I know its a long hard haul, but I want to ask and want 100% honest answers.
If you have ever had now or in the past had a dog that had surgery to repair cruciate ligament, did that dog make 100% full recovery to normal strength and use in that leg and were they able to resume normal fast energetic play/ agility/ work without a problem or limp again?
Or did they always have a problem or slight limp afterwards especially if they over used it?

One of my mastiffs had a tplo about 3 years ago, she had the tplo removed approx 12 months later as a screw was causing a problem. I searched out the surgeon I wanted to use and had to travel, but was worth it.  Now she has full range of movement and you would never know she had it done.  She is not a high energy dog, (typical mastiff), but still happily does moorland walks with me, have never seen any limping etc.  I think it is always on my mind and was very careful for a long time, more so because it was removed a year later (at this time I didnt realize this could be done). Shes a big girl!, and I do keep an eye on the other leg, but so far so good lol

My daughters Boxer had this done in January and to be absolutely honest she still has a slightly stiff leg, although she is without pain. We took it very easy as instructed by the specialist although she had bloat 7 days after the op and had her spleen removed and only just made it, so I suppose that didn't help her recovery much. She is getting on a bit in age and was not mobile for a long time before the op so has weight problems as well which again does not help the leg.
Is her life better now - Yes
Would we do it again - Yes
Do we regret having the op - No

I think age and all the other factors contributed to  what is maybe not a 100 per cent success, but I honestly believe that a younger and stronger dog would have a much better chance of complete recovery.

I have 2 akitas which had surgery to repair their cruciates about 8 years ago.  They have always had trouble since the op and have a very pronounced limp and the knee joints are swollen with arthritis.  Also, because they were in pain at the back end, they transfer all their weight to the front end meaning they lost muscle tone from about the waist down so they have a huge, muscular front end and taper away at the rear.  I couldn't show either of the 2 of them again as the movement was so bad afterwards.  In saying that, this was a few years ago and surgery has improved greatly since then.  Sometimes the cruciate can repair itself with rest so make sure surgery in the best answer as once they open it, I'm sure this is what causes the arthritis to start in the joints.(pretty certain that's what my vet said at the time)

I've had a small breed dog that repaired itself with rest. It did take a few months of being strict about exercise.
I'm pleased I didn't go for the op in the end , all ours took was time , but the vet gave us clear options and said she'd seen the cruciate repair itself on many occassions.

My bitch had her C/L done about five years ago.  this was due to and accident. we didnt have a choice as she was in so much pain.  the 'aftercare' is so important, she was cagerested for a long time only going out to pee then sort build up walks.  However she was able to continue working and doing everything she could do before.  She has to the expert eye a small limp.

I have an American Cocker, that I rested and rehabilitated over a period of six months. He came back to full fitness and is still fit after several years, no surgery required. He's now 12 years old.

Dawn R.

My male Rottie had surgery on both his cruciates.  He had the conventional stitch repair method and I had him rehabilitating with hydrotherapy and many exercises from the physiotherapist.  It took a lot of time and dedication but he is now fully fit, movement is back to perfect - he is fine for the showring (although I chose to pull him out) and he can run, play and exercise as normal.  I wouldn't however let him do agility as i'm concerned this wouldn't be too good on his joints but then he is a big dog.  Oh and he doesn't limp at all.

My bitch Indie had a cruciate repair, about 3 1/2 years ago now.  She also had to have a repair to one of the meniscus pads on the same knee joint about a year after the repair, as it had folded over and was causing her some discomfort.  She's now pretty much sound, she doesn't stand evenly, she does favour her other knee slightly, which I am wary about as I know it can be a bilateral condition.  But she pretty much runs around and is fit as a fiddle, we had great fun this weekend entering a fun gundog day which helped raise funds for charity, and although she doesn't normally do the gundog stuff, she was working trials trained, she came third in her group, and also came third in the scurry!! 

I have a friend with a Labrador that had cruciate repair when she was about 2. Eventually got 2nd at Crufts in the Veteran class. Her movement was great (the dog, not the owner!!!) and she died at 16 years of age after having a very good quality of life and loads of exercise.

My girl had TPLO 3 1/2 years ago and you'd never know she'd had it done, she is completely sound and outruns the other girl by miles! She has extremely good movement and also gained her stud book number post TPLO :-)

Very careful management in the aftercare is crucial IMO to a successful outcome

I had a Retriever collie x who came to us with CL problems at age 6years.

She was on Zenacarp x 2 per day.

We had the op and it made a massive improvement to her mobility and we personally didn't notice any stiffness, she was also pain-free once fully recovered.  Must say she could not get upstairs, climb steps or walk far before the op.  Afterwards she did all of that and some running so there was a big change.  She would never be a hugely energetic dog though, not in her nature.

The aftercare ws very important.  Her back leg was strapped in a figure of eight and she could not weight bear for a week or two post op.  She had several post op check ups and once given the go-ahead to exercise it was done very slowly, increasing by minutes each week until by six moths after the operation she could walk for an hour or more.

