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Ralphie’s a big dog with wee little baby feet. I think that’s why both his knees have now been subject to cruciate ligament surgery, otherwise known as TPLO which stands for wallet-ectomy. He’s now relaxing comfortably in his crate, not so thrilled about the surgery I bet but even less happy about the donut:

I tried to tell him that he’s got sprinkles, and he loves sprinkles. And donuts. And food. He’s not buying it yet.

What is TPLO surgery?

While it can be a wallet-ectomy — people, insure your dogs, I learned the hard way — it’s actually a brace that looks like something from Home Depot inserted and screwed into the leg bones, ensuring what’s left of the ligament can remain while decreasing bone-on-bone contact. It’s a great way to ensure that your big dog with tiny feet can live a longer, more pain-free life. Totally worth it.

By the by, TPLO stands for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, and you can find more information about the procedure here.

Today is only day one.

Ralphie has a long way to go before he’s fully healed, but the good news is that this procedure, unlike his last, required a smaller Home Depot implement, which should mean faster healing time. Still, at least two months. I’m really looking forward to getting him out for longer than, say, a five to 10 minute walk. The neighborhood loves him, and he loves the neighborhood. I think my neighbors miss him.

It’s hard on the humans, too.

There are few things worse than seeing your young, active dog confined primarily to a crate for a good one to two months. The drugs help, that’s for sure. (I mean, the drugs for the dog, not me!) But it’s pure anguish to watch him confined so he can heal. It’ll be a long road for all of us.