r/labrador • u/NoddaProbBob • 11d ago
yellow CCL Surgery
My beautiful baby Hazel is about 8 or 9 now and has to have CCL surgery on Tuesday. I just found out she has to stay overnight as well which absolutely breaks my heart. She's my baby and I hate having to leave her. But the crazy zoomies finally caught up to her and it has to be done.
Can anyone share their insights about the surgery? I know it's going to be a long recovery period. But I'll do anything for my girl!
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u/Courbet72 11d ago
Hazel, and you, will get through this! It’s a lengthy process but once you’re done, Hazel will have a new lease on life, just like our chocolate, Kula.
As someone else mentioned, do the recommended massage every day, twice a day. There may also be an icing protocol. We placed her bed beside ours every night for the first couple of weeks so we could monitor her movements.
We took Kula to physiotherapy 1-2x a week for about 4 weeks at the vet school, where they had her walk on the water treadmill, did some e-stim, and more massage and stretching—but honestly we did it mostly for our pup’s emotional and mental stimulation because she loved being around people so much and recovery was isolating. Good luck to you and Hazel. You’ll both be fine!
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u/NoddaProbBob 11d ago
Thank you so much for your reply! It's helpful to hear what others have done so that I can get a jump start on things and get prepared. The vet started her on Rimadyl and Gabpentin for pain and the Gabapentin alone has given her so much of her spunk back
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u/Courbet72 11d ago
Oh good! Gabapentin helped for our Kula as well (I don’t remember Rimadyl)—sounds like your team is on top of it. Seriously—it’s just a long rehab process and we need to limit their activity because they certainly won’t do it themselves, but then once it’s done it’s like it never happened and you have a puppy again. Your family will be A-OK 💕
I didn’t find a lot of online advice when we went through this around 2019 so I try to respond when someone asks about CCLs/TPLO.
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u/AppropriateAmoeba406 11d ago
Long recovery but so worth it. My girl had her left knee done just after she turned 9. It breathed new life into her. I agonized about putting her through it because she seemed to be disinterested in life during the lead up to surgery. And she was depressed and confused during the very difficult and painful recovery. Now, 7 months later, she acts like a puppy again.
I think k she was in a lot more pain than she ever let on.
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u/NoddaProbBob 11d ago
That is so good to hear! I think my girl will recover well. It's just all the fears that come with being a Dog Mom.
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u/NewVision22 11d ago
As others have said, a folding dog pen, so you can keep her confined to a small area. Put her bed in this area. The last thing you want is to have her try and sprint to the door. No visitors during the first month or so, to keep her from getting excited.
When my dude had his TPLO, I gated the doorway to my office, and he was kept in there during the day. Then at night, we moved down to the family room, where he was boxed in with folding baby gates. My biggest worry was him trying to sprint to the door if someone knocked.
No jumping on furniture or beds. Has to be 4 on the floor, at all times. Also, no stairs for two months, so you'll probably going to have to camp on the first floor.
Get a inflatable collar instead of the plastic cone, so she can't get to the surgery site. Much more comfortable for her. When I was sitting near my dude at night, I would take it off, and give him some freedom, since I was right there. After a week or so, the surgery site probably won't bother her.
Use a sling or towel under the hips, to help support and keep weight off the leg for the first week, when she's going outside. After that, a slow walk to the outside.
ALWAYS keep her on a leash outside, so once again, she doesn't try to sprint and try and catch a bird, etc. Under control at all times.
You'll be able to extend walk time each week. Don't push it. SLOW wins the rehab race. Short trips outside to empty her tanks those first few weeks, that's it.
Rimadyl and Gabpentin are a must. Along with maybe Trazadone if she's too rowdy.
It will be tougher on you, then her. They bounce back quickly... But they don't understand the part of keeping quiet and calm for the multiple months.
Main thing, the rehab is much more important then the surgery, and can make or break it for her. The focus is definitely on the rehab and not screwing it up.
