How to Care for a Dog After TPLO Surgery

If your best friend has surgery, the few weeks after the surgery are crucial for recovery. Your dog needs love, attention, and support.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small pen or crate, high enough so the dog won't leap out
• soft, snuggly bedding, like sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc.
• Rugs to place on slippery floors
• Thick slip lead
• Food your dog wants to eat
• An oral syringe (to feed the dog water if they won't drink)

1. First, set up a crate or small pen so the dog has a little room to recover in. Put warm, comforting blankets in the pen. Also, try to find the dog furry, squeaky toys they will love.

2. 
   Oral Syringe

   Make sure the dog gets their medicine and also plenty of water. It's possible your dog won't want to drink after their surgery, or with a plastic cone on their head. If they won't drink from the bowl, use an oral syringe and let them lap the water from that.

3. If they will not eat, switch to a softer food, such as Cesar or Alpo only, or hand feed them their food.

4. 
   Slip Lead

   When your dog has to go to the bathroom, take them out on a leash, have them go, and bring them straight back into the house. Never let them run around or play outside after the surgery. After maybe 4-6 weeks they can go outside for a little longer.
   Use a thick slip lead as the leash; it's easy to get on and off and the dog won't slip out of it.

5. Never leave your dog alone! Sit with them in their pen, pet and massage them, and give them lots of love. =]Also, massage both of the dogs legs. This will make the muscle in the good leg feel more relieved and the operated-on leg get back to normal.

Tips & Warnings

• If the dog gets to much activity and hurts itself, it's probable the surgery will have to be repeated. With small dogs this is a big risk.
• In a couple of years, this will probably happen to the other leg. Be warned.