If your dog jumped after TPLO surgery, please don’t panic. Let the vet know and be alert for signs of limping, swelling, or behavior changes. Here, I’ll guide you through the procedure, how to care for your dog post-surgery, and steps to take if they jump during recovery. Let’s make sure that your pet heals well and stays healthy.
In This Article
- An Overview of TPLO Surgery
- Post-operative Care Tips
- How Soon Can a Dog Jump After Surgery?
- What Should I Do if My Dog Jumped After TPLO Surgery?
- How to Prevent Your Dog From Jumping
An Overview of TPLO Surgery
TPLO, or Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, is a surgical procedure used to treat a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs (1). A common injury with dog knees, a CCL rupture can make the joint unstable and painful. The goal of TPLO surgery is to reduce pain and improve mobility.
During TPLO surgery:
- A veterinarian will cut through the top of the dog’s shin bone (tibia). This is the bone that runs along the front of the dog’s lower leg
- Then, the vet will rotate the piece of bone and fix it in a new position (2)
- The changed bone position creates a stable joint surface
The goal of surgery is to reduce pain and improve movement by stabilizing the knee joint. After the procedure, the dog will have to wear a splint or a brace to support the leg and keep it immobile for the initial recovery period. Recovery time can vary depending on the dog’s age, size, and overall health, but it typically takes around 12-16 weeks to recuperate fully (3).
Post-operative Care for TPLO Surgery
It’s important to follow the vet’s instructions regarding post-operative care and activity limits to ensure proper healing and recovery. In doing so, the following 3 tips may be helpful:
- Restrict the dog’s activity level and avoid jumping and high-impact activities for at least 12 weeks after TPLO surgery (4).
- Use a splint or a brace to support the limb and keep it immobile for the initial recovery period.
This adjustable hind leg brace is for cruciate ligament, ACL injuries, and luxating patella. It suits most medium to large dogs comfortably. Besides supporting their recovery and relieving pain, it’s a helpful way to prevent them from chewing at the surgery site.
- Go to regular check-ups with the vet to monitor the healing process.
Important note: It may be harmful for your dog to jump up onto a bed during recovery. Place bedding on the ground instead to prevent jumping accidents (5).
How Soon Can a Dog Jump After TPLO Surgery?
You’ll need to follow the post-operative instructions and rehab plan for your pet, which your veterinary clinic will provide. Generally, experts recommend that dogs avoid jumping and high-impact activities for at least 12 weeks after TPLO surgery (6).
This is because the surgery involves cutting and repositioning the bone, and it takes time for the bone to heal and for the surrounding tissue to stabilize the joint. It takes about 8 weeks for the bone to heal and an additional 8 weeks (for a total of 16 weeks) before the pet can resume regular, unrestricted activity (3).
The problem with jumping and high-impact activities
Jumping and high-impact activities place a lot of stress on the repaired joint and can cause further injury or damage to the healing tissue. The most strenuous activities, like high-impact running and jumping, are typically still restricted until 4-6 months after surgery (7).
Allowing the joint to heal properly and avoiding high-impact activities are the best ways to reduce the risk of re-injury. It gives the dog the most successful outcome for a full recovery.
The vet may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to help with inflammation and pain in the knee. It’s vital to follow their instructions regarding medication and activity limitations.
What Should I Do if My Dog Jumped After TPLO Surgery?
After the operation, you should try to prevent your dog from jumping. Besides overloading the healing joint, jumping or other high-impact activities can further harm the healing tissue.
But if your dog jumped after TPLO surgery, don’t panic. There are typically no complications involved with recovery from TPLO surgery, so your dog will likely be fine after a single infraction of exerting the knee too early (8). However, it’s best to limit jumping or running as much as possible.
Call Your Vet
Tell your vet what happened by giving them a call right away. The veterinary staff will be able to assess your dog’s condition, examine the knee, and take X-rays, if needed, to see if there has been any damage to the joint or the healing bone. They can also advise you on the most appropriate next steps and adjust the recovery plan if required.
During this time, you should also keep an eye on your dog’s behavior. Be extra vigilant about monitoring your dog’s condition if you know they have recently jumped (8).
Please call your vet if you notice any signs of:
- Limping or reluctance to bear weight
- Swelling at the surgical site
- Signs of infection or inflammation at the incision site (8)
- Unusual changes in behavior
- Crying out or giving a sharp yelp (9)
- Any setback or decrease in function (9)
Important: There is no way to know exactly how much strain jumping will put on the surgical site, as each dog does this a bit differently (10). While the TPLO surgery helps prevent the bones in the knee from sliding at a severe angle, it does not completely stabilize the joint, and abnormal movement is still possible with extreme activities, including jumping (10).
How to Prevent Your Dog From Jumping After TPLO Surgery
Here are a few ways to prevent your dog from jumping after TPLO surgery:
- Keep your dog on a leash and supervise them closely when outside to prevent them from jumping or running around. Running, jumping, bounding, and playing are not allowed (9).
- Use a crate or a baby gate to restrict your dog’s access to certain areas of the house where they may be inclined to jump (like stairs or furniture).
- Cover furniture that your dog is used to jumping on. Be sure everyone in the household, including guests, is aware of the rules, and try not to leave couches or beds uncovered if your dog is used to jumping up on them before their TPLO surgery (8).
- Provide plenty of rest and low-impact activities, including short walks, gentle playtime, and interactive toys to keep your pet entertained without putting stress on the knee joint.
- Use a harness instead of a collar to help support your dog’s weight and avoid putting pressure on the healing joint. Use a “belly-band” as a safety net when crossing slick floors or uneven ground (9).
- Remember to follow the post-operative instructions and rehab plan your vet provides for safe healing and a swift recovery.
- Regularly check your dog’s progress, monitor their behavior, and report any abnormalities to your vet.
- Ask your vet for any additional tips that apply to your dog’s specific case.
Remember that recovery takes time!
One of the most difficult aspects of confinement is that dogs will frequently feel better long before they are healed (9). At this point, they will start being more careless of the operated limb and then more likely to be overactive and injure themselves. Until the bone is healed, you must strictly stick to the confinement guidelines and not allow them to do more. So, being patient is critical to allow your dog to heal properly.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, we must always follow the instructions and guidelines provided by the vet to ensure proper healing and recovery after TPLO surgery. While it may be concerning to see that your dog jumped after TPLO surgery, it is not necessarily an indication of a problem as long as the dog is following the post-operative instructions and rehabilitation plan. However, it’s always wise to consult your local vet for more information on your dog’s unique case.
Key takeaway: If your dog jumped after TPLO surgery, don’t panic—most dogs will likely be fine after a single incident. However, contact your vet immediately to assess the situation and be vigilant about monitoring for signs of problems like limping, swelling, or pain.
Video: Steve the Labrador’s TPLO Recovery
Sources and Further Reading
- What Dog Owners Should Know About TPLO Surgery – Virginia Veterinary Centers
- Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair: TPLO – VCA Animal Hospitals
- TPLO Recovery Guide Week by Week – SurgiPet
- TPLO Surgery in Dogs – Prep, Recovery, and Caution – Windsor Vets
- From Surgery to Sprint: TPLO Recovery Timeline – Animal Outpatient Surgery
- TPLO Surgery Recovery Timeline: Week by Week Support – Creekside Veterinary Clinic
- Dog Limping 1 Year After TPLO Surgery – Laveen Veterinary Center
- TPLO Surgery – Dogs that Jump and Other Questions – Atlantic Coast New York Veterinary Specialists
- Post Operative Care for TPLO Surgery – Forest Vets
- A Veterinarian Answers Your TPLO Recovery FAQs – Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for Dogs
