Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    House Broken Dakota18's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    121
    Thanked: 57

    Timber and CCL surgery

    After 2 weeks of rest, Timber is still limping and moping around the house.
    He is over 100 lbs. and will be seven years old this week. Looks like we will go with a consult/surgery on Wednesday. Is a TPLO the right surgery for such a big dog? I've researched and read so much. There is so many opinions out there. Our vet has a board certified surgeon that comes for the surgery, but only does the excapular one. She suggested AERA where they do the other surgeries on a referral and are staffed 24/7 since they are an emergency hospital.
    If anyone has any advice or experience with this, I would love to listen. I want to do what's best, it seems so invasive though. Thanks!

  2. #2
    Real Retriever 3ChocMom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    257
    Thanked: 110
    Have you had a consult with an orthopedic surgeon? That would be your first step. General practice vets are good for diagnosing a CCL tear, but when it comes to surgical repair, you really need to consult with an ortho specialist. TPLO might be the best option for your dog, but extracap can work too. 7 years old is a good age, not old, but not crazy young either. So if your dog will be ok with strict exercise restrictions and won't try to do anything stupid during recovery, the extracap could work. You know your dog best. If he is overweight at more than 100 pounds, you need to start trying to get some of that extra weight off too. It will only help.

    My 4-year-old dog has had both of her knees repaired. She had TTAs on both. Similar to the TPLO, but they cut a non-weight bearing bone instead of a weight bearing bone. She recovered beautifully both times. I know the idea of the TPLO is scary, but if your dog's knee is unstable, surgery is the only way to stabilize it without further damage.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Eastern Ontario Canada
    Posts
    3,336
    Thanked: 2070
    don't know much about extra capular for larger dogs. would also depend how active he is (he good with just walks?). My friend had two TPLO's on her newfoundlander (who is now 5, they were done a few years ago). I see members on the TPLO group on Facebook with mastiffs and such.

    I would get the second opinion with the other clinic assuming they have a board certified surgeon on staff. I had to meetings like that, one with my vet who diagnosed and he has a duo of board certified surgeons who come do it at the clinic. but they have no overnight staff and dog is sent home same day (some people like this, my vet was saying this was better). the surgeons mostly do TPLO's (though my vet was very open and went thru all of the surgeries with me and was open to what works best for his clients - some dogs cannot do TPLO due to other health issues or maybe the owners flat out cannot afford it - so then you go to other options). I then went to an emergency full service clinic and met with a board certified surgeon. I was more comfortable after meeting him. HE also went thru all the options and while he had an opinion he left it up to me. HE was comfortable doing Tightrope and TPLO (and probably the others too but those two seemed to be what he did most). I went with him as they had 24 hour care and kept the dog overnight AND I met the surgeon. But many of my friends went with the other vets at their clinic and were happy.

    There are TONS of opinions on what is best. look at the pros and cons and do what works for you and your dog. I nearly went tightrope but while the results appear to be solid, more people do TPLO so there is more stats on that.

    There is no easier I don't think. recovery from the extra capular is sensitive as well. TPLO IS invasive and even my vet says it doesn't actually make sense to cut a cone to fix a ligament issue. seriously. when the technique first came out people thought it was crazy. but - the stats are there. tons and tons of dogs with TPLO that are successful. My vet went over stats on failures (rejection of plate, but even there once the bone is healed they don't need the plate). Introduction of infection. worse case of it not working he said were owners who were careful post op.

    FULL conservative management is an option but hard and long. it's pretty hard core. But my surgeon said it can work in some cases.

    we are 5 days post TPLO. it's not easy

  4. #4
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Belgrade, Serbia
    Posts
    4,080
    Thanked: 4633
    My dog had the extra capsular back in 2010, but he weighs 60 pounds. Your dog is much heavier, and I am not sure if that is the right surgery for him. Definitely have a talk with an ortho and weigh your options.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content
    Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content

  5. #5
    House Broken Squeaksmom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Alberta
    Posts
    83
    Thanked: 68
    Raodi had an extra-capsular on one leg at just under a year old. When the second partially tore we went with conservative management. As of now she's sound on both, runs off-leash and swims several times a week. She's about 85 lbs at a lean weight, so not a small dog, and she's been overweight in the past before I really got a handle on it. I'm not going to lie, it was a LONG road and we had to be VERY careful for a long time, but right now she's doing well. Unfortunately there's no single right answer for this stuff, just a "right for you" answer that only you know. Good luck with whatever you decide!
    ​Mayhemfarms Hot Guernsey "Raodi" 01-Feb-09
    Mayhemfarms Irish Cream "Rowan" 16-Mar-16

    Sprite (border collie, born sometime in 2002)

    At the Bridge:
    Sandy (the one who got me into Labs)
    Chipper (Lab x Australian shepherd)
    Buster (great Dane, with maybe a bit of Lab?)
    Destiny (who the heck knows... demon dog lol)

  6. #6
    House Broken Dakota18's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    121
    Thanked: 57
    Thank you for the advice and suggestions. We have an appointment with a board certified orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday morning. Depending on his consult, we will go ahead with surgery that day. We already had X-rays done and 2 other vets checked him out, confirming the drawer test. I'm so worried about him. I hope we are doing the right thing.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Carolina in my mind..
    Posts
    6,391
    Thanked: 4178
    We'll be thinking of you on Wednesday and hoping that surgery goes well. Soon he'll be on the mend.
    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
    Henry 7/14/18
    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

  8. #8
    Real Retriever Rosy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    445
    Thanked: 136
    Sorry for what happen to your Timber. I have no experience with CCL SURGERY but I search this information on internet hope it will helped you. This article

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •