Tazar Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) Hey all, Just wondering if anyone is up to date on the latest techniques for ACL surgery. Looks like my boy has done his and we are off to the vet tomorrow. He is about 47 Kg GSD, very active, almost 3 years old, we are on property and he chases birds and has two other GSD companions. TPLO - does anyone have any recommendations for specialists in Melbourne? Thanks Edited May 29, 2014 by Tazar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Breed/Age/Activity level? Young active and/or large breed TPLO or TTA but I think most seem to do a TPLO. Older, more sedate dog, smaller breeder - a lateral suture repair is fine. My 13 year old active BC had a lateral suture repair about 7 months ago. She can still comfortably manage a 4km walk and pull up fine the following day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazar Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 Breed/Age/Activity level? Young active and/or large breed TPLO or TTA but I think most seem to do a TPLO. Older, more sedate dog, smaller breeder - a lateral suture repair is fine. My 13 year old active BC had a lateral suture repair about 7 months ago. She can still comfortably manage a 4km walk and pull up fine the following day. Large, not over weight, GSD male about 47 kg, almost 3 years, very active, we are on property and he chases birds most of the day and has a couple of GSD companions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Think with a young active dog I'd be finding a specialist to do the repair and would definitely opt for a bone cutting procedure like a TPLO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazar Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 Thanks Ness, just been researching, looks like they have made some nice progress since my Rot did hers 18 years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentchild Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Southpaws Specialty Surgery - Dr Charles Kuntz. They are located in Moorabin. You do need a vet referral though. He did my Rottie's TPLO years ago and I could not recommend anyone better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Wing Tip Wong of Werribee Uni did TPLO on both legs (not at the same time) of my Rottweiler. I don't know if Wing Tip is still doing surgery so you would need to enquire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Had a TPLO done in my whippet , the smallest they had ever done. It did take a while but now I am pleased they did that instead of the extracapsular repair option as she is also very athletic and energetic. Mine wasn't done by a specialist but a good result. Best of luck finding the right person and with the repair and recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr R & NR Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Mark Foley at Monash Vets. Did TPLO on my Rotty 4 years ago, text book recovery. However I was really strict with confining her to her crate and restricting her exercise for the recommended 16 weeeks, crucial part of the recovery particularly if you have a very active dog as she was at the time. Cost about $3300.00 but that included 12 week xrays, two check up appts and pain relief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonwoman Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Mark Foley at Monash Vets. Did TPLO on my Rotty 4 years ago, text book recovery. However I was really strict with confining her to her crate and restricting her exercise for the recommended 16 weeeks, crucial part of the recovery particularly if you have a very active dog as she was at the time. Cost about $3300.00 but that included 12 week xrays, two check up appts and pain relief. Mark also did a TPLO on one of mine a few years back..............and I always maintain how you manage the rehab is at least 50% of the result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 When Wing Tip Wong did the TPLO on my Rottie, he told me that most surgeries have much the same result and what was really important for a successful result is the home nursing and rehab following the op. I followed his strict crating regime and walking on lead program to the letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazar Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Thanks for the recommendations, we are going back to the vet Tuesday for X-rays under anaesthetic as the anti inflams ffor 7 days made no difference. Vet doesn't think it Is fully ruptured but at 47kg it doesn't look good as he is such an active boy. Four months of rehab, WOW that is going to kill us all! Better now than in the summer though I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazar Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 Hi, just thought I'd update, My boy had TPLO surgery today . The other knee needs to be done in the next 6 months and he has changess in his spine. :(. Not happy Jan..... How did you keep your dog entertained in the crate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I was very lucky mine was very happy to sit there. I had her in the centre of the house so she could see everything that was going on, but maybe Kongs stuffed with cream cheese or similar? Deer antlers, anything he likes to chew. Sorry to hear about the other knee and spine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazar Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 He is in the main living area and crate trained so happy to be in the crate. Yes It sucks to have these two unrelated conditions in a 3 year old dog when you pay top $ for a pup from a registered breeder where the parent have had all the appropriate testing. Poor Monster... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 He is in the main living area and crate trained so happy to be in the crate. Yes It sucks to have these two unrelated conditions in a 3 year old dog when you pay top $ for a pup from a registered breeder where the parent have had all the appropriate testing. Poor Monster... I understand how you feel. Unfortunately scoring is not done for ligaments. My pup was also from a registered breeder and the parent dogs were health scored of course. My pup was only 16 months when the first ligament partially ruptured and after the surgery the surgeon, Wing Tip Wong, advised me the other knee would probably go within a year. He was correct, the ligament in other knee did partially rupture exactly a year later. This is despite me taking my dog to a heated hydrotherapy pool three times every week for the entire year. I thought swimming was the best exercise for her. When I called the breeder to tell her she advised me my pup's dam had the same problem. Great! What I needed from the breeder was moral support and advice. I was devastated for the pup I loved beyond words. I never spoke to the breeder again. She moved house and changed her phone number. We didn't all have mobile phones back then. Clearly she had no interest in the pup she bred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazar Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 It is not just the ligaments, it is the osteoarthritis in both knees and in the sacral area. I'd be surprised if this condition was not in either of the parents or some of the other pups.. Sad when Breeders treat you that way CavNrott, tarnishes them all a little bit. I am not going to wait for the other one to go, surgeon said the less damage to the cruciate and surround the better. He is doing so well though, coping great being in the crate, sleeps on his mat in the bedroom or under the kitchen table when I am home. Took most of his stitches out today when Hannibal muzzle came off. Cheeky boy, can't wait till it is all over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I just saw this and I am so sorry It's just awful when it all goes pear shaped Sending healing thoughts to your boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazar Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 It is awful but on the upside it is not fatal and I have insurance :). He should be good as new for a good long while. The vet said he will likely have back end failure as he gets older which will be heartbreaking but we are going to stay positive. Love my boy, doing anything for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 One step at atime, and who knows, maybe you can prolong that prediction with early awareness. Hope all goes well for you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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