My poor doggie

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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).

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

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Originally Posted by 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).

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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

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

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.

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

I paid that for my beagle many years ago.

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Originally Posted by Sparky

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

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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 is the clinic that did our dog's two TPLO surgeries ... IIRC the Dr 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 says "Financing Available"

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