Dog Orthopaedic Post-Surgery Advanced Rehabilitation

Advanced rehabilitation protocols following major orthopaedic surgery in dogs, including TPLO, THR, and fracture repair.

Key Facts

Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is the gold standard for cruciate ligament repair in medium and large dogs
Structured rehabilitation post-TPLO achieves full functional recovery in 85-90% of cases within 6 months
Aquatic treadmill therapy from week 2-3 post-TPLO significantly improves muscle recovery compared to rest alone
Total hip replacement (THR) has over 90% long-term success rates when followed by structured rehabilitation
Uncontrolled early post-operative activity is the primary cause of implant failure and complications

Welfare Considerations

Major orthopaedic surgery creates significant short-term pain and welfare challenge. Quality rehabilitation dramatically improves recovery quality and long-term outcomes, reducing chronic pain and disability. Owners play the most important role in rehabilitation success through compliance with activity restriction and home exercise programmes. Pain management must be proactive throughout the recovery period.

What You Can Do

Work with a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner from 2-3 weeks post-surgery
Strictly enforce activity restriction protocols during the initial healing phase
Use validated pain assessment tools to guide medication adjustments during recovery
Implement home physiotherapy exercises as prescribed by the rehabilitation team
Monitor and record weekly functional milestones to track recovery progress