'Knee Surgery '

Knee Surgery

Lucy (66.24.100.217) -

My younger lab had to have knee surgery last February because she had torn the ligament in her knee which is equivalent to a human ACL. We noticed that she would limp after she would run for a while chasing her ball. Then it got to be that she wouldn't even put weight on that leg when she would first get up. So we took her in for x-rays and they did surgery that afternoon. A thousand dollars later and she still would run on it all day long if we let her. She is much better than she was before but she doesn't know when to stop running. Anybody else fork out big bucks for the love of their 4 legged friend?

Comment #1 Katherine (72.83.124.12) -

Our dog also tore her ACL, she tore one last October- November and now it is just the next December and she tore the other one. Yeesh! Well, it's only money!

Comment #2 Amanda (24.41.67.102) -

My dog has had both of her rear-knees surgically reconstructed. Three years ago I paid $1500 to have her right rear knee fixed after a complete ACL tear. Then this last fall another $1200 to repair the other rear knee from the same type of injury. SHe is now 12 years old and 6 months post-surgery from the second one adn doing quite well considering her age. They told me she might not do well this time around but she is young at heart and I am determined to help her recover properly. These are just a small portion of her medical history. Quiet the adventurous pooch and costly for a pound pup! But I would do it all over again if i had to.

Comment #3 Kristen (24.1.219.92) -

My dog has a torn ligament in her knee. She 13, but wants to run and play. She is 23 pounds. She has adjusted her life to this, however I am worried that this will get worse. I have heard many different opinoins about surgery because of her age. Has anyone had surgery on an older dog with this same problem?

Comment #4 platinum elf 3 from Pennsylvania -

I posted a question about the difference between the two types of surgery back in August. My beagle tore his ACL in one knee while running through the house, playing with my son. Our vet told us that we could have the surgery, but that sometimes they get better on their on. Of course we opted to take the "wait and see method" since it was cheaper. One year later he has blown out both knees. My baby is an 8 years old and we had his surgery done on one leg at the end of August. After the surgery, he showed signs of being a happier, active dog again and I was so happy.

Three months later, we are taking him in for the surgery on the other knee in a few days.

Comment #5 courtney fry (67.72.98.45) -

hi this it Courtney fry last time when my dad took my

dog Hershey she was snifing and runinng around beside

my Dad he was walking too so all of sudden

my Dad found a hole and my dog Herhsey fell

into the Hole and my dad seen my dog in the hole

and then my dad carried her into his truck

and my dog was lying down in painful and my dad

was in the vet with my dog and my dog was limping

and then vet came too greet her and then she went too

a Room and she cheked her paw and then put

a Bandge Cast on her paw and then she was done

now after the vet my dad went back too hunt

he left my dog in his truck and he got a Buck

and then came back too put the Buck in his back of his truck

thing you

Courtney fry

Comment #6 Rebecca Jones (67.84.157.119) -

My dog will be 13 this month. she had ACL surgery six years ago and did well. She now has torn her ACL in her other knee. I am looking for info on how older dogs do with this surgery. It was hard on er 6 years ago and I know it will be tough this time. Any info or re assurance would be appreciated....

Comment #7 Rachey (202.7.183.132) -

howdy

my dog is 13 years old n has torn his acl.. when i took him to the vet they told me he has a stage 3 heart murmur n he may not make it through the acl surgery.. he seems to be in alot of pain not even movin at all.. the vet put him on some pain killers that dont seem to be working.. he said it would be 800 for sugery but i dont know if he will make it.. just wanted to know if any older dogs survived the surgery at around this age?

Comment #8 Kelley Edwards (66.113.44.236) -

My bulldog has just had his knee replaced for the 2nd time! I have trouble keeping him off it, just to take him out to the bathroom. Any one else haveing troubles?

Comment #9 rita (69.122.185.0) -

My dog Tiffany will be 5 years old and 5 pounds overweight. She is a toy poodle and her ideal weight should be 12 pounds.

