Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Joint Success (TPLO surgery)

Two veterinarians team together to perform a modern procedure called TPLO to help dogs with ACL injuries regain an active lifestyle.

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image left: Veterinary Team of Dr. Don Rushton and Dr. Ernie Prowse.

What is happening to my dog? He seems to have aged recently and has difficulty doing things he did before. He is also favouring one of his hind legs and seems to only touch his toes to the ground when he walks or stands. What could be the problem? If your first thought is hip dysplasia, you are likely wrong. Over 80% of ALL orthopaedic problems found in dogs involves a ligament in their leg which helps to stabilize the knee joint. This ligament is called the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). For unexplained reasons, there seems to be an epidemic of ACL problems. These problems are showing up in all breeds of dogs, but are especially prevalent in Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Bull Mastiffs and Rottweilers.

Read more of the Article, here