Hello! My name is Hannah. My dog Athena has torn her CCL (similar to ACL in humans). This is a very common injury in pitbull mixes. We had an orthopedic specialist examine Athena, and she recommended surgery within the next year. She informed us it has a high success rate and almost all dogs can go back to enjoying their play activities including running and playing ball.

Surgery is expensive!!! What is the TPLO surgery?

"When the cranial cruciate ligament is torn, surgical stabilization of the knee joint is often required, especially in larger or more active dogs. Surgery is generally recommended as quickly as possible to reduce permanent, irreversible joint damage and relieve pain.

TPLO surgery changes the angle and relationship of the femur and the tibia. The overall intent of the surgery is to reduce the amount that the tibia shifts forward during a stride. This is accomplished by making a semicircular cut through the top of the tibia, rotating the top of the tibia, and using a bone plate to allow the tibia to heal. This realignment of the surfaces within the stifle (knee) helps to provide stability during a stride and helps to reduce future joint inflammation and OA. By carefully adjusting the angle or slope of the top of the tibia, surgeons are able to replicate a more normal configuration of the knee joint."

Please donate whatever you can! So Athena can go back to doing the activities she loves most in this world. Making my dog happy is what I live for, she's the source of every ounce of joy in my soul. Thank you for taking the time to help us!!