She recently fell down a flight of stairs approximately about 6 to 7 steps and started limping when I picked her up and carried her down the rest of the flight. Her hind leg has a torn ligament in her knee according to the vet. I am on the fence about having her have surgery. I want her to get better and have an active lifestyle as before. But I hear mixed reactions like she will never be the same, etc. I would like to hear some of your opinions from people who have been in my situation.

Comment #10 Amarilla's Mom (65.249.53.145) -

Our Yellow Lab is 3 and a half years old. She has been limping for 6 months. After several Vet visits we did xRays and her ACL is completely torn.

The Vet has told us we have two choices. A TPLO - Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy - surgery that costs between $3200 and $3700 plus loads of other expenses or an External Capsular Fixation which costs $1500 approx.

The TPLO is more invasive but is more durable. The ECF is effective but may or may not last.

I cannot find any information on the Web about External Capsular Fixation and my Vet does not have any literature. Has anyone experienced this surgery?

Does anyone have advice on making a choice?

Both would be extreme financial hardships.

Comment #11 helen hogan (69.138.222.187) -

my 14 month old pugston ( boston terrier/pug )went for an acl surgery today. any suggestions on keeping her calm during recovery time ? she is very active..thanks very much...

Comment #12 Holly from San Luis Obispo -

To Amarilla's Mom,

We just had a TPLO surgery on our 2 year old yellow lab and although it was difficult to pay for, we are happy we did it. he recovered wonderfully. the recovery process is long and you must supervise your dog very closely so that he does not jump or run at all. Unfortunately, his other knee is loose and we are saving money for a second TPLO. I guess it is very common for dogs to need both knees repaired. The decision to do surgery was made easier since doing the surgery soon will yield the greatest reward considering it is such a robust surgery and putting it off will just cause joint disease. The cost of our TPLO was $2100 and was done by a vet who had experience but was not a board certified orthopedic surgeon. Perhaps you can shop around a little more? I don't know about ECF, but after hearing the options, a TPLO sounds like the best value in the long run for a strong dog. Best of luck to you.

Comment #13 Nelda Barrier (205.188.116.206) -

My eight year old Cock-a Poo has just been diaganosed with an ACL tear and needs surgery. He's eight years old and weighs 23 pounds. I would go though this surgery myself before I would subject him to it. Obviously, I cannot. I would appreciate any advise anyone can give.

Comment #14 Nelda Barrier (205.188.116.206) -

I need to know more about knee surgery for dogs. My 8 year old Cock-a Poo has been diagnosed with an ACL tear. Please. If you've had this experience, please contact me.

Comment #15 Darcie from Dublin, CA (66.125.241.194) -

Our 10 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel just came from a vet visit. We noticed that he soemtimes limps and lifts his leg for a few seconds after playing with his brother. We thought it was just a muscle crap or pinched nerve. Our vet says he has a bum knee and could need surgery. No x-rays were taken. Arthritis will occur regarless of surgery or not. This poor puppy has been through the ringer since we got him from a breeder out of state. At 15 weeks he was diagnosed with Parvo. His brother did not catch it luckily. What is the breeder responsibility? I would never give him up, he is family. We will have the surgery if needed, which I am sure the vet will opt for. I am more upset with the breeder. Do they really know what they are doing to families when they sell these puppies, or is that what they expect knowing that we will take care of them. Regarless of price.

Comment #16 Lisa (4.230.72.244) -

I found this site and wanted to leave some information on it for others to read. I have a 8 year old Australian Shepherd, and 2 years ago I had to do the TPLO surgery. At that time is was $2100 dollars, and though it was hard to come up with it, I did the surgery and my dog Nikki was not limping or hurting anymore. This was done on the 17 March 2006. Five days ago I saw the symptoms showing up in her left leg that was not operated on, 2 years later I have to do this again. Financially I cant afford it but its all I can do, she is scheduled for surgery on 2 April 2008, though this time it is $2400 dollars. I know I am getting myself in debt even more but I love this dog more than anything in the world. THe first surgery was difficult as I didnt know what to expect, the healing process goes fast, then you have rehab for the dog and finally they can be themselves 6 to 8 months down the line. Nikki was just found on the road as a pupply, though she didnt cost a dime then, now its hard to believe what she has had done to her. I wish everyone good luck here. Lisa.

