Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is the most common orthopaedic injury in dogs. TPLO surgery offers excellent outcomes — but the recovery period and post-operative management are critical for long-term welfare.
CCL rupture welfare requires urgent management — the instability and pain of an unstable stifle cause progressive joint damage if untreated. Conservative management with rest and NSAIDs may be appropriate for small dogs but is generally insufficient for medium to large breeds. TPLO surgery achieves the best functional outcomes by changing the geometry of the tibial plateau to eliminate cranial tibial thrust — most dogs return to full activity within 4–6 months. The recovery period is welfare-significant: strict activity restriction for 8 weeks is necessary but difficult to maintain — dogs that exceed activity limits risk implant failure. Adequate analgesia during recovery is essential and should include multimodal approaches. Physiotherapy during weeks 6–12 accelerates return to function and significantly improves long-term joint health. Contralateral CCL rupture (in the opposite leg) occurs in 40–60% of dogs within 2 years — weight management and targeted physiotherapy may reduce this risk.