Surgery

[gemstone]

My new rescue dog (aged 4) has this and my local vet has just quoted me $1200-$1500.

He says its not too bad at the moment but I would rather do it sooner than later.

I will get another quote though just to make sure its the average price

That's interesting - my vet said to hold off until it gets bad, because the scarring from sugery causes probs in itself & the procedure would likely lead to early arthritis in the area. We were advised to give joint guard daily, and cartrophen injections every 6 mths (or more frequent if necessary).... It's been 2-3rys of doing this & so far my dog has been great apart from when she does strenuous off-lead running. We know she'll need surgery eventually, but so far so good...

(she had one knee that was rated a 3, and one that was 2/3).

yes it is interesting. My vet says if we dont do it she will get arthritis and then the op wouldnt be as successful

This was my first visit to this vet and I am definitely getting a second opinion, I wouldnt put my dog through surgery

if it isnt necessary. He didnt say what rate the knee was either.

What age is your age/breed is your girl?

[Pawfect]

My new rescue dog (aged 4) has this and my local vet has just quoted me $1200-$1500.

He says its not too bad at the moment but I would rather do it sooner than later.

I will get another quote though just to make sure its the average price

That's interesting - my vet said to hold off until it gets bad, because the scarring from sugery causes probs in itself & the procedure would likely lead to early arthritis in the area. We were advised to give joint guard daily, and cartrophen injections every 6 mths (or more frequent if necessary).... It's been 2-3rys of doing this & so far my dog has been great apart from when she does strenuous off-lead running. We know she'll need surgery eventually, but so far so good...

(she had one knee that was rated a 3, and one that was 2/3).

yes it is interesting. My vet says if we dont do it she will get arthritis and then the op wouldnt be as successful

This was my first visit to this vet and I am definitely getting a second opinion, I wouldnt put my dog through surgery

if it isnt necessary. He didnt say what rate the knee was either.

What age is your age/breed is your girl?

I hate it when people say opposite things - spend my life in constant confusion! (I find it hard making decisions at the best of times!)

She's now 5yo - she's a small fluffy crossbreed (10kg). Giant body on very short stubby legs!

[gemstone]

Pawfect you wouldnt be a Libran by any chance??

I only ask because I am and I struggle with decisions

My girl is a jack russell x I think maybe 3/4 JR and 1/4 mini dacshund but of course that is a guess.

She has short legs and weighs 6kg

will let you know what the second opinion vet says about lp surgery

[Pawfect]

:D Nope i'm Aries..but an atypical Aries!

I'm very interested in hearing what they say!

[Danelady]

Your dog will end up with more arthritis in the knee if you don't have the surgery. The patella which is the knee cap sits in a groove called the trochlear notch. The knee cap should slide up and down this groove as the leg moves forward and back. A luxating patella is a knee cap that can move from side to side of this groove. The longer its left the more worn the groove will become (as in flatten out instead of being a groove) and the body compensates by building arthritis to hold the knee cap in place. It can be painful. You can however build muscle around the knee with a grade 1 or grade 2 luxation. You can't with a grade 3 or 4 luxation. Your vet can advise on grading of the luxation. So you have two options - wait until it gets worse which causes more problems as your dog will be putting more pressure on the other knee or get it fixed now while it isn't as bad. Either way your dog will have arthritis in the knee.

[Clyde]

I would do it now. My rescue girl had luxating patellas in both legs then tore both cruciates. She had the lot repaired last year. Worth every cent (most days!).

Edited March 26, 2010 by Clyde