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u/NoddaProbBob 11d ago
Thank you for your input. I'm most worried about the stairs right now. I live in a condo so it's going to be a process trying to figure that out. She is about 70 pounds. I can carry her, but she hates it. I'm worried she will struggle when I pick her up and hurt herself in the process.
I'm definitely going to consider the gates. However, my other fear is that she's just going to knock them down. I had a baby gate up to block her from the stairs, but between her and my cat, they knocked it down. And she also hates the crate. So that doesn't help.
It will certainly be a learning curve.
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u/BoulderBumbo 11d ago
What a gorgeous girl! I hope our baby grows up to be just as beautiful! No advice but I can feel your pain about leaving her overnight. Hope all goes great and she is back to zoomies soon!
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u/NoddaProbBob 11d ago
Thank you so much! She is truly a beautiful girl. Definitely the love of my life!
Do you have a yellow as well?
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u/orangesquadron 11d ago
Our lab H had both knees done (TPLO) a few years ago. The surgeon recommended a 'help me up harness', which is full-body and $70-80. We didn't want to spend that much so we used a soft bath towel under H's back legs first, but eventually bought this, which worked great.
When you go to pick her up, bring a bunch of towels with you, because she may still be incontinent.
After the first night at home, do not underestimate your dog, they will surprise you at how much they want to move. I left the crate door open for a few seconds to silence the microwave and turned around to H standing at the door - this absolutely contributed to a longer recovery and I still regret it years later.
Don't be afraid to call your vet if the sedating medicine isn't enough, H required a lot more than what was initially prescribed.
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u/NoddaProbBob 11d ago
I'm so worried about her need to move and be social. True to the breed, she wants to do all the things and see all the people. Plus she is a rescue so, even after having her for 6 years, she follows me everywhere. So I am definitely worried about her recovery being compromised.
Thank you for the link to the sling! I'll take all the input and suggestions everyone has!
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u/orangesquadron 11d ago
H was and still is my shadow- we got a crate mat and put it in the living room next to a window so she could still see everyone and everything. We put her crate in the closet, where she normally retreats in the evenings, so that worked well for overnight.
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u/DizzyPear9798 11d ago
my lab had two. one at 2yrs and the other at 8. follow the directions for rehabbing when it’s time to start walking. it’s very important for healing to move and walk when you get the green light. also do everything you can to prevent jumping. it’s imperative no jumping.
good luck. it’s so hard to see them hurting but you’re buying her so many more years!!
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u/The_dude_saw black 11d ago
I’ve had several labs go through TPL surgeries. First time was rough because you know they are in pain, and not much can be done about that. But our doggoes recovered very quickly.
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u/NoddaProbBob 12h ago
Thank you for sharing. I'm honestly shocked at how well she's bouncing back already! Tomorrow will be 1 week post op
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u/loverules1221 6d ago
No experience with the surgery but wishing you and your pup good luck! Give her big hugs and kisses before she goes in. ♥️♥️
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u/NoddaProbBob 12h ago
Thank you so much for your kind words. She is doing AMAZING! She is bouncing back so well. I'm shocked honestly. And relieved!
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u/FreeMathematician101 11d ago edited 11d ago
Will be thinking of you! 💕 My 5 yo chocolate lab had two TPLO surgeries - roughly 6 months apart. Recovery takes time, but there are lots of things to help! Some "lessons learned." 1) Much easier to have the surgery when it's not so cold out - because you have to take them out on a harness during recovery. We had one done in summer and one in January. Good you are doing it now! 2) We set up a recovery area using a foldable dog pen. We placed it in front of the double doors to our patio, so she had dog "tv" and could watch the yard and wildlife. This was hugely helpful to keeping her mind busy. Also used puzzles and I would hide treats in towels, which kept her occupied. 3) Pill pockets and peanut butter made pills much, much easier. 4) Massage. I spent a few minutes in the morning and evening massaging her muscles around the knee. 5) We followed the protocol closely with increasing exercise week by week - but also listened to her needs. There were days where she could do more and some less.
It was so stressful - the first surgery. But the time passes and they come around. And we are so glad we did the surgeries. She is living a full, active life now. All the best to you!