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Cranial Cruciate Ligament Surgery (CCL or ACL) – $2900 -Miami

In dogs, the cranial cruciate ligament or CCL is the connective tissue that protects the knee. Some people refer to it as the ACL and we’ll use the terms interchangeably for the purpose of this article. The CCL connects the bones above (femur) and below (tibia) the dog’s knee. 

The ligament prevents your dog’s knee from hyperextending forward. A tear in the ligament can make walking difficult or impossible and cause excruciating pain for your pet. Your veterinarian might try non-surgical interventions to help the joint heal. However, if these options fail, your dog may need ACL surgery. What’s included in this surgical procedure:

      • Blood work lab
      • Intravenous fluids
      • General anesthesia
      • CCL surgery
      • Pain medication
      • Antibiotics treatment
      • Removal of stitches

What to expect during CCL Surgery?

          • Pre anesthetic exam (in-house blood work)
          • Intravenous fluids
          • Our veterinary team will induce your dog into a safe state of general anesthesia
          • Vital signs including breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, state of anesthesia, oxygenation levels, CO2 level,and body temperature are monitored closely

          • To start with, the surgeon makes an incision at the top of the tibia just below the dog’s knee

          • An osteotomy involves cutting a bone as part of a surgical solution. In this case, the process is called a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). 

          • The surgeon rotates the cut part of the bone to reduce the tibial plateau angle. In some cases, they will also stabilize the bone using screws and plates. This forced break stabilizes the knee once it heals properly.

          • The surgeon closes the incision with surgical sutures
          • Postoperative medications are given, and postoperative care continues until your dog is completely recovered from the anesthesia
          • We will keep your dog hospitalized until he/she completely recovers and is safe to send home with after care instructions

          • Recovery takes approximately four months, with the animal slowly regaining function in the repaired leg. The more patience you have, the easier it will be for your dog to remain calm and take recovery one step at a time!

Important Fact:
Stop feeding your dog food and water 12 hours before surgery. Food can complicate surgery and lead to fatal outcome.

Home Care Instructions

Our veterinary staff will also provide you with post-operative instructions to follow when your pet goes home. With your home care instructions you will receive medication to minimize to minimize post-op discomfort. The steps below you can follow at home in order to facilitate a safe and comfortable recovery:

Quiet Place 

Provide a quiet place for your dog to recover 

Avoid bathing

Avoid bathing your dog for at least ten days after surgery

Check Incision Daily

Check incision daily to confirm proper healing.

Call us

If your dog is lethargic, has decreased appetite, is vomiting and has diarreha.

Preventing Running and Jumping

Do not allow your dog to run and jump for seven to ten days following surgery

Pay attention to changes around the surgery area

If you find any redness, swelling, or discharge around the surgery area, or if incision is open please, call us