Comment #17 Maureen (24.9.49.237) -

TPLO - I had it performed on my black lab - both knees about 2 years apart. The first blew when he was about 7, the second when he was nine. There was no question when I saw the result of the first surgery that we would do the same on the second knee. The first surgery was done by a specialist for about 3500, then my family vet performed the second for about half of that cost. (assisted by a surgeon) Definately shop around a little - some vets provide things that are more luxurious than necesarry. (and you have to accept that if one knee is damaged the second isn't too far behind.) We had to put him down this fall due to a malignant tumor in his chest, but the TPLO's and the 13 years of a happy lab were worth every penny.

Comment #18 LuAnn Corbin (71.58.243.89) -

Rottweiler knee surgery done today on one knee. 14 months old. Curious on what kind of rehab to do. Vet said it will take a good year and ahalf to totally heal. Any advise?

Comment #19 Lynn (75.84.230.6) -

I have a rottweiler that had the surgery on both knees at the same time, cost $5, 000. Done 4 years ago. We struggled with the cost and feared that it would not work and we would regret it. It turned out to be the best money we ever spent. My husband now says he is a 4 wheel drive dog since his front legs and chest got very strong since that is all he had to support himself for almost a year while we saved money. Now his sister needs the surgery and we financially are in a horrible position. I would do it again and most likely will be shortly. Hopefully, her surgery turns out as well as her brothers. Doctor has recommended a TTA procedure which I have not seen anybody mention above. Has anybody heard of this? The cost is much less then before because he now has someone that will do the surgery in his office. Her brother was taken to an orthopedic specialist but we can not afford that this time.

Comment #20 dianna osmolski (74.206.68.109) -

my 5 year old spitz had both acl repaired, 1 in jan/08 and the other in april/08. she is recovering nicely but lately i noticed a click from her most recent repaired leg. When she walks slowly there is no click, but if she goes to trot or wants to pull on the leash she starts to click. i have her on synov g3, 4 daily and metacam which i am weaning her off of. anybody else ever had the clicking problem and what to do for it. as far as the money part goes, i just than god we had the option to fix her.

Comment #21 Jody (70.15.185.41) -

I have a german shepherd. She will be 2 in August. Last october I found out that she tore her knee ligament and needed surgery, so i had the surgery done. The surgery and recovery went well, but now she has tore her other knee. She wont put alot of pressure on it and i know that the surgery needs to be done. My question is, once these two surgerys are done, are her knees going to be okay until shes older when i know that she'll eventually get artrithis, of is there a high risk that she can hurt her knees again and the vet will have to go back in. I can't afford to keep loading all kinds of money into her, she's a year old and has had both knees go. Its so hard to keep her calm becase shes just a puppy. I want to beable to have this surgery done and be assured that she'll be ok til shes older. Any advise?

Comment #22 Tina (208.27.203.129) -

My dog had ACL surgery yesterday on both his back legs. I am just wondering if anyone else had both legs done at the same time and if they have any suggestions or information that could help us. He is a big dog so he is heavy to lift. Because he can't stand on either leg we have tried holding his bum to help him go to the bathroom but he will not go. When will he start putting some weight on his legs and do a little walking. I know I have a long recovery period but every story I have read has only been surgery on one leg.

Comment #23 Matt (63.138.210.67) -

Does anyone know of agencies or org.s that help with payments for these surgeries, specifically if your pet was rescued from a shelter or pound? and specifically in CA? I have been quoted about $3700-$3900 for each, the TPLO a little more expensive that TTA surgery. thanks.

