When dogs are active and playful, they are more likely to experience an injury. Most of the time, dogs get injured in the leg area–specifically the knees–due to excessive movement.
Their knees contain a ligament called the Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) which often gets torn from constant bending and jumping, causing the dog to limp and struggle with the pain.
In most cases, orthopedic surgery is required to fix the tear, and often, TPLO surgery is the solution for it.
Risk Factors of Tearing CCL
The risk factors that increase the chance of a CCL tear include excess weight, old age, and physical activity. If your pet has any of these risk factors while participating in their regular dog training, they may be more susceptible to injury.
For example, if your dog is overweight, the weight may cause more stress and tension in their muscles, causing a possible CCL tear. Studies have shown that obese and overweight dogs are 4x more likely to develop a CCL tear than dogs that are at an optimum weight for their breed.
Dogs that experience an absence of physical activity are at a heightened risk of developing a CCL tear, which can significantly impede their mobility and lead to further health complications. Therefore, to lessen the likelihood of this injury, some steps can be implemented in order to help avoid this trauma. They can engage in agility training or any physical activity, adopt and maintain a consistent exercise regimen, eat a nutritious and balanced diet, and participate in regular training programs.
Agility training and other consistent exercise regimens are an approach that can foster optimal physical fitness, enhance cardiovascular endurance, promote your dog’s muscle development, and minimize the risk of CCL tears, thereby improving their overall quality of life.
Taking note of these factors and their risks can help you assess your dog’s physical health and agility. We advise that you always consult with your veterinarian on how to decrease the risk of tearing your dog’s CCL.
However, if it does happen, most veterinarians will refer to TPLO surgery to address the torn ligament.
What is TPLO Surgery for Dogs?
TPLO is short for Tibial Plateau Osteotomy, an orthopedic surgery performed on dogs who have experienced a torn CCL.
Since dogs regularly use their knees and legs to run and jump, the constant pressure and tension can affect their CCL and may lead to injury.
How TPLO surgery works is the vet surgically changes the angle of the tibial plateau (a natural slope that is at the top of a dog’s tibia) to halt the instability and unwanted movement that occurs when dogs go through normal weight bearing after the CCL is torn.
Why Undergo TPLO Surgery?
The instability in the joint makes it painful and uncomfortable for dogs when their CCL is torn. Each step or leap causes movement in the knee that should not occur otherwise and could result in a further tear of the ligament or a tear to the meniscus–a C-shaped cartilage disc in the knee. The injury may be caused by an instant incident or a series of incidents that gradually injures the ligament over time.
With an injury that prevents your dog from walking properly, your canine companion will have difficulty enjoying their usual activities.
TPLO surgery not only addresses the injury but completely alters the dynamics of the dog’s knee to prevent any further tears. In addition, TPLO is known to provide an effective long-term solution, especially for dogs active in agility dog training.
TPLO Aftercare Tips for Dogs in Training
Just like any other surgery, providing aftercare is crucial once the process is completed. Your dog’s recovery may involve implementing a range of techniques and methods, including ample rest and restoration measures.
Here are some aftercare tips for when your dog has undergone TPLO surgery.
Limit Excessive Movements
Emphasize rest and avoid any strenuous activities right after surgery. After their surgery, you’ll want to lessen your pet’s walking time and hyperactive play.
Avoid off-leash activities to prevent your dog from running and maintain your dog’s movements in a moderate place. Limiting excessive moments will allow the bone and tissues time to heal.
Exercise Rehabilitation
Once your dog has healed, you can consider a rehabilitation program to bring them back to agility training.
Find a good rehab team to help your dog regain their strength, endurance, and power. Your dog will undergo a series of exercises to accommodate these three factors to improve your dog’s physical performance.
Most rehabilitation programs start with strength exercises to stabilize the muscles. Then, endurance is trained to sustain the muscles’ strength. Lastly, power exercises will reinforce their muscles.
Conditioning
After completing the rehabilitation program, you may want to consider conditioning your dog with agility training.
Conditioning is a targeted training program designed to prepare your dog for their sport. For instance, if your dog participates in agility training, the program will incorporate exercises specific to this activity.
Conditioning programs are personalized and progressive, meaning they’re set to maximize your dog’s physical health in terms of its respective sport.
The purpose of conditioning is to prepare your dog’s body before delving back into the sport to reduce injury, especially after a long rest period.
When Can My Pet Resume Agility Dog Training Again After TPLO Surgery?
Resuming agility dog training is possible for your canine after undergoing TPLO surgery. However, several factors need to be considered when making this decision.
Since you are dealing with an injury, it’s necessary to work with a reliable surgeon, a good rehabilitation team, and home remedies to ensure your dog’s recovery from TPLO surgery.
Assuming your dog demonstrates no pain, maintains good balance, has excellent conditioning, the bone has healed appropriately, and they can use the operated leg with ease, we can assume that they’re ready to resume their activities in the field.
However, it’s crucial to receive a go-signal from your surgeon or veterinarian. Overall, it takes around three to six months after TPLO surgery for a dog to resume training.
Going Back To Normal
Resuming dog training after TPLO surgery is possible with appropriate aftercare and training programs to aid in restoring your dog’s muscles to their normal state.
Recovery from TPLO surgery is a protracted healing process that requires patience in tending to your dog’s needs during their recuperation.
To better understand TPLO surgery for dogs, check out TPLOinfo for more valuable information.
