Veterinary Surgeon Explains TPLO Procedure

This ten minute video is meant to be informational. The relatively "slow" film is of my dog's veterinary surgeon explaining tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. With this video I am trying to get information out to dog owners who are faced with a pet with a "torn ACL" and the resulting lameness or limp. As I say in the video - I do not endorse the procedure. Nor am I endorsing this particular vet.

I did have the procedure done on my dog and so far so good. In the months and years to come I will have a better view of how successful the procedure has been and if it was worth the money. All pet surgeries seem expensive these days.

Again, the video is informational. If you Google "TPLO" you will find a great number of sites with information and opinions about this procedure. As in all medical situations (people and pets) information is the key to making informed and appropriate decisions.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• tplo
• dog
• acl
• veterinary
• surgeon
• procedure
• pet
• surgery
• discussion
• Dallas
• TX
• tpl
• knee
• cartilage
• lame
• limp

[DogsLuvUNoMatterWhat]

If the metal implant corrodes into the tibia (which may take a few years for this to occur), and that corrosion causes osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and the dog has to have his or her leg amputated, and the owner has to pay thousands of dollars for treatments that will not stop the cancer from taking the dog's life, who is responsible for the expenses? The vet, the owner, or the company who produced the implant?

[dontremain]

@DogsLuvUNoMatterWhat -- That question is above my pay grade as Obama would say. I'm not a vet.

[MrSevenlayers]

hi can any tell me is this the best sugary for this problem i have a 18 mount old rottweiler with a parshall tair she is not lame but after a ten minite light talk she limps i am taking her to a dog Hydrotherapy pool 2 times a week i would just like to find the best sugary for her no matter the cost

thank you for this vido

[dontremain]

My understanding is that this procedure is the optimum available with best chances for success.

[A1derbean]

Thanks for posting the video. Our 2 year old pitty just had TPLO day before yesterday.

[dontremain]

Good Luck

[stellargirl1970]

My medium sized dog had TPLO on both knees (separately), and it worked great! Expensive, but totally worth it!

[bitbrace]

@dontremain we are looking into tplo for our lab how is your dog doing today this is what 3 years ago how is he/she doing long term with the tplo thanks

[Crellen1]

Thanks for this video. It helped me to better understand what my guy went thru 10 days ago. And it made me feel better about how well he is doing too.

Please thank this vet again, for he is helping so many!

I hope your dog is recovering well and will look forward to an update!

8/18/2011

[Kwizii]

Honestly that vet explained it in a very understandable way, yet he didn't brush away many details. Thank you and him very much!

[r1hoon]

@DogsLuvUNoMatterWhat - Huuhh ?? You're assuming that orthopedic devices corrode ??? WTF surgical stainless steel and titanium DOES'NT !!!

I have a plate and 5 screws in my collar bone - in there over 8 years now, guess what - no corrosion (which is OXIDIATION - there's NO air/oxygen in there to make it oxidize) Humans live a long life with orthopedic implants - so why shouldn't dogs (don't test on amimals - test on humans)

[omifazeli]

thanks for the video



[TLJkisses]

@DogsLuvUNoMatterWhat

I was just wondering how accurate your post is?

Does it mean that it is better to have the metal implants removed at a later date? As to prevent the possibility of corrosion and then cancer? Please reply DogsLuvUNoMatterWhat..

Thanks for any help!!!

[IMightJustBeWrong]

@unicorn193

It's the bone in the proximal part of tibia. It's cut into (hence "osteo" = bone and "tomy" or "tome" = to cut) and rotated so that the tibial surface is much "flatter" .