Our dog tore her ACL -- advice needed

[FastCarFan]

Here is our dog Shelby:



Shelby is an 11-year-old yellow Lab in good health. Unfortunately. she recently tore her ACL on her left rear leg & she needs surgery.

Our regular vet has recommended an orthopedic surgeon (option 1) in our area. However, they cannot work her in for about 2 weeks. They estimated the surgery will cost $2,000-$3,600.

We also contacted the hospital at the Ohio State University veterinary school (option 2), a very reputable vet school about 2 hours away. They estimate it will cost $1,700-$2,000, however they cannot do the surgery for a month.

Several friends highly recommended another local vet who can do the surgery himself (option 3). He can do it next week & the estimated cost is only $600-$800. He has not seen Shelby yet, but if he feels the required surgery is beyond his capabilities, he will refer us to a specialist.

Additional information...We obviously do not want to spend any more $$$ than necessary, but we want to make sure the job is done correctly. We also have to factor in her age -- Labs don't tend to live much longer than 12 years. I am concerned that the vet is not as skilled in the surgery as a specialist is. Also, we want to get the surgery done ASAP because we are concerned that she is putting additional stress on her good back leg.

We would appreciate any advice other Pelicans can provide ASAP. Thank you in advance.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Doug,

I feel for your family, you, and your little dog.

Have you tried the Vet School at