My senior dog has an ACL tear. Is TPLO surgery too much for her?

Question

Is it realustic to do a TPLO in a 10 year old lab? Bella has a partial ACL tear in her raar leg . Won’t scar tissue build up over time? I hate to put a senior dog thru this surgery. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 75 lbs

Daniel Fonza, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. A TPLO would be the most appropriate surgery based on Bella's size but I have had several patients that have not undergone surgery and developed severe arthritis in the affected knee and had difficulty walking on the leg. Unfortunately, the arthritis tends to worsen and the pain can become much worse in an untreated knee. There are other options for correcting a torn ACL but may not be the most appropriate for Bella. The lateral suture technique is much more affordable, requires less time to perform (less time under anesthesia) and stabilizes the knee. I've used this technique in much bigger dogs than Bella and they have never failed. There is always the chance that the repair may fail with the lateral suture with a dog Bella's size or bigger but it will stabilize the knee. I would discuss this other option with your veterinarian. I would consider doing something the stabilize the knee so that Bella is more comfortable. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

My senior dog has an ACL tear. Is TPLO surgery too much for her?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

My male dog's penis is stuck out and his scrotum has a painful rash.

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

Why is my 5-week-old chick struggling to walk with splayed legs?

Dog licking paws, fur loss, and jaw wound: Could it be allergies?

Is there a chart for dog food protein biological value and digestibility?

Why does my puppy have bloody, mucousy stools despite diet changes?

Share