Cruciate Repairs in Dogs and Cats

Let’s get your dog right back to it!

Cruciate injuries are extremely common in active dogs, where they lead to a sudden onset lameness in one of their back legs (limping or holding up the leg entirely).

Cruciate injuries are normally due to a weakening in the cruciate ligament over time that eventually gives way, often with a twisting motion like chasing a ball or jumping, resulting in a tear and irreversible damage.

For the best long term outcome, we recommend swift screening for cruciate injury followed by surgical repair with close monitoring throughout the recovery.

Our experienced surgeon Dr Matt Buchanan-Pascall has undergone further training in advanced orthopaedic surgery and routinely performs TPLO surgery. Call to chat to him over the phone or book in to get your dog on the path to recovery. You’re in good hands!

TPLO Cruciate Repairs

$5000
  • We guarantee surgery within 7 days
  • Price includes: TPLO surgery and post op radiographs on the day of surgery
  • PLUS the first 4 post-operaative checks at which time we give a course of zydax injections to promote long term joint health
  • Please note: any complications experienced will incur additional costs that would be discussed with you at the time.
Call to Book Now

Early Diagnosis of Cruciate Disease

If we suspect your dog has torn their cruciate ligament then we can offer immediate x-rays under general anaesthetic.  During the anaesthetic we perform two manual tests on the stifle to check and confirm a tear in the cruciate ligament and take measurements for surgery.

We know that different breeds have different risk profiles for cruciate injuries. This is mainly based on their anatomy and the angle of the average angle of the joint in each particular breed. While this injury is possible in any breed, some of the common breeds for cruciate rupture in dogs include:

  • Large breeds: German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Huskies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Malamutes, Standard Poodles
  • Medium breeds: Cocker Spaniels, Kelpies, Border Collies, Blue Heelers
  • Small breeds: Cavoodles, Poodles, French Bulldogs

The cruciate ligament is the main ligament within the stifle (knee) joint of dogs. It’s job is to firmly hold the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) in place during the knee’s normal range of movement.  Cruciate injuries are normally due to a mix of weakness in this cruciate ligament over time that then suddenly gives way, often with a twisting motion like chasing a ball or jumping. The subsequent tear in the ligament can either be a partial or a full tear but either way the damage is irreversible.

We know statistically that 50% of dogs that tear one cruciate ligament will tear the other cruciate ligament within 2 years. For that reason, getting the best possible surgical outcome and monitoring weight closely will give us the best chance for a great outcome long term.

Cruciate Repairs – Surgical Options

Cruciate injuries in dogs and cats need surgery to get the best possible outcome. We discuss the options, costs, and pros and cons with you to tailor our treatment to the needs of your pet. We generally recommend Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomies (TPLO’s) but in dogs and cats under 7kg we recommend lateral sutures (nylon implants).

At Advanced Vet Care Lane Cove, our experienced surgeons Dr Matt Buchanan-Pascall and Dr Michael Stephen are trained to perform Tibial Tuberosity Advancements (TTAs), Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomies (TPLOs) and lateral sutures (nylon implants) in dogs and cats. We select the surgical procedure based on your pet’s anatomy, size and age with the aim to get the best outcome possible. You’re in good hands!

Rest and exercise moderation is a key factor for dogs and cats recovering from cruciate surgery. We will guide you throughout the recovery period.

The first 10-14 days include strict cage rest, where the only time your pet comes out of the pen is to go to the toilet (always on lead so they can’t make sudden running movements). We also ask you to ice the surgical site for the first few days post-operatively and then once the swelling has reduce we ask you to start with passive range of motion exercises, which we will demonstrate for you.

From the 2-6 week period your pet will still need to be strictly cage-rested, however we now get you taking them on increasingly longer on-lead walks. These will increase by 5-10 minutes each week, so that a couple of months after surgery they should be tolerating 30 minute walks well.

At 8-12 weeks we recommend repeating x-rays of your pet’s knee to ensure healing is on track and so that we can instruct you to continue to increase exercise intensity and frequency with confidence. After 4 months of healing your furbaby should be ready to run around again and go back to a full and fun life!

Every surgical procedure has potential complications and worldwide studies show that there is up to 20% complication rates in TTAs and TPLOs. For this reason, we make our selection of which procedure to use based on your pet’s anatomy, temperament and age.

The complications range from minor infections at the surgical incision, to meniscal injuries following surgery, loosening of the screws, movement of the plates, infection of the implants or fractures of the shin bone from the implants. Although some complications require further intervention, we always work with you to get the best outcome possible for your pet.

We take anaesthetic monitoring extremely seriously and are proud to offer the highest level of monitoring care for you pet.

We go above and beyond the accepted standards to include:

  1. monitoring of oxygen levels via an spO2 probe (called pulse oximetry)
  2. a continuous ECG trace to track the heart’s rhythm throughout surgery;
  3. blood pressure monitoring – this is the key to a successful recovery;
  4. carbon dioxide monitoring to ensure the lungs are able to blow off all harmful gases;
  5. patients are warmed with a ‘bair hugger‘ to prevent deleterious cooling;
  6. all patients receive intravenous fluids to ensure hydration remains perfect;
  7. we use the most modern anaesthetic machines and drug protocols.

Patient comfort is also key to recovery, so we go above and beyond. We ensure all patients are kept as comfortable as possible with a combination of local anaesthetic pain relief, opioid pain relief and anti-inflammatory pain relief.

Ongoing Joint Care

In all cases of cruciate surgery the home care you provide plays the biggest role in your pet’s quality of life long term. We will help guide you on that journey.

We know that weight is a key factor in increasing the risk of cruciate injury and also predicting the outcome long term. That means overweight pets are at higher risk of developing cruciate injuries, and also potentailly struggling with the early onset arthritis that can follow.

So, keep your dog or cat in a lean, healthy weight throughout it’s growth and then entire adult life. Extra weight on your pet not only increases the load on the joints and puts more strain on them, but we also know that fat cells are ‘pro-inflammatory’, meaning they keep the body and joints in a constant state of inflammation.

The ideal weight is described as the ribs (easily) palpable with minimal fat covering. Waist clearly visible when viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident – particularly when viewed from the side

Rest and exercise moderation is a key factor for dogs and cats recovering from cruciate surgery. Beyond the post-operative period, it is important to try to prevent any further damage occuring. We know that animals who have had one cruiciate injury are prone to another, so minimising activities that place strain on the cruiciate and moving your pet on to a more gentle exercise regimen are important steps for their ongoing health.

We regularly use injections of pentosan polysulphate (known as zydax or cartrophen) during the recovery phase after surgery and then every year thereafter.

The injections are given under the skin each week for 4 treatments. The injections contain a synthetic medication which draws more water into the joints, effectively thickening the joint fluid to provide a cushioning effect. By reducing the rubbing between the cartilage surfaces, the cycle of inflammation is interrupted which can help with ongoing health and delay the eventual onset of arthritis.

There is lots of help available beyond the cruciate surgery, and these extra treatments can have positive impact during initial recovery and long term outcome. Treatments include referral for physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture. You will be guided as to how often you need to have these procedures performed to optimise recovery.

Supplements and neutraceutical use in dogs is an area of debate between veterinarians. There is still limited evidence for the use of various supplements, however, we believe that they may indeed play some role in helping our pets.

The most heavily studied supplement recently is green-lipped muscle and it comes in two forms, either a lower concentration in a product called 4Cyte or in a stronger concentration in a product called Antinol.

TPLO surgery Advanced Vet Care Lane Cove