OrthopedicSurgery
Orthopedic surgery treats injuries to bones, joints and ligaments — most commonly a torn cranial cruciate ligament. At Surgery For Pets in Delray Beach, procedures such as TPLO are performed as same-day outpatient surgery.
What this involves
A limp that will not resolve usually means something structural. Cruciate ligament rupture is the single most common orthopedic injury we treat, and it rarely improves with rest alone. Surgical stabilisation restores the joint mechanics so the limb can carry weight normally again.
Symptoms
These are the signs owners most often describe before a pet is referred to us. Any one of them is worth a conversation.
- Limping that comes and goes, then becomes constant
- Sitting with one leg kicked out to the side
- Reluctance to jump, use stairs, or rise after resting
- A clicking sound from the knee when walking
- Sudden non-weight-bearing lameness after play
How we approach it
- 1Orthopedic examination and gait assessment
- 2Digital radiographs to confirm the diagnosis and plan the cut
- 3Pre-operative bloodwork and anesthetic risk assessment
- 4Surgery with a dedicated technician monitoring anesthesia throughout
- 5Multimodal pain control started before the first incision
What to expect afterwards
- Home the same evening in most cases
- Strictly controlled activity for 8 weeks — this is the part that matters most
- Recheck radiographs at 8 weeks to confirm bone healing
- Return to normal activity typically at 12–16 weeks
Orthopedic Surgery — information sheet
We can send you a written summary of this procedure — what it involves, how to prepare, and what recovery looks like at home.
What it costs
Our full price list covers every procedure we offer, grouped by type and broken down by patient size where it matters.
See full pricingAbout orthopedic
If yours is not answered here, call us — we would rather talk it through than leave you guessing.
Most patients bear weight on the leg within 1 week and are walking comfortably within two weeks. Bone healing takes about 8 weeks, confirmed by recheck radiographs, and most dogs return to full activity between 12 and 16 weeks. Controlled activity during that period is the single biggest factor in the outcome.
Age alone is not a reason to decline surgery. What matters is organ function and anesthetic risk, which we assess with pre-operative bloodwork and a physical exam. Many senior dogs do very well, and leaving an unstable joint untreated often causes more long-term pain than the surgery would.
A completely torn cranial cruciate ligament does not heal on its own. Some small dogs stabilise with scar tissue and manage with rest and medication, but the joint remains unstable and arthritis usually progresses. Surgical stabilisation gives the most reliable return to comfortable function.
After-hours emergency
If your pet is in distress outside our hours, call us first — we will direct you to the right care immediately.
When your petneeds surgery, everydecision matters.
Send us the details and any records you already have. We will call you within one business day with a plan and a price — and no obligation to go ahead.
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM · After-hours emergency by availability