Pet of the month for September goes to this handsome boy, Tommy!
We have been seeing Tommy at our clinic since Feb 2023, when he was not long adopted by his new family. Tommy, at only the age of two, had been to another vet up north to have TPLO surgery- (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) surgery is a common procedure for dogs with a damaged cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) that causes knee instability and lameness. The surgery involves cutting the tibia, rotating the top portion (tibial plateau) to flatten the slope, and securing it with a plate and screws. This alters the knee's biomechanics, eliminating the need for the ligament and restoring stability to the joint, though recovery requires strict rest and rehabilitation.
As his family live down our way, they started seeing Dr Raj to help with the maintenance of his condition, as even though his TPLO surgery was a success- he still has ongoing joint discomfort (arthritis). Tommy comes down to the clinic to get his monthly Beransa injection (monoclonal antibody injection for dogs that treats the pain of osteoarthritis by targeting and neutralizing Nerve Growth Factor). Unfortunately, Tommy ended up requiring surgery on his opposite knee in June of this year- so back up to visit his previous surgeon he went.
Thankfully for Tommy’s family, they got insurance out as soon as they adopted him. Therefore, the pressure of his ongoing costs of his medical care has been greatly reduced. The rough price for TPLO surgery per knee is anywhere between 5-7k and his ongoing monthly Beransa injections are around $100. Pet insurance is always recommended to have for our furry friends, as we do not know what sort of health conditions can arise- Tommy’s family sure didn’t expect to have to pay for 2 knee reconstructions within the first 3yrs of owning him.
Thank you to Tommy's family, for not only giving this boy a wonderful and safe home- but getting him the very best vet care!