Dog orthopedic surgery can help with a wide scope of issues, restoring optimum mobility, health, and quality of life to your pet. But like any type of surgical procedure, it does come with possible complications. Potential complications can be categorized into three main areas: Complications during surgery Early post-surgical complications – typically occurring within two…
Pet Proofing Your House in the Days, Weeks, and Months After Surgery When your beloved pet needs surgery, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and sometimes, even helpless. The thought of seeing your pup in pain or discomfort – unable to run, play, and do all the things their little doggy heart loves during…
ACL tears are the most common orthopedic injury in dogs, and it’s estimated that between 30% and 50% of dogs who tear one ACL will tear the other ACL within a few years. Why is this? Let’s take a closer look. What happens when a dog tears their ACL? When a dog tears their ACL…
When a dog’s ACL (or cranial cruciate ligament) breaks, the stifle (AKA knee) becomes painful, unstable, and prone to arthritis – causing a limp. It’s important to understand that there are many degrees of ACL tearing that can occur in dogs. Here are some simple guidelines to follow: If your dog is not putting any…
This is quite a common question for dog owners, likely because ACL injuries are the most common musculoskeletal issues orthopedic veterinary clinics see in canines – affecting more than a million dogs every year. And due to the vast amount of information on canine ACL tears on the internet, it’s no wonder there’s confusion on…
Yes – dogs can sleep, eat, drink, pee, and poop with a cone on. In fact, the stricter you are with the cone (officially called an Elizabethan collar or E-collar for short), the quicker your dog will get used to it. Plus, leaving the cone on at all times is one of the best ways…
Skin that looks folded A small round bump A long bump A balloon-like bump A hard, immoveable bump A puckered section of skin Red, angry, oozing bumps Any significant changes in your dog’s behavior If your dog has had surgery, a TPLO surgery for example, you know the immense feeling of relief when the procedure…
The days and weeks directly following your dog’s surgery can be a time of mixed emotions – you’re relieved the actual procedure is over, but you know you’re not necessarily out of the woods just yet. As your dog recovers, there’s always a risk that their surgical incision will reopen, become infected, or won’t heal…
Ah, the pooping question. ???? At TopDog Health, this is one of the most common questions we hear from pet owners following their pup’s orthopedic surgery. And since a dog’s bowel movement patterns tend to be a little unusual after surgery, it’s not surprising that pet parents are wondering. So we’ve rounded up everything you…
