TPLO Led to His Amputation and I want to talk about it. It started out as a torn ACL. My Vet recommended the TPLO surgery and had a surgeon that he always uses. At the time Drakey was only 3 years old. He had issues in the past with his other knee and this surgeon fixed his luxating patella. Minor soft tissue infection that was resistant to the antibiotics, but he got on the correct medication and it resolved with a small scar.
Now his Left Hind leg needed an ACL repair. So I reminded the vet of the minor complication in the past. He assured me that it would be ok. This Surgeon has done many TPLOs in his office and only 1 had some complications. Drake had Surgery in February. He was progressing well until a month later I noticed he would not walk on the affected leg.
I called my vet because the surgeon was a traveling surgeon and could not be reached. I told my vet that it looked swollen and was red and warm to the touch. My vet assured me that it was normal. But because I persisted on him seeing my dog , I got an appointment the following week. By the appointment time there was drainage from the wound. And confirmation from my vet that his leg was infected. Treatment with antibiotics started and it seemed to resolve. Except I noticed some buckling when he walked.
He was receiving laser therapy so I brought it to my Vets attention on his visit. Again assured me he was fine. Within a month after Drake would not put his leg down. I made another appointment for Drake to see the Doctor. As I was on my way , the office called and told me I was scheduled with a different doctor and he had an emergency and canceled all his patients. I asked for the next available and they were not accommodating at all. Pushed me out another week.
So I went to another Vet that I had used for more emergent things because they have later hours and I wanted Drakey to be seen. Not understanding what could be wrong I thought he had re-injured his leg and I was supposed to go out of town. The vet I got was great and saw another abscess on his leg. I asked if I could call the surgeon because this was the 2nd time. Drakes surgeon also did surgery at this veterinary office. They told me they would have to treat it as a soft tissue infection first and see if it goes away. If not then they would call. So it was debrided and tissue sampled and sent out. Again an infection that was resistant and had to change the antibiotics.
He got better… then same thing. I brought him back to the vet. They told me to try rehab. Drake had another appointment with his skin and allergy specialist. When he saw him, he immediately told me that Drake needs to see the surgeon. I told him I had tried. But now I will push. So I went back to the vet and asked for the surgeon. They told me I would have to pay a fee. I did not care. Finally 3 months had passed and I saw the surgeon. Immediately he told me that Drakes leg was infected and the implant had to come out. Surgery #2. So I cancelled my vacation and Drake had the plates taken out EXCEPT a screw that was left.
The Surgeon told me he could not get it out and that he needed it for support. The leg was not fused. He also said that he had never seen this before , but the implant was loose. So again recovery with antibiotics, splint, crate etc for 2 more months. Drake gets better…. started rehab finally….then he hops! I had another vacation planned , but I could not leave him with a sitter not walking. I made an appointment with the existing Vet I had changed to. Asked them to please look at his leg, his paw, anything that could explain why he was not walking on all 4 legs! They told me they found nothing and go to rehab and get a brace! So I called the rehab vet and they squeezed Drake in to be seen.
They shaved his hair and examined his leg. ANOTHER ABCESS ! I called the vet back and told them they missed this. I needed him to see the vet asap. They told me to go to the ER cause they were too busy. And could only give me an appointment the next day… I was supposed to leave on a plane for a friends wedding. So I took Drake to the ER (waited 3 hours) Again they took one look at him and said I need to see the Surgeon. So I canceled my trip. The ER Surgeon told me the screw needs to come out. The infection never went away because part of the implant was still there.
I immediately called the primary vet that told me to get a brace for him and all of the sudden they were calling the first surgeon. But of course no call back. I had Drake already scheduled for Surgery #3 to remove the pin with the ER surgeon. Again 2 months recovery, antibiotics, splint,crate… etc. This time longer antibiotics.. more pain meds… But Drake gets better.Drake got attention and they were following up with X-rays every couple of weeks. His leg started to improve. He started to walk again.
He started Rehab again.. but with so much rehab needed we used one that was closer to home. Within 2 weeks.. Drake would not put his foot down. The rehab vet told me to contact the surgeon. Unfortunately the Xray showed a decline. The bones started to degenerate and the non fusions were worse. Surgery #4 This ER Surgeon tried so hard to save Drakes leg. She decided to clean it out and do biopsies and get a more specific antibiotic. But we had to wait for the results of the biopsy. Within that week, Drakes knee bone moved to the side of his leg, and the bones collapsed on each other. He was splinted and had strict instructions. The new antibiotics were given , but with only a 25% chance of recovery.
By now Drake was walking on 3 legs for 2 months. He needed the splint changed every week. And they did X-rays to see how the new antibiotics were working. But now he leg was pushing inward, and refused to walk on it. He was up to 3 pain medications and the new surgeon said the chances of him walking on it were slim to none. His leg would fuse deformed and he may attack it cause it is not working. I spoke to both rehab vets, my new primary vet, his skin and allergy specialist vet and human orthopaedic surgeons that I work with every day. The ER Surgeon said we had time and we could ride this out for another 4-6 months.. the infection was localised.
Drake would have to live in this splint, more atrophy of his leg and no guarantee that he could use it ever again. Arthritis would persist and chronic pain. Then what if the local infection spread….. The other choice was his amputation. 2 -4 weeks recovery and no more pain hopefully.
So here he is a TRIPAWD. As I write this I cry because this could have been avoided. Drake is a very easy going , relaxed and sweet black mini golden doodle. Does not jump ,run or get too excited except for chicken! LOL. But I wanted to Drakes story.. It’s important to bring awareness to Surgery and complications with infections. He will not be ignored again. And this amputation probably saved his life. Today is day #4 from his Surgery #5 Amputation. He finally started to eat.
The site is shocking at first. He has some swelling and redness, but overall the stitches are dry. He is so mellow he hasn’t even tried to pick at his wound. Please pay attention to any sites of infection. Im very strict with Drakes recovery. I do not want anything to happen to him.