Why Skipping X-Rays Before Surgery Is A Big Mistake

This video is for you if your dog needs CCL surgery. Before scheduling TPLO, TTA, MMP, mCCWO, CCWO, CBLO, or lateral suture surgery, it’s crucial to understand why X-rays are important before CCL surgery.

In this video, I walk you through how veterinarians use radiographs to detect clues of a CCL tear in dogs — even though ligaments don’t show up on X-rays. Using resources from Dr. Phil Zeltzman and other veterinary references, we’ll look at real examples of muscle atrophy, joint effusion, fat pad sign, osteophytes, and other important findings.

Questions I'll answer for you:
Why does my dog’s leg look skinny after a CCL tear?
What is joint effusion in a dog’s knee X-ray?
What is the fat pad sign on a dog’s X-ray?
Why do osteophytes (bone spurs) happen in dogs with CCL tears?
What is medial buttress and how do vets check for it?
Is TPLO planning so important?
Why do dogs need X-rays before TPLO surgery?
What do vets look for on X-rays to diagnose a CCL tear?
What do osteophytes, muscle wasting, and joint swelling look like on X-rays?
What conditions mimic CCL tears in dogs?
Why is skipping X-rays before CCL surgery risky?

X-rays don’t just confirm a cruciate ligament injury — they also help vets rule out serious conditions that can look the same, including (but not limited to):
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
Valley Fever (fungal infection)
IMPA (immune-mediated polyarthritis)
Lyme disease

📌 Disclaimer: I’m not a veterinarian. This video is for educational purposes only and shares information from veterinary sources. This video also includes some of my own opinions. To make decisions for yourself, have a conversations with your veterinarian and ask good questions. Always consult your vet for diagnosis, treatment, and surgical advice.