Gun Dog Forum

Hello! I don't know if this is the right section to ask but do you guys have any experience with a leg surgery on your dog? Mine will be having one soon and we are preparing for it. Any suggestions, product recos, anything that can help us! Thanks

Can you clarify what kind of leg surgery your dog needs?

TPLO Surgery.

I was searching on the internet and found this product https://www.licksleeve.com/products/lick-sleeve for post-care surgery. What can you say about using a sleeve?

I would show that page to the vet and take his/her advice on it.
Are you reasonably near a vet school? This info about a Blue Buffalo study came into my mailbox the other day. Maybe it's available to you.
https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/cto/clinical-tr ... ee-surgery

Good luck with the surgery.

no experience with surgery but sending you prayers and hugs for you and your dog!

Yes. First, realize that most orthopedic surgeons don't know beans about rehab. Just as when you have orthopedic surgery, they will do the work and then send you to a rehabilitation specialist to bring you back to full speed, you should do the same with your dog.

Fortunately, the entire field has seen major advances as a result of the combination of rapidly growing numbers of TPLO surgery as a consequence of increased early neutering and the sport of agility, which is extremely hard on the dog. You should seek out a rehab specialist in advance of the surgery.

This is a link to the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians. http://www.rehabvets.org/ See the "Find a Rehab Professional" link.

You'll get a lot of information including contacts (probably) in your areas. Many --perhaps most-- of these people do not do orthopedic surgery, but they know who is good. If you have not settled on a specific vet to do the work (ideally an orthopedic surgeon), they can refer you to one who is competent. A local vet is probably not your best choice.

In any case, you should look around at this link and others and find a specialist rehab veterinarian in your area to assure yourself that your dog will fully recover.

I have been through this. It is worth the time -- and money -- to do right by your dog.