Refer a TPLO Patient
For Referring Veterinary Clinics · Ames, IA · Pet Medical Center
Streamlined TPLO referrals at Pet Medical Center. With a dedicated weekly surgery block, referral records reviewed within 48 hours, and direct communication with your clinic, we make it easier to get your patients the surgical care they need.
Your patient. Your client. Our surgical support.
We work alongside your veterinary team to provide TPLO surgery and communicate surgical findings and postoperative recommendations. Our goal is to make the referral process straightforward while supporting continuity of care with your hospital.
Share our TPLO Surgery page with pet owners.
Why Choose Pet Medical Center?
We understand that referring a patient means trusting another veterinary team with your client and their pet. Our goal is to provide excellent surgical care while making the referral process straightforward for your hospital.
Dedicated Weekly Surgery Block
TPLO procedures are scheduled within a dedicated weekly surgery block, providing a consistent surgical schedule for referred patients.
Transparent Pricing
Your clients receive a clear surgical price quote, helping them understand anticipated costs before proceeding.
Timely Referral Coordination
We review referral records within 48 hours and contact your client directly within 48 hours to coordinate their consultation.
Communication With Your Clinic
We keep your veterinary team informed, including sending surgical reports and radiographs promptly after surgery.
Continuity of Care
We work alongside your hospital to support the patient through surgery and recovery while maintaining communication with the referring veterinarian.
Meet Dr. Jarod Rosel, DVM
Dr. Jarod Rosel graduated from Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 and serves as the Owner and Medical Director of Pet Medical Center.
His growing focus on orthopedic surgery came from seeing dogs who needed advanced surgical care but faced barriers to receiving it.
Dr. Rosel now performs TPLO surgery at Pet Medical Center with an emphasis on careful surgical planning, straightforward pricing, and close communication with both pet owners and referring veterinarians.
Refer a Patient in 3 Simple Steps
1. Identify a Potential
TPLO Candidate
Diagnose or suspect cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease based on your clinical examination and determine whether surgical referral is appropriate.
Dogs with hind-limb lameness, positive cranial drawer or tibial thrust, or other findings consistent with CCL disease may be candidates for evaluation.
2. Gather Available Records
and Radiographs
Prepare the patient's relevant medical history, examination findings, medications, and any available stifle radiographs.
If your hospital does not have suitable radiographs, PMC can obtain the necessary surgical planning images.
3. Surgery &
Recovery
We'll contact your client directly within 48 hours to schedule their consultation — and keep you updated the whole way.
Prefer fax or email?
Fax records to 515-239-5026 or
email info@pmcvet.com.
Refer a Patient Online
Ready to refer a patient? Complete the secure referral form below and our team will coordinate the next steps.
Clinical Guidelines for TPLO Referrals
Recognizing Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease
Common clinical findings include:
- Positive cranial drawer or tibial thrust
- Acute or chronic hind-limb lameness
- Toe-touching lameness
- Medial buttress
- Mild or minimal pain in some chronic cases
Clinical tip: Sedation may improve the accuracy of cranial drawer and tibial thrust testing in tense or painful patients.
Which Dogs Are TPLO Candidates?
TPLO may be considered for dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease, particularly active or medium-to-large dogs.
Many referred patients weigh approximately 45–100 pounds, although candidacy depends on individual clinical findings, anatomy, activity level, and other factors.
Dogs outside this weight range may still be appropriate for evaluation.
Radiographs for TPLO Planning
If your clinic obtains surgical planning radiographs, PMC requests:
- Two appropriately positioned stifle views
- A true mediolateral view with the stifle flexed
- A caudocranial view
- Appropriate side and size markers
- Sedation when needed for accurate positioning
View Radiograph Positioning Requirements
- Approximately 90° femur/tibia positioning on the lateral view
- Overlapping sesamoids on the lateral view
- Approximately 50% sesamoid overlap with the femur on the caudocranial view
Important: Radiographs that do not meet PMC's surgical planning requirements may need to be repeated. If repeat imaging is necessary, please allow at least one week before the anticipated surgery date.
Prefer PMC to take the radiographs?
No problem. You can submit the referral without surgical planning radiographs, and our team will coordinate the necessary imaging.
What Happens After You Refer?
We make the referral process straightforward for your clinic and your client, with clear communication from initial referral through surgery.
1. We Review the Referral
Our team reviews the submitted records within 48 hours and identifies any additional information or imaging needed for surgical planning.
2. We Contact Your Client
We contact the pet owner directly within 48 hours to schedule a consultation and explain the next steps.
3. We Complete Surgical Planning
Dr. Rosel evaluates the patient and reviews the available radiographs. If additional imaging is needed, we coordinate it at Pet Medical Center.
4. We Perform the Surgery
If TPLO is recommended and the client elects to proceed, surgery is scheduled within our dedicated weekly TPLO surgery block, subject to availability.
5. We Keep Your Clinic Informed
We send the surgical report and postoperative radiographs promptly after surgery, along with relevant recovery recommendations to support continuity of care.
Have a Patient Who May Benefit from TPLO Surgery?
We;re here to support your team with a straightforward referral process, timely communication, and deicated TPLO surgical care at Pet Medical Center.
