DogOrthopedic

Pillar · Surgery

Orthopedic surgery, demystified.

What TPLO, FHO, and total hip replacement actually involve, what recovery looks like week by week, and the gear that makes both easier on dog and owner.

A dog in a clean clinical setting after orthopedic surgery, bandaged and resting calmly
Photo: Gustavo Fring / Pexels

Latest guides

A large older dog lying on a wooden floor at home, head down and watching the camera — the position an owner weighing orthopedic surgery sees every evening

surgery

Is My Dog Too Old for Orthopedic Surgery?

Age is a stand-in for the things that actually decide this. Here is what the anaesthetic risk really is by age and health status, and the four separate questions hiding inside "he's too old."

17 min read

A dog walking on a loose leash beside its owner on a boardwalk — short, controlled leash walks are the core of FHO rehabilitation, not an activity to be earned later

surgery

FHO Surgery Recovery in Dogs: A Realistic Timeline

FHO recovery runs opposite to every other orthopedic surgery: your dog needs to move, starting day one. Weight-bearing in days, function in three to four months.

13 min read

A dog standing at the bottom of an indoor staircase — the daily obstacle every post-TPLO household has to manage

surgery

Stairs After TPLO Surgery: Week-by-Week Rules That Protect the Repair

Stairs after TPLO, week by week: none for weeks 0–2, sling-assisted and only-if-unavoidable through week 8, gradual return after recheck X-rays confirm healing.

8 min read

A veterinarian reviewing radiographs — the starting point for deciding between knee and hip orthopedic surgery

surgery

TPLO vs Total Hip Replacement: Different Joints, Different Surgeries

TPLO vs total hip replacement: one repairs a torn knee ligament, the other replaces the hip joint with an implant. Costs, recovery, and which one your dog needs.

8 min read

A dog with a bandaged hind leg resting on a blanket during the early weeks of TPLO surgery recovery

surgery

TPLO Surgery Recovery: A Week-by-Week Guide

Tibial-Plateau-Leveling Osteotomy is the gold-standard repair for canine cruciate disease. Here's what to expect, week by week, and the gear that makes recovery survivable.

6 min read