How to Prepare a Dog for TPLO Surgery

A canine TPLO surgery helps repair ligaments and is a very complex procedure requiring extensive at-home recovery care.

TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) surgery is a very involved process for a dog and its owner. It is very important to properly prepare your dog and your home to ensure a smooth recovery. Every step that is taken toward recovery leads to faster healing and more effective results. Lack of preparation can lead to your dog experiencing more pain and possibly reversing the effects of the surgery.

Difficulty:

 

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. • 1
     Give all medications prescribed by your veterinarian leading up to and after the surgery. Do not give any medications that are not approved by your veterinarian as they may lead to complications during and after surgery.
   • 2
     Find out what postoperative physical therapy will be needed after the surgery and practice with your dog before the surgery. When both of you are familiar with the motions, the process will go much smoother.
   • 3
     Prepare your home before your dog returns after surgery. Block all stairs and areas of the house with slippery flooring. Create a confined area for activity restriction for the first few days.
   • 4
     Begin training your dog not to jump. Many injuries that lead to TPLO surgery are caused by excessive jumping. Eliminating this bad habit will result in a faster recovery and reduce the probability of a recurring injury.