Dewey
New member
On my last hunt this December, my Chocolate lab ruptured her cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). When I went to the one of the vets here in Sioux Falls that specializes in ortho, he mentioned he did two procedures - the "Fishline method" and the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) method. He recommended the TPLO method because Ruby is a larger lab.
The TPLO method has very good results in returning the dog to it's previous level of activity, but it is a very invasive procedure in which the dog's upper part of the tibia bone is cut, repositioned, and plated with six screws.
This appeared it might be the only option for Ruby, but it my research I read about a new method this year called the Tightrope CCL. Developed by a vet at the University of Missouri. This method is VERY new, but everything I've read about it has been positive in the stories and forums I've read this past week. One of the stories out of Minnesota was about a yellow lab that had this procedure done in early September this year and actually hunting pheasants by the end of October.
I found the vet that did the procedure on the yellow lab and called him. He was trained by the vet out of the U of Missouri last January. He mentioned that he does both the TPLO and the Tightrope method and has done many of the Tightrope procedures this year. In fact, he was doing 2 surgeries on the day I visited with him. He said a lot of his clients are opting for the Tightrope versus the TPLO.
It's been a trying time for me trying to decide which way to go with Ruby, but I've reached the conclusion that I'm going with the new procedure. Ruby is scheduled for surgery this Monday. The trip is a 3 1/2 hour trip so I'm heading out on Sunday, surgery on Monday and coming home on Tuesday. I'll be working with a cannine rehab center to learn the therapy needed for Ruby's rehab.
I'm starting this thread and plan to provide updates on how things are going for Ruby as she recover from the surgery and the rehab. Going to be a tough couple of months, but I'm going to get Ruby and I through it. I know all activity (as it progresses) must be done on a leash. Not looking forward to the early morning and before bed outdoor exercises in the winter months, but at least Ruby should be through rehab to enjoy the summer.
The TPLO method has very good results in returning the dog to it's previous level of activity, but it is a very invasive procedure in which the dog's upper part of the tibia bone is cut, repositioned, and plated with six screws.
This appeared it might be the only option for Ruby, but it my research I read about a new method this year called the Tightrope CCL. Developed by a vet at the University of Missouri. This method is VERY new, but everything I've read about it has been positive in the stories and forums I've read this past week. One of the stories out of Minnesota was about a yellow lab that had this procedure done in early September this year and actually hunting pheasants by the end of October.
I found the vet that did the procedure on the yellow lab and called him. He was trained by the vet out of the U of Missouri last January. He mentioned that he does both the TPLO and the Tightrope method and has done many of the Tightrope procedures this year. In fact, he was doing 2 surgeries on the day I visited with him. He said a lot of his clients are opting for the Tightrope versus the TPLO.
It's been a trying time for me trying to decide which way to go with Ruby, but I've reached the conclusion that I'm going with the new procedure. Ruby is scheduled for surgery this Monday. The trip is a 3 1/2 hour trip so I'm heading out on Sunday, surgery on Monday and coming home on Tuesday. I'll be working with a cannine rehab center to learn the therapy needed for Ruby's rehab.
I'm starting this thread and plan to provide updates on how things are going for Ruby as she recover from the surgery and the rehab. Going to be a tough couple of months, but I'm going to get Ruby and I through it. I know all activity (as it progresses) must be done on a leash. Not looking forward to the early morning and before bed outdoor exercises in the winter months, but at least Ruby should be through rehab to enjoy the summer.