K9 ACL surgery. Advise needed please

My special idiot needs BOTH rear tires fixed. I know they need done, both vets said the same thing. VRCC in Englewood quoted me at just shy of $6500. Now i'm not trying to be cheaping out here, my pup deserves the best. I'm just wondering if any members here have any experience with this. I can afford out of pocket to get one fixed, but financing will be needed for both at the same time, which is what I would prefer, for her recovery time. Have any of you had to do this with your dogs and what vet did the work? And price if you wouldn't mind. And the most important question, did it help your dog? Where you happy with the results? I just want her fixed, having trouble getting financed, I'll sell guns if I need to.

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Had one knee done on my pup at Belleview Animal Hosptial a few months ago. Doc did a good job. There were two surgery types given as an option. I picked the less expensive of the two which ran me around $1200. I'll find the paperwork so I can fill you in on what exactly was done, but it was to repair a torn ACL, she had 0% use of that leg. If I remember correctly it involved minor bone work and the ligament repair.

The TPLO surgery is absolutely worth the money. We had a Corgi that ended up getting both of them done over the course of his life (worked out to be just about $4500 total) . After surgery his knees were better than new (honestly dogs knees are poorly designed if you ask me).

Dr Bauer at Colorado Canine Orthopedics is the one that did our dog (and he's one of the doctors that pioneered the procedure).

One of my Beagles needs knee work too, it breaks my heart to watch her limping because we can't afford it. But she gets around OK, she just has a minor limp. It's not like she's in pain or can't use the leg. But I'm definitely interested and will be watching this thread!

Yup Zund.....the TPLO is exactly what she needs. She hates car rides, I would have to sedate her to go to the springs.

I have the finances figured out, just looking for experiences, advice, and recommendations now. She is a absolute wild ass idiot when I get home or any one walks up to the door, or on the sidewalk, even if its across the street, and It's all over when she sees other animals. How can I keep her calm?

Ron dog check out care credit...or credit care, whichever it is lol. I have fairly poor credit and I was approved for $2500.

You might consider doing them one at a time and spreading them out by several months.

I'd think the after surgery physical therapy is going to be more difficult with both legs at the same time.

This would also spread the expense out over some time.

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Originally Posted by Zundfolge

You might consider doing them one at a time and spreading them out by several months.

I'd think the after surgery physical therapy is going to be more difficult with both legs at the same time.

This would also spread the expense out over some time.

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My golden had both done but was spread out by about 9 months or so. I'd do them separate. Managing them with one bad leg is hard enough. Two would be a total pain.

Here she is hiking a few months after she healed up (shameless I love my dog video):

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http://vimeo.com/28597074

ETA:

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Also we have an "ICEMAN" basically a cooler that cycles ice water through a pad that you can strap to a body part. It helped with recovery time. It's a PT thing for knees and shoulders but we squeezed it around her knee.

yes the wife or I slept on the floor with her for the first few nights. Plus we put plastic down on the carpet in case she couldn't tell us she needed to go outside. Actually helped because she popped a stitch and started to lightly bleed all over the floor. Wrapped a compress around it to get it to stop just fine.

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Originally Posted by Zundfolge

You might consider doing them one at a time and spreading them out by several months.

I'd think the after surgery physical therapy is going to be more difficult with both legs at the same time.

This would also spread the expense out over some time.

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Interesting. The surgeon told me that it will be cheaper to do them both at once. He did say the recovery will be real hard (on me, I'll have to work twice as hard) but she only gas to go thriugh one recovery period instead of two. If it makes a difference she is never alone. She always has a person around.

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Originally Posted by Bitter Clinger

Interesting. The surgeon told me that it will be cheaper to do them both at once. He did say the recovery will be real hard (on me, I'll have to work twice as hard) but she only gas to go thriugh one recovery period instead of two. If it makes a difference she is never alone. She always has a person around.

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It would be cheaper. one less Dr appointment, one anesthesia/dopping, pain meds, antibiotics. but yes, twice as hard on the owner.
If she always has a person around who can pick her up and move her around then sure but it was a pain in the butt with one leg.

We got two quotes for our Rottie, and they were both north of $3k.

I also have had one dog blow both knees, not at the same time. Recovered very well. First setter blew a knee out. Surgery recovered very well. I thought the $6500 was a bit much for "being less getting both done at the same time".

My 6 year old lab blew out his knee last week. The going rate in KS is $3500. I have been told by folks that they are the top in the nation. Good luck!

Shoot me a PM. I have to look him up, but I went to a guy at 7 hills in Aurora that did a great job and was cheaper than you were quoted. I'll look up his name. He came as a recommendation from both a friend who is a vet tech and our personal vet as one of the best in the area.

Had my 12 year old 60 lb black lab/greyhound mix blow out her knee a couple years ago. We looked into surgery, but ended up just doing rehab (along with pain killers/anti-inflammatory meds). My wife and I both work from home, so we were able to spend a lot of time with her. Took a while until she was finally as good as before the knee, then a few weeks later blew out the other knee. Started rehab all over. She's now 15, and she walks a little different, but she still runs, jumps on the bed, etc. She's also got some of the standard lab hip stuff, I think that affects her more than the knees.

