Meet Sienna, an 8-year old Vizsla. She came in to Miami Veterinary Specialists this past Summer for a left TPLO performed by Dr. Sarah Evans, one of our board-certified surgeons. A TPLO (Tibial-Plateau-Leveling Osteotomy) is a surgery performed in dogs to stabilize the stifle joint (or knee) after ruptures of the cranial cruciate ligament.

At the beginning of this week, Sienna paid another visit to MVS. She came for a second consultation with Dr.Evans for a possible right TPLO. According to her owners, Sienna was running and playing at the park. However, after a fun day, she started showing right hind limb lameness. It is actually very common for dogs like Sienna to have to go through a second TPLO—on the opposite limb– after successfully recovering from their first one. This is because most dogs that tear their ACL (or cruciate ligament) on one side will subsequently tear the ACL in the opposite knee. Several factors come into play when dogs tear their cruciate ligaments: body condition, breed or anatomy, types of physical activity, and cruciate disease are important. Many dogs, like Siena, will also tear their meniscus when they tear their cruciate ligament.

After a second successful TPLO, Sienna was discharged from the hospital with strict orders for exercise restriction for the next 8 weeks. Thanks to Dr. Evans, Sienna will be able to celebrate the New Year with an increase in activity! She should be able to run and play again once she is completely healed!