Comment #24 Kim (71.228.130.236) -

I have a 10 year old yellow lab with severe dyslplasia. She recently tore her ACL and the vet is suggesting the TPLO surgery.

She had an FHO when she was 2 on that same leg (but in the hip) and has had another surgery on her should to clean up bone spurs when she was 4. As it turned out her elbow bones have fused, (not sure why this has happened)

The main concern is that she is putting too much weight on the front legs which are not in good condition. The poor thing doesn't have a good leg to stand on.

For anyone who has done the TPLO surgery in an older dog with pre-existing joint problems, I NEED ADVICE. Does the quality of life improve drastically after this surgery, or am I confining an otherwise happy dog to a crate for 6 weeks to prolong the inevitable?

Comment #25 Kelli (70.101.172.10) -

I have a 2 yr old 80lb.German Shepherd who has two torn acl's. i was quoted $6000-6400 for both legs to be done seperatly with a procedure called the TTA. Anyone have any advice or experience with this type of surgery? Surgery is scheduled for 5/19/08. has anyone ever had the extracapsular surgery (band) performed on a large breed dog with any success? TPLO surgery is much more money. Has anyone had any sucess wtih TTA or bad experiences with it? Going Crazy. Thank You.

Comment #26 tammy albert (156.34.209.246) -

We have a beautiful, 14 month old registered rhodesian ridgeback. He tore his acl in back left knee. I've been researching EVERYTHING in reference to this condition but need to find more concrete websites that don't just consist of someone trying to sell or promote a product. We are trying to find solid benefits of surgery and obviously downfalls of surgery as well. This dog is like a 4th child to us...someone help!!!! Need more info!!!!!

Comment #27 doglover (122.53.60.110) -

There are two common procedures performed by veterinarians.

The first involves replacing the ligament with a heavy duty nylon material. Many veterinarians perform this procedure routinely to stabilize a knee joint with a torn ligament. It is referred to as the Lateral Suture technique.

The second procedure is more ingenious and involves re- configuring the knee joint by actually cutting the tibia with a high- speed orthopedic saw, then rotating the top portion forward slightly, and applying a bone plate and screws to hold the top of the tibia in its new orientation while the bone heals back together.

• wood dog house

Comment #28 Bill Johnson (72.196.200.223) -

I have a 100lb Rott mix, who torn his CL at age 4. We did the surgery ($1, 500) and that leg has done great. The recovery was tough, 6 weeks of rest, ect. Worse part was he couldn't get up the steps and would cry at the bottom. Now at age 10 1/2 he has torn the other knee. Vet has said his life span is 10-12 years. Not sure how well he would handle surgery, any thoughts?

Comment #29 Bill Johnson (72.196.200.223) -

Kelli (comment #25) we looked at both options for our 100lb dog. The TPLO uses metal to secure the joint. TTA secures the joint with artificial ligaments. The vet told us the TPLO is stronger and more likely to last longer. We went with the TTA 6 years ago and his leg is great today. Now his other knee is bad. So we had good luck with the TTA.

Comment #30 Maddy (24.187.65.150) -

my question is I have a Lhasa Apso he is 8 yr old and was diagnosed with ACL I would like to know if surgery is my only option please help tearful

Comment #31 ralph and janet (68.198.5.62) -

Hi- We have a gorgeous rottweiler "jake".. he's a 145lbs teddy bear he had TPLO surgery on Apr. 1. it was so traumatic for us to go through this.. it cost us $3500. Three Days after His 8 week follow up visit He stated limping on His other leg. We just got back from scheduling The surgery for that knee now (10 weeks after His first knee surgery) Dr.Mcnamara is the best!!!