In both cases she blew out the knees running along the fence line when there was some packed snow/ice left over in the shade of the fence.

My Rot had to have both TPLOs done. Best thing ever for him.

We did them about a year apart from each other and I wish we could have done them at the same time. The big thing is you have to have them rest and not run around after the surgery. My rot felt so good all he wanted to do was get up and play, it was painful to keep him mellow for the recovery period.

One of my last Labs had both done (about three years apart) and he was 100% after the surgeries and rehab. VCA in Loveland did both of them. A friend of mine has a Golden Retriever that blew out a knee and he had a Vet in Wellington do a different procedure on him that worked out pretty well. If I see him tomorrow I will get details and post.
Charlie

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Originally Posted by Zundfolge

The TPLO surgery is absolutely worth the money. We had a Corgi that ended up getting both of them done over the course of his life (worked out to be just about $4500 total) . After surgery his knees were better than new (honestly dogs knees are poorly designed if you ask me).

Dr Bauer at Colorado Canine Orthopedics is the one that did our dog (and he's one of the doctors that pioneered the procedure).

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I'll also recommend these folks. My lab had the TPLO done on one side and was as good, or maybe even better after healing up. I think doc was Bauer, but not really 100% sure, cost was $2500 ish ( several years ago) best as I can remember (crs). It was absolutely worth every penny it cost me, I was totally pleased with the results.

We adopted a 10 month old JRT that had been abused to the point he needed this (TPLO) on one rear leg. Our vet in Conifer farmed it out to a surgeon from the metro area...don't remember his name. That was about 4 years ago and cost was $1200. He's a wild man and seems to be perfectly fine now. We give our dogs better health care than we do ourselves.

Big Boy, my male 80lb Golden, goes in tomorrow for a consult. He hasn't been putting weight on his rear left leg for almost a week now. Going to Colorado Canine Orthopedics. He just turned 9 years old this month. He's worth it.

The vet in Wellington is Chad Zadina @ Tabby Road Vet Clinic 970 568-7050. It is a non surgical procedure involving stem cell technology. Much less expensive and less invasive. After four months my friends dog is running around like he did before the injury. There is a feature on Channel Seven news website about this procedure. Might be worth a look.

Got it set for the 5th at vvrc.Let you know how it turns out, they are dicking me around on stying with her over night. she cant handle being with strangers overnight.

Good luck!!
Mine was in/out same day. My dog hates kennels and broke a claw scratching at the cage floor. I wouldn't be to happy about leaving her overnight either.

Well she's pissed at me for leaving her there overnight, but she's worth it. Got her home on friday, she is already trying to run and jump, which is NOT happening lol! She did great during the op and is doing REAL good now for having both legs worked on, when the vet got in there he noticed both meniscus (sp) were jacked too. The bill came out 1000 bucks cheaper than the quote. I can not recommend VVRC enough! Totally caring and professional throughout the whole thing. Expensive? Yeah. But totally worth it! Here are some pics post surgery.

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Looking good. Here's to a smooth recovery and taste, chewy bones!

Good to hear! Speedy recovery. Good luck trying to keep her docile for a few weeks!

Missed this, glad your dog is at home with you and surgery was successful

Glad to hear that your pooch is doing well. Mine goes on for the same surgery in a week.


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Originally Posted by Bitter Clinger

Yup Zund.....the TPLO is exactly what she needs. She hates car rides, I would have to sedate her to go to the springs.

I have the finances figured out, just looking for experiences, advice, and recommendations now. She is a absolute wild ass idiot when I get home or any one walks up to the door, or on the sidewalk, even if its across the street, and It's all over when she sees other animals. How can I keep her calm?

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Your cost and surgery questions are being answered, but your last sentence wasn't. Here's what I think: Training... and lots of it. Check out the Ceaser Milan crap, Dog Training for Dummies book, etc. There are tons of resources out there for you. I don't know your situation, but if the dog is trained it could be also be a lack of exercise. Dogs that are not run will act up/out.

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Originally Posted by Bitter Clinger

I can not recommend VVRC enough! Totally caring and professional throughout the whole thing. Expensive? Yeah. But totally worth it! Here are some pics post surgery.

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VRCC?
Glad you had a good experience there. I did not. :( They are expensive, though.


One thing I didn't see mentioned was pet insurance. We use gopetplan.com (BTW, if anyone signs up, send me a note and I'll split any referral bonus!) :)
I had a dog with a knee surgery (not at VRCC) which cost about half of what you quoted for both. Did it, paid cash. Then later she got sick (unrelated) and we had her in again, hospitalized, eventually referred to VRCC and that came to something > $100 / hour.
Never again do I want finances to determine a decision around a dog, though. So, I highly highly recommend pet insurance!