure known as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, otherwise known as TPLO surgery. This type of surgery helps repair and stabilize the affected joint in your pet’s leg. At Westside Animal Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, our vet team offers this procedure to help ease lameness and other difficulties moving around.

What Is TPLO Surgery?

This kind of procedure involves cutting the bone that is right below the knee, called the tibia, to turn and place it in a stabilized position. Screws and a bone plate hold it in place. This provides the affected joint with better stability and helps replace a ruptured or damaged cranial cruciate ligament, or CCL. Our vets might recommend this surgery if your pet is showing signs of a torn or ruptured CCL.

Reasons Pets Need TPLO Surgery

The CCL ligament can tear from wear and tear that happens over the years. This ligament cannot be repaired or replaced when it reaches this point. Your pet might limp and develop stiffness and pain in its hindquarters if the torn ligament is left in its place. Other signs of a torn ligament include trouble jumping or getting up, decreased overall physical activity, and reduced flexibility. Pets with this kind of injury might also have lameness and muscle atrophy in the affected joint.

Having TPLO surgery helps restore the range of motion to the joint. This procedure also helps ease pain and other symptoms of a ruptured CCL.

What to Expect from TPLO Surgery for Your Pet

Our veterinarian team will have you follow specific instructions beforehand if your pet needs this type of procedure. We will also answer any questions you have about TPLO surgery. Your pet will be placed under anesthesia and carefully monitored throughout the surgery.

Your pet will likely need to stay at least one night at our animal hospital for observation since this is invasive surgery. We will provide you with instructions on post-surgical care for proper healing.

Contact Our Cincinnati, OH, Animal Hospital

It can be an incredibly scary feeling when you notice your pet has been limping or showing lameness, but Westside Animal Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, is here to help put your mind at ease. Contact us at (513) 574-5000 and schedule an appointment today. Our veterinarian team will examine your pet thoroughly to determine if TPLO is the right treatment for your pet. We can also recommend other forms of treatment to help your pet get back on its feet.