I have an 18 month old lab with a bad ACL in his right knee. I am considering having the TPLO surgury done and was wondering if anyone out there has had the surgury on thier dog and what was the hunting performance of the dog after surgury and rehab. I know from other postings that there is a high possibility of the other ACL tearing and that complete rehab take about 4 months. What I have not heard is how much longevity or performance I can expect from my dog after all the healing is complete? Any feedback would be great.

Great part of Zeke's website describing his comeback after TPLO surgery.Go to: www.freewebs.com/zekethewonderdog and click on Zeke's Comeback. I just read it the other day. I am sure that you will find it encouraging.

Regardless of which type of surgery you decide on, BE SURE to get that dog on a PREMIUM Fish Oil. A significant number of dogs will blow the "good knee" within two years of CCL repair.

A small but very well done study was published in the "Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry" (Volume 19, Issue 2, Pages 101-108) (February 2008) that shows a big protection to the good knee following CCL surgery.
For clarity, "AA", and the "MMP's" and "uPA" are the bad guys "TIMP" is a good guy

Here is the abstract :

Fish oil decreases matrix metalloproteinases in knee synovia of dogs with inflammatory joint disease

Rodney A. Hansena, Mary A. Harrisb, G. Elizabeth Pluharc, Tatiana Mottad, Sean Brevarde, Gregory K. Ogilvief, Martin J. Fettmane, Kenneth G.D. Allenb


Received 25 September 2006; received in revised form 17 January 2007; accepted 18 January 2007. published online 26 May 2007.

Abstract
This study was designed to determine whether dietary fish oil affects the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), tissue inhibitors of MMP-2 (TIMP-2) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in synovial fluid from dogs with spontaneously occurring stifle (knee) instability in a single hind limb resulting from acute cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury. Two groups of 12 dogs were fed diets from 1 week prior to surgery on the affected knee to 56 days post-surgery. The fish oil and control diets provided 90 and 4.5 mg, respectively, of combined eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/kg body weight per day. Plasma and synovial fluid, from both surgical and nonsurgical knee joints, were obtained at start of the diet (−7), surgery day (0) and 7, 14, 28 and 56 days post-surgery. Plasma total EPA and DHA were significantly increased, and plasma total arachidonic acid (AA) was significantly decreased by the fish oil diet. In synovial fluid from the nonsurgical knee, fish oil treatment significantly decreased proMMP-2 expression at Days 7 and 14, and proMMP-9 expression at Day 56, and uPA activity at 28 days and significantly increased TIMP-2 expression at Days 7 and 28. There were no differences in MMP expression or activity, TIMP-2 expression and uPA activity in the surgical joint synovial fluid at any time throughout the study. These results suggest that dietary fish oil may exert beneficial effects on synovial fluid MMP and TIMP-2 equilibrium in the uninjured stifle of dogs with unilateral CCL injury.



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10mmg, the key to future success is the rehab after the surgery. Your dog will tell you he feels great WAY before he is really healed-be sure to follow the rehab directions you get very carefully-confine him as long as they say, lease only as long as they say. One "oops" and off he goes running across the yard can do lots of damage especially early on. He should return to full function. Be sure they look at the meniscus-this ligament is often torn and it is the one that causes the most pain. The other side goes because it take all the wear and tear of the hind end as soon as the torn knee starts to hurt-if you are going to do the surgery, sooner is better! Use a glucosamine supplement from now on, too. Good luck!

Thanks all for the feedback. Any brand name suggestions for the glucosamine and fish oil? He goes in next week for surgery with luck he may get a some late January hunting.

Posted By 10mmg on 30 Jul 2010 07:38 AM
Thanks all for the feedback. Any brand name suggestions for the glucosamine and fish oil? He goes in next week for surgery with luck he may get a some late January hunting.

PM sent



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I sent a PM as well

HI,

My Zeke had the surgery when he was 2. At the time, I was broken-hearted, thinking that he might be done. At 8, he still runs as hard as any dog I have seen.

Keys to a good comeback:

Find a great surgeon

Follow Dr' order, crate for 8 weeks

Good rehab is good medicine (slow and gradual is key)

Start rehab before crate time is over, but slowly (underwater treadmill was Zeke's favorite time).

Swim, swim, swim for rehab

Go to Zeke's website to see him in action, it will let you know that a full recovery is possible.

Zeke

I'll add that since Zeke and Mike had the trauma six years have passed, and that bodes well for advances in medicine/surgery/ rehab etc......best of luck. I can safely say that Zeke is a wonder dog and had a great recovery. I'd also say to take a look at www.gundogdoc.com