TPLO recovery week by week
A realistic timeline for the twelve weeks after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, and the milestones worth measuring.
Updated August 6, 2026 · 10 min read
The short version
- TPLO changes the mechanics of the knee so the joint is stable without the ligament.
- The bone cut needs eight to twelve weeks to heal, this drives the timeline, not how good the dog looks.
- Toe-touching within the first week is normal and encouraging.
- Doing too much at week four is the most common cause of setbacks.
Week 1: protect and control pain
Expect toe-touching to partial weight-bearing. Swelling and bruising down the leg are normal in the first few days.
Strict confinement, leash toileting only, cold packing on the schedule you were given, and incision checks twice daily.
Weeks 2-3: the first progressions
Sutures or staples come out around day ten to fourteen. Once the incision is sealed, rehab typically expands into passive range of motion, weight-shifting, and short controlled walks.
Most dogs are using the leg at a walk by the end of week three. If use is decreasing rather than increasing, call the surgeon.
Weeks 4-6: the danger zone
The dog feels good and the bone is not healed. This is when owners relax confinement and implants fail.
Walk duration builds gradually, underwater treadmill often begins, and controlled strengthening replaces pure protection.
Weeks 7-12: rebuild
Recheck radiographs around week eight confirm bone healing. Clearance from those images sets what happens next.
Hill walking, cavaletti, balance work, and longer sessions rebuild the thigh muscle. Off-leash activity usually waits until after the recheck clears it.
What good looks like at twelve weeks
Even weight bearing at a walk and a trot, thigh girth approaching the other side, and a square sit. Full remodelling continues for months after that.
Common questions
- Is rehab necessary after TPLO?
- Surgery stabilises the joint; it does not rebuild the muscle. Dogs in structured rehab programs generally regain limb use and muscle mass faster.
- Why is my dog worse at week five?
- Usually over-activity. Go back to the prior week's activity level and call the surgical team if it does not settle within a few days.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Diagnosis and treatment decisions belong with your veterinarian.