My poor doggie

[Sparky]

Blown out ACL. Doc says if she doesn't get the surgery her other will go and may never walk again. Damn $1115 surgery. She is an awesome dog so we will figure it out. Here she is.

http://i.imgur.com/2fwe6.jpg?1

[roberth]

Well that stinks. Poor pup. :(

[hatidua]

pay the tab, get the pooch fixed.

[StagLefty]

Sorry to hear about your dog.
Not being a pet owner for several years and seeing all the posts about pet health. Is there any affordable pet health insurance available ?

[Sparky]

Sorry to hear about your dog.
Not being a pet owner for several years and seeing all the posts about pet health. Is there any affordable pet health insurance available ?

There is insurance, but I don't have it.

[Ah Pook]

Yep, she has the knee problem sit.

How old is the dog? Is the ACL totally torn or just partially? Is the meniscus folded over?

I have never been told that the other leg will blow out if the the bad leg is not "repaired". I know two dogs right now that have torn ACLs that are functioning fine but limp on the bad leg. There is the option of a brace. Not cheap but cheaper then surgery.

One of my dogs has had three (yes 3) ACL surgeries. It has chronic knee/leg problems. Others I have known have the same results. The surgery will not make the leg 100%.

If you want a second opinion I can PM my vet's info. He does good work and will tell how bad it is.

[J]

That's sucks man. I've been there 2 years ago.

If you want a bright side...

If it was a field/hunting dog you have to do the full TPLO surgery. The other methods don't hold up to the stress a field dog puts on its hind legs. The TPLO is $3000-$5000.

That's what I had to do so my best hunting buddy can still do what he loves most. Someone said the knee will never be 100%. I have no experience with the other methods (there are a couple), but my pooch is easily 95% on his leg. So there is dramatic improvement.

It hurts the wallet a lot at first, but 3-6 months from now it will seem like the best investment you've made.

Sorry you have to go through it too. But know that you won't regret it.

Also, just so you are fully prepared:

You will have to keep the dog very calm, and clean the wound for 2-3 weeks twice a day. Get tranquilizers from the vet if the dog is excitable, you won't need them regularly, but will on occasion. You will have 3 months of no stairs or excited activity for the dog. Mine was in the winter too... so be ready to carry it up and down the stairs, and keep it on a leash outside in the coldest weather we have coming.

[Bailey Guns]

Damn...that sucks. I have a rescue that had to have that surgery. Wasn't quite that much but it was a chunk.

[tmjohnson]

Get a second opinion
Vet said my dachsund had cancer, we took him to another vet and turns out he had infected tooth.
Other vet's might have alternative treatment
Anyway wish your dog the best

[patrick0685]

That's sucks man. I've been there 2 years ago.

If you want a bright side...

If it was a field/hunting dog you have to do the full TPLO surgery. The other methods don't hold up to the stress a field dog puts on its hind legs. The TPLO is $3000-$5000.

That's what I had to do so my best hunting buddy can still do what he loves most. Someone said the knee will never be 100%. I have no experience with the other methods (there are a couple), but my pooch is easily 95% on his leg. So there is dramatic improvement.

It hurts the wallet a lot at first, but 3-6 months from now it will seem like the best investment you've made.

Sorry you have to go through it too. But know that you won't regret it.

Also, just so you are fully prepared:

You will have to keep the dog very calm, and clean the wound for 2-3 weeks twice a day. Get tranquilizers from the vet if the dog is excitable, you won't need them regularly, but will on occasion. You will have 3 months of no stairs or excited activity for the dog. Mine was in the winter too... so be ready to carry it up and down the stairs, and keep it on a leash outside in the coldest weather we have coming.

ouch...i hope my hunting buddy doesnt have to go through this

[Sparky]

That's sucks man. I've been there 2 years ago.

If you want a bright side...

If it was a field/hunting dog you have to do the full TPLO surgery. The other methods don't hold up to the stress a field dog puts on its hind legs. The TPLO is $3000-$5000.

That's what I had to do so my best hunting buddy can still do what he loves most. Someone said the knee will never be 100%. I have no experience with the other methods (there are a couple), but my pooch is easily 95% on his leg. So there is dramatic improvement.

It hurts the wallet a lot at first, but 3-6 months from now it will seem like the best investment you've made.

Sorry you have to go through it too. But know that you won't regret it.

Also, just so you are fully prepared:

You will have to keep the dog very calm, and clean the wound for 2-3 weeks twice a day. Get tranquilizers from the vet if the dog is excitable, you won't need them regularly, but will on occasion. You will have 3 months of no stairs or excited activity for the dog. Mine was in the winter too... so be ready to carry it up and down the stairs, and keep it on a leash outside in the coldest weather we have coming.

No problems keeping her calm. She is the laziest dog I have ever known. It really is expensive, but I will see what I can do. She is part of the family.

[Zundfolge]

Had a Corgi that blew out both ACLs (not at the same time but about 3 years between them).

The TPLO surgery worksvery very well ... basically the dog ends up with a knee that is better than God designed. Downsides are that its expensive and if one goes the other has about a 50/50 chance of going eventually too.

Spent a total of about 5 grand on both our dog's knees (then he ended up dying a couple years later of an unrelated illness ... poor little bastard).

[Danceswithwires]

If you have a little time to spare you might try taking her to CSU Veterinary school in Ft Collins I did with my lab when she had cancer and the cost was about a third or so, she lived another 5 years after that and the cancer never came back

[muddywings]

Had a Corgi that blew out both ACLs (not at the same time but about 3 years between them).

The TPLO surgery worksvery very well ... basically the dog ends up with a knee that is better than God designed. Downsides are that its expensive and if one goes the other has about a 50/50 chance of going eventually too.

Spent a total of about 5 grand on both our dog's knees (then he ended up dying a couple years later of an unrelated illness ... poor little bastard).

almost exactly the same with my golden except about a year a part. She is still going strong. Well worth it to see her happy:

https://vimeo.com/28597074

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Sorry hear that Sparky! Cute little girl. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[Birddog1911]

We feel for you. Our black lab girl blew both out at seperate times. Had the TPLO done on both knees. ZUndfolge is right; the vets shave the bone to make them work better and it is a better way to go than just the basic surgery.

[Sparky]

Does anybody know of a vet who will work with me on a payment plan?

[airborneranger]

I paid that for my beagle many years ago.

[Zundfolge]

Does anybody know of a vet who will work with me on a payment plan?
I don't know if they have a payment plan (many vets now have deals with various finance companies and can arrange financing though).

Colorado Canine Orthopedics (http://www.canineortho.com/) is the clinic that did our dog's two TPLO surgeries ... IIRC the Dr Bauer (http://www.canineortho.com/index.php/doctors/dr-michael-bauer) helped develop the procedure, and he's real good.

You might contact them directly and ask if they have some sort of payment plan or financing available.


EDIT: Their Superpages page (http://www.superpages.com/bp/Colorado-Springs-CO/Colorado-Canine-Orthopedics-L0504271067.htm)says "Financing Available"

[Ashton]

My dog blew out both of his. Get him fixed! Pups are family.

[Sparky]

My dog blew out both of his. Get him fixed! Pups are family.

I will for sure. I applied for the Care Card which most vets use for financing now. Turned down because crappy credit.