My 2 yr old 78kg boy is having a TPLO done on his left hind leg at a specialists on Friday. 

I know the vets will tell me everything afterwards as to how to help him recover quickly.  Just wondered if anyone has any advice to offer.

I've already put him on a daily dose of Glaucosamine (sp) and he has been on metacam for the last month whilst waiting to see if surgery was the only option. 

Hi Shadowsmum

My newf has had both back legs done one after the other, crate rest was required for about 6 weeks then gently excercise to rebuild the muscle tone at 5 mins 3 times a day per week increasing every week for another 5 mins so eventually she was on 30 mins a day at week 12. My newf recovered really well from it and could hold her weight on the leg as soon as she got home so the real pain was keeping her inactive for the first 6 weeks. She is now 5 and I can honestly say you wouldn't know she has had 2 major operations before she was a year and a half. I give her glucosomine everyday to help with any arthritis she may develope and she has had that for about a year now. If you want more detailed info PM me and I will dig out all the info from her file.:)

My boy had TPLO in 2006. This surgeon has a nice description of the surgery. (he's also a very nice vet that answered some questions for a distressed owner in the UK!)

Glucosamine on its own does nothing for me (bad knees myself). I always make sure I take it with chondroitin and that the dosage is high enough. I get 1500mg a day; that's about how much I'd be giving a 78Kg dog. I use the human stuff as it's cheaper. But I buy quality human supplements, not just the supermarket stuff. That does nothing for me so I've assumed it wouldn't be as helpful to my dog either.

Find a pool. Hydrotherapy post surgery was a godsend for my boy. Discuss it with your surgeon and find a good hydrotherapist. He started with only a couple minutes of swimming but we increased it slowly and it encouraged him to start using the leg again. It was very helpful in rebuilding his muscle tone (he'd been off that leg for about 5 months)

It took months before he was able to run hard without limping afterwards but he got there. He's a 40Kg golden retriever and dashes around the woods like nothing ever happened to his leg.
Good luck with your boy.