Orthopedic surgery overview · Blog

Orthopedic surgery, from limp to walk.

Canine orthopedic surgery covers bones, joints, and ligaments — from torn cruciate ligaments to fractures to severe hip disease. Here's how the field works, what the most common procedures look like, and what recovery actually involves.

Warning signs.

Most orthopedic problems start with one of four patterns owners notice at home:

• Persistent limping — not just after a hard play session, but lasting days or worsening with activity.
• Difficulty with movement — reluctance to jump on the couch, hesitation on stairs, slow to rise after lying down.
• Reduced activity — your dog used to chase the ball, now they watch.
• Audible whimpering during specific movements, or aggressive licking of one limb.

The earlier you catch it, the more options you have. Orthopedic conditions tend to compound — untreated joint instability leads to arthritis, which is much harder to reverse than to prevent.

The three most common procedures.

TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy). The gold standard for cranial cruciate ligament tears in dogs over about 30 pounds. Rather than repairing the torn ligament (which doesn't heal well in dogs), the surgeon changes the angle of the tibia so the joint stabilizes mechanically. Recovery: 12–16 weeks. Success rate: 90%+.

Fracture repair. Internal fixation with plates and screws when a bone breaks beyond what a cast can handle. Used for long-bone fractures, growth-plate fractures in young dogs, and complex breaks. Recovery: 8–12 weeks depending on the bone and the patient.

FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy). For severe hip arthritis or trauma where total hip replacement isn't a fit. The femoral head is removed and a "false joint" of scar tissue forms over the next few months. Earlier weight-bearing than TPLO because there's no implant to protect.

Pre-op and day of.

Pre-op: fasting from the night before (water is usually OK up to a few hours pre-surgery), bloodwork to clear anesthesia, and final imaging.

Day of: anesthesia induction with continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen, and temperature. The surgeon performs the procedure; a tech monitors anesthesia throughout. Post-op recovery in a warmed kennel until your dog wakes smoothly.

Most patients go home the same day. You'll get detailed discharge instructions, take-home medications, and direct text access to our team through recovery.

The recovery roadmap.

First 48 hours: strict rest, pain meds on schedule, watch for any concerning signs.

Weeks 1–2: building the foundation. Short potty walks on leash. E-collar 24/7. No stairs, no jumping, no running.

Weeks 3–8: gradual return to movement. Controlled walks. At-home rehab exercises. Recheck around week 4.

Months 3–6: full muscle strength returns. Off-leash play resumes after final follow-up x-rays confirm bone healing.

Success rate across these three procedures is over 90% — and the determinant of long-term function is almost always how well the recovery program got followed, not how the surgery itself went.