Comment #32 John and Pumpkin (98.197.12.74) -

She is to have surgery on Thursday the 10th of July. They will place screws and plate, it's not arthroscopic, it's regular surgery. She is not allowed to DO ANYTHING...NO GOLF CART....NO ANYTHING FOR 8 WEEKS!!!. He said one jump one time and the whole surgery could be ruined. They had to do blood work because she was throwing up and they didn't want to do anything until her blood work was okay. She threw up bile about four times while we was there. I know it was from the shot she had yesterday, but they wouldn't take any chances on doing the surgery until the blood work comes back.

Her blood work is fine.

She will be operated on Thursday July 10, 2008 at the Veterinary Surgical Group, in Houston.

The money is not inportant as the health of Pumpkin.

She lays here by my side now and still can not understand why she is in pain.

Comment #33 kim (71.228.130.236) -

I eventually chose to have the TPLO on my 10 year old yellow lab; as per a few comments ago.

BILL- I know it is a hard decision and you may have already made it but; so far so good. We are almost three weeks out of surgery and she is using her leg and getting bored in the crate, but she has adjusted. The hardest part is her wanting to play and looking terribly bored. I had my reservations a few days after the surgery, but her recovery has gone very well.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Comment #34 Susan Deveau (208.229.219.1) -

I need to know the success rate of knee surgery ACL for a dog 25 lbs. Is this wise? Will it help him?

Comment #35 Susan Deveau (208.229.219.1) -

How do we get an answer to out questions? Do we receive an e-mail?

Also, I'd like to know the success rate of ACL knee surgery on dogs.

Comment #36 Kelli (70.101.172.10) -

Bill Johnson(Comment 29): thank you for writing back I went with the tta wich is the titanium plate less invasive than the tplo and a quicker recovery rate. it has only been around for 4-5 years, did you have the (fishing line) extracapsular procedure done maybe? she is 3 weeks out and getting the other one next week. Her other leg is in such bad shape she tore both of her meniscus on top of the acl's. she is doing good so far. She is still on rimadyl for the pain of the left leg but we took her off of the rimadyl becasue she started getting a little careless and crazy but two days later she is in such pain again and we put her right back on it. how did you handle the recovery with your dog. was she crated or put in a small room. I feel so bad all she does is lay around. only goes out to to her business.

Comment #37 Jennifer (24.71.223.153) -

My puppy had first started limping after he had gone to play ball in the park. We took him to the vet that night (not out normal vet) and he said that our dog Toby had twisted his knee and was given pain killers. After about 3 weeks we asked our NORMAL vet what was wrong and said he needed to have an ACL surgery. One week later (today) my little puppy got his Acl surgery. We too also forked out about $1500 for out puppy's surgery right now he is sulking because we made him a space man!

Comment #38 Scott (96.227.95.210) - Fri Jul 18 14:03:15 2008

Whatever happened to repairing the dog's ACL like they do with humans? Using either a frozen tissue or the dogs own tissue to suture-repair the knee. Anybody know why we are looking at TTA vs TPLO and not looking at ACL reconstruction?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Comment #39 Lenora (24.247.217.171) - Tue Jul 29 11:41:16 2008

My sons dog Brodie had the first leg go out when he was a year old, and when he was 2 years old the other one went out as well. He is only 3 years old, and still like to run evan though he is in pain afterwards. Is there any place out there that at least helps pay for the surgery. I have tried looking for Pre-Existing insurance to see if my son can get help that way. Have not found anything yet. His vet told him that by time Brodie is 8 years old he will have to put him down. Brodie is a wonderful dog, and it sad to see Brodie in pain. We can't help him, because we don't have the money, or we would. Does anyone have information they could share with me????

Comment #40 Polly (207.200.116.137) - Mon Aug 4 00:28:31 2008

This site is amazing... such support! I am so concerned because my rare breed 10month old American Bulldog had to get ACL $3400 worth! She has since ran up and down the house and fell on her knee... I'm so scared. My house mate will not keep her confined like I do, and when I come home, she's just happy to see me... She's 100 pounds of love and joy, and excitable klutsiness. I'm so scared she screwed up her surgery- she still has stables all the way up and down her knee: I'm taking her in for an xray to ease my mind. it will cost more money, but oh well, i'm broke now and I'll probably have to move onto the street, so i hope my dog enjoys being homeless with me!