Given the difference it made to her and her quality of life I wouldn't hesititate to do it again

Thankyou everyone for your replies. I think because Shady is such a difficult patient I worry that she may constantly be stopping the healing process by the stupid spinning and rushing off she does indoors many times a day. Even in her crate she will leap up and spin and try to jump about barking at the slightest sound and in such a confined space that really puts pressure on that back leg.
However saying that I am now realising how well she is actually doing as its exactly 9 weeks today since her op and she walks normally on it, with no hint of a limp its only when she stands still that she twists it out slightly and stands on the toe still.
I do worry about the walks am I increasing too quickly or not quick enough and the fact I can only get her out twice a day not the 3 times I was instructed too,
I did take her out with Kyiro for the first time this morning so she had 20 mins which is the longest so far, but she seemed fine no limping so I will just monitor her today and take her on her own for just 15 mins tonight so Kyiro can have a longer walk.
How quickly did you all increase your exercise with your dogs? Did you go 3 times a day?
She starts her hydrotherapy tomorrow so will just give her 10 mins in the morning early as she has hydro at 10.30am.

From day 1 I was told 5 mins up 4-5 times per day, increasing it to about 20 mins over a 6 week period (and then decreasing the frequency).  After the check-up xrays at 6 weeks I was advised to increase by 5 mins per week until letting off lead 3 months post-op.  This is post TPLO so other procedures may have different rehab protocols.

I was told 5 mins lead walk per day from 1 week post op, this was to increase by 5 mins at weekly intervals so by 8 weeks we were happily doing 30-35 mins lead walking each day. After 8 week x-rays to confirm the knee was healed, we were allowed off lead and did a few months of hydro-therapy too

I was told no walks at all for the first 6 weeks, only out to the garden to toilet. Then 2 weeks of 5 minute lead walks 3 times a day, 2 weeks of 10 minute lead walks 3 times a day, etc etc.

One or our girls had her first TPLO done at our own vets, who fortunately have two orthopaedics specialists, in April08 followed by the other one in January 09. She has made a complete recovery being able to out run & turn all of the others with no signs of stiffness etc. I think the key is VERY careful after care sticking to strict excercise plan we also had weekly physio sessions & did daily excercise, massage etc at home & after 6 weeks started hyrdo therapy for three months.

With regards to walking I remember the first week was just on a lead out to the garden for a wee etc then we built it up like you would with a puppy.  The first month was 5 mins 3 or 4 times per day, the next month 10 mins 3 or 4 times per day, then 15 mins and so on.  Hydrotherapy was once per week then built up to twice per week and for a few weeks (when he was alot stronger) I used to drop him off at hydrotherapy in the morning and collect him later so he had 2 swims a day (twice per week).  At 6 months after the op he was allowed off lead for the first time, this had to be by himself and only allowed because he didn't go silly.  At 9 months after the op he was allowed off lead with other calm dogs.

I've had a small breed dog that repaired itself with rest.

I just wanted to point out that the cruciate ligament can't repair itself! It is scar tissue that forms that stabilises the joint.

Vera

In my experience, leaving a ruptured or partially ruptured cruciate to heal itself almost never works: you can do this for months then as soon as the dog runs free, the cruciate goes again and leaving a loose, unstable joint is where the arthritis develops. Go for a TPLO asap after the injury. My 11 1/2 year old Golden had a TPLO and her recovery was amazing. Within 5 mths she was free on the forest (though I kept hitching her on if I saw rabbits or any other potential chase object.) She is now 2 years on from her op. and  has an hour walk a day  and keeps up with the younger ones. She is 13 1/2 now.

my labrador, my three legged labrador had cruciate surgery to her one remaining back leg after she ruptured the ligament, she was 10 at the time, she had keyhole surgery at liverpool university prof mcinnes, it made the leg weight bearing the same day, she fully recovered and went on running and bouncing around, swimming etc till we lost her two weeks before her 15th birthday for us it was total success

Hi I know this is a bit late. I have not been on since my best boy died. My bullmastiff damaged his cruciate ligament last year. He was in much pain and could not weight bare. I was flying to the Carribean the next day for a freinds wedding as my husband and I were best man and bridesmaid. We could not avoid going. The vet took amazing care of him. He was immediately referrred to a specialist vet Rutland St Helens. He made an amazing recovery. He gained all his normal range of movement, no limp and a very clean scar. He had full surgery. He did though after long walks stiffen. He did though do this prior to cruciate ligament. It was always something I feared but certainly would not in the futute unless my dog was not unsured as full treatment cost £2,700. Hope the future is good for you and your dog. My boy developed Lyphoma and was put to sleep a few ago. So there are worse things than this so just enjoy your dog and have fun xx

My Doberman bitch had a cruciate ligament op nearly 2 years ago now at the age of 6, she is reasonably fit, although she has trouble sitting down with her bottom on the floor and she sits down in a sideways position, and we hear her knee crack when she get up sometimes.She goes upstairs really slowly, however if she feels like a good old run up the stairs to chase my son she can get up there in a few seconds.
Occasionally she slips over but it is not very often... In all she is reasonably ok..

My 4 year old lab had cruciate surgery 13 weeks ago.  We opted for the TTA method.  She was weight bearing by the time we fetched her home the next day and has not looked back.  The following weeks seem to go on forever but take things slowly for at least 3 months. We now (at 3 months) go for gentle walks of up to an hour twice a day. Not always on the lead but no playing or running. I feel that I will continue this for at least another 3 months and then take it from there. Her cruciate had been a problem for 2 years prior to a rupture and I did not hesitate to have this op done. She still limps slightly until she has warmed up and when she gets up from her bed but not as bad as before the op.  I feel we should expect a 90% recovery as there is arthritis in the joint.

Have a small dog who i left (rest and gloucosamin ) she is absolutely fine ....But also have a larger breed dog who had his cruciate repaired at a young age and have not had a problem since ..He was repaired with his own tissue (unsure of what they used but vet said whatever it was ,was so thick they repaired him with that) He run's , pull's and you would never know he had ever had a problem ...