Shane's Link
My male husky recently underwent tibial plateau leveling osteotomies (TPLO) on both knees due to tearing of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). The prospect can seem terrifying at first, so I wanted to share my experience in the hopes that it will help someone else facing a similar situation.
Understanding the Injury
A dog's CCL is similar to our ACL—a piece of tissue that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone in the knee joint. The CCL is one of the most important ligaments in the knee, providing crucial stability for the hind leg. Partial or complete rupture of the CCL is one of the most common causes of hind limb lameness, pain, and subsequent arthritis in dogs.
The First Signs
We were out for a walk when Loki first showed signs of trouble. He started walking behind me, which as a husky he never does, and eventually stopped and whimpered. I ended up carrying all sixty pounds of his fluffiness back to the truck.
The veterinarian quickly diagnosed him based on the forward movement of his shin bone around his knee—a telltale sign of CCL rupture. She presented us with three treatment options, with the TPLO procedure being the most effective but also the most expensive. We went home to consider our options, but it didn't take long to decide that Loki deserved the best possible treatment. I called the clinic back within an hour and asked for a referral to a specialist.
The First Surgery
The surgeon was thorough in explaining the procedure, and I left with complete confidence that Loki would be in good hands. He would need to stay overnight and demonstrate that he was willing to eat and bear weight on his leg before being released the next day. My biggest concern was that he would spend the night without me in an unfamiliar place for the first time—he's quite the daddy's boy and wants to be with me constantly.
The surgery cost between three and four thousand dollars, which included two follow-up exams. Loki would return after two weeks to ensure the incision was healing properly, then again after six weeks of recovery for a final examination with x-rays to confirm complete bone healing.
Recovery Challenges
The first two weeks were critical—Loki couldn't lick the incision site due to high infection risk during this period. He was on antibiotics, pain medication, and anti-inflammatories for those two weeks. While running and jumping were strictly forbidden, he needed short bathroom breaks and gentle encouragement to use his leg.
Loki recovered well from his first surgery during those initial two weeks. Unfortunately, I began noticing a clicking sound that seemed to come from his other leg. When I mentioned this at his two-week follow-up, they confirmed my fears: his CCL in the other knee had also torn. The surgeon had warned me during our initial consultation that when one CCL tears, there's a good chance the other will eventually follow suit.
The Difficult Decision
They had an opening the following Monday, but I couldn't bear putting him through another surgery so soon. We spent the next six weeks gradually increasing his walking time by about ten minutes per week. While his repaired knee was doing well, he was having increasing difficulty with his injured knee. By the end of six weeks, he could barely use his bad leg at all. Fortunately, his second surgery was scheduled for the Monday after his six-week follow-up.
The Second Surgery and Recovery
We embarked on another eight weeks of recovery, and Loki handled it remarkably well. It seemed like he had learned from his first experience and applied that knowledge to his second recovery. However, it did take him longer to progressively use his leg the second time around.
After an entire summer of surgeries and recoveries—and about eight thousand dollars later—Loki is once again a happy husky with an excellent quality of life. While TPLO is an intensive procedure, I'm grateful I made the choice to pursue it. He's a sweet boy who deserves the best life I can provide.
Final Thoughts
If you're facing a similar decision with your dog, know that while the journey is challenging and expensive, the outcome can be truly worthwhile. Trust your veterinarian's expertise, be prepared for a lengthy recovery process, and remember that your furry family member's quality of life is the ultimate goal.