Comment #41 Judi (70.22.205.124) - Thu Aug 7 10:07:34 2008

Our 7-yr-old Golden Retriever is to haave surgery for a torn ACL of his left hind leg within the next 2 weeks. We have a choice between the TTA procedure and TPLO procedure. Has anyone experienced the TTA? What was the recovery period like and the results?

Comment #42 William (74.45.65.88) - Thu Aug 21 22:51:25 2008

My Rat Terrier Eddie is having Knee currently having knee problems and is on several prescriptions. We will know if the tear in his tendon has gotten better in about three weeks. If he is healed it will be great, if not he'll get the necessary surgical procedure to correct the problem. Eddie is ten years old and I would say has at least five to eight years left so $1, 200-$1, 500.00 is well worth it to me. Also I have Pet Health Insurance which may cover about 80% of the cost. I highly reccommend Pets Health Insurance to all Pet Owners. The premiums aren't exactly cheap but if you bring your pets to the Vet when needed I would estimate that after they are seven years old you will at least recover your premiums in claims. For Example, Eddie was bitten by a spider and had an area of his skin about the size of a silver dollar rot off. He was only two years old at the time and the premium was only $120.00 per year and the total bill from the spider bite including an emergency room visit was over $1, 200.00, my cost out of pocket was only $120.00 or ten percent.For Christmas in 2002 I paid for my Parents Poodle to have cataract surgery in both eyes. The dog was 13 years old diabetic and completely blind. I paid $2, 000.00 for the surgery as a Christmas Gift. This was the best money that I had ever spent. My Parents were never happier and the Dog had his vision and his brown eyes back. The Poodle then lost weight, his insulin dosage went down from 12 units to two units within a year and he was like a puppy again. He lived three and a half years to the date. I would do it all over again if need be.

Comment #43 Mandy (71.237.246.226) - Thu Aug 21 23:23:43 2008

Our 11 year old yellow lab had to have knee surgery on Feb 13th and just 6months to the day had to have the other knee done. He is just a week and half out from second durgery. The first surgery went excellent. He recovered well but had a problem with fluid around the knee that needed to be drained. He thinks he is a puppy and the hardest part was keeping him quiet and contained in areas where he could not run, jump or get excited. The second surgery went even better but was a more involved because the maniscus was torn more and the surgeon had to remove 40% of it. Once again the fluid has had to be drained. The surgeon and our Vet said this was rare and he must just be prone to this problem. The fluid was tested and has not shown signs of infection. Duke each time has been on a week to 3 weeks antibiotics and pain pills. Extra time on antibiotics because of the fluid problem, just as a safety measure. Each surgery cost 3700.00. I feel it was worth it without any doubt. Very expensive but if you can afford it it is the way to go. We had extra cost because we have wood floors which you need to keep them off of, so we bought rugs and carpets to cover. You need to use a sling and leash when going poddy and the dog needs to be confined in small area if you are not with him. We were quite happy after the recovery time Duke was swimming and diving off the dock as if he never had a problem. Our surgeon Dr. Howard worked with the surgeon who invented this surgery Dr. Barcley Slocum. We live in Oregon and our surgeon is in Portland. He said that over 65% percent of dogs who have this surgery will have to have the other knee done also. If you have questions feel free to ask.

Comment #44 Mandy (71.237.246.226) - Thu Aug 21 23:42:28 2008

Here is the website for our vet. Go to Our Services and then to TPLO. This explains the surgery very well.

Dr. Richard J. Howard, DVM, MS

Dr. Howard graduated from Auburn University with his D.V.M. degree in 1977, and worked for two years in small animal practice before entering a small animal surgical residency program at Kansas State University. After completing his residency and earning a Master’s degree, he continued on at the KSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as an assistant professor in small animal surgery.

