TPLO Surgery: Helping Dogs Walk Again After Cruciate Ligament Injury

What Is a Cruciate Ligament Tear?

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) stabilizes the knee joint. Tears are extremely common in active dogs — causing sudden lameness, pain, and joint instability. Without treatment, arthritis develops rapidly.

Why TPLO Is the Gold Standard

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) changes the geometry of the knee so the CCL is no longer needed for stability. It offers superior long-term outcomes compared to older techniques and allows return to full activity in most dogs.

Recovery After TPLO

Most dogs bear weight within 2 weeks and return to normal activity in 12–16 weeks with physical rehabilitation. We provide a detailed rehabilitation protocol and schedule follow-up X-rays to monitor healing progress.