Is My Dog Too Old For Cruciate Ligament Knee Surgery (TPLO surgery)?

It can be a great worry to elect your dog for surgery, especially when they're older. Surgery is always risky, but perhaps on balance, this is a risk too far for your dog and their age.

Surgery is considered better for younger dogs. When your dog's around the age of 7 years old it's sensible to debate whether surgery is the right option. However, please don't take 7 years old as the gold standard age. Each dog is different and each vet, so please discuss this with your vet on a case-by-case basis for their specific advice.

Titus, a husky, did not have TPLO surgery as he was 10 years old. It's really worth reading his story further to see how his owner chose alternative options to surgery, and Titus made a full recovery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPQGUOzm0w0

A dog's age alone does not determine whether they are too old for surgery. Each dog is an individual, and the decision to perform surgery should be based on a comprehensive evaluation of your dog's overall health, including factors such as organ function, mobility and recovery. This is something you can discuss with your vet, who can help you make an informed decision.

It is important to note it's not just age that plays a factor into whether a dog's right or not for TPLO surgery. Treatment options for cruciate ligament injuries vary, depending on several factors such as the severity of the injury, the size, age and breed of your dog, as well as their overall health. For some dogs, surgery is simply not an option. 

Read more about Cruciate Knee Ligament injuries here - Causes, Prevention and Treatments: https://zoomadog.co.uk/collections/what-is-cruciate-ligament-knee

Find Cruciate Ligament Knee Braces here: https://zoomadog.co.uk/collections/dog-cruciate-knee-braces