In the summer of 1983, Dr. Howard moved to Oregon, living in Grant’s Pass briefly before coming to Portland to establish the Animal Surgical Practice of Portland in early 1984. Dr. Howard’s surgical interest, expertise include general soft tissue reconstruction, gastrointestinal, oncologic, thoracic and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Howard studied with the late Dr. Barclay Slocum and was the first licensed surgeon to perform the TPLO procedure (1994), and he continues to explore alternatives in elbow and hip dysplasia management.

Dr. Howard is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, the Association for Veterinary Research and Education, and he currently acts as an instructor for Slocum Enterprises TPLO courses.

Dr. Howard has three grown children, two boys and a girl, as well as two dogs and a cat. His personal interests include running with friends and his dog, biking, skiing, and rock climbing.

LO. www.cascadeevrc.com. This is the info on Dr. Howard:

Comment #45 Holly and Pumpkin (76.254.45.131) - Sun Sep 14 03:48:41 2008

I have a kelpie that needs an ACL replacement surgery. The going rate for this procedure in the San Francisco bay area is approximately $3, 000. So far I have not been able to locate a surgeon who would allow me to pay the bill in installments, and this is the only way in which I could make payments. I am trying to locate some organization or surgeon that could help me make such an arrangement. I am disabled and live on a fixed income. If anyone has any information that could be helpful, I would appreciate being contacted.

Comment #46 Kelli (70.101.172.10) - Thu Sep 18 06:39:15 2008

I have a 2 year old german sheperd with two torn acl's and meniscuius (spelling?)which was a horrible clicking sound when she walked.Her meniscius was flipped foward on both knees. she was in such terrible pain. I was comtemplating the extracapsular surgery (fishing line) but they say that works better on small dogs not so much on large breeds. She received the TTA surgery which is the newest and latest surgery. Many new doctors are not doing his yet but it has the quickest recovery and is less invasive than the TPLO they take to much stuff out of the knee. They completely strip one side of the knee of cartliage and then shave the bone down with the TPLO. With the TTA they just take a little piece of bone off the front of the knee and put a titanium plate in as opposed to the stainless steel of the TPLO which is heavier also. she was in no pain as I could see and only on pain meds for a week. About 4 months ago she had her first surgery to correct one of her legs. she also was full of arthritis which they took out about 90% of during surgery. It will eventually come back but more slowly now that she had this surgery done. recovery was good and she was up and walking on it the next day. Amazing!! I believe the hardest part of the surgery is restricting their movement by either crating or in a small rugged room. two months later she had the second one corrected. And today she is doing GREAT. It was pricey about $2300 per leg which included follow up xrays and meds etc. and I will probably be paying it off for the next 2 years they worked with a credit card company called care credit which gave us 12 months of intrest free payments which helped. but it was worth it to she my baby girl in no more pain she gets up with ease up no more rocking and finally having herself up. She will always have bad days, maybe a lil stiff here and there but nothing compared to before the surgery. she is on GLycoflex III and and an HA supplement. and she is doing amazing. she goes back for her final check up in a week so we will see. as long as you have a good othropedic vet who has done this surgery go for the tta. The vet said it is easier for the him to do and the dog is not under for long maybe 3-4 hours and is cheaper that the tplo also. Hope this helps someone because when I was researching it was hard to find alot of people who had this surgery done. Good luck Any questions please ask I know it is a very scary decision.

Comment #47 john (69.123.131.90) - Sat Sep 20 01:24:06 2008

Yeah, I remember May 16 2008 I was playing outside with my dog with his frisbee. He screeched so loud I flinched. He came running, well hopping to me with his weight off of his right hind leg. I carried my 65 pound dog inside. He stooped limping for a while then he would try to walk and he would scream again, that sound just brought me to tears, so I begged my mom to take me to the vet and they said he dislocated his knee and the ligament teared. My mother payed about 3G just for the surgery. I really wanted to thank her for giving MY dog another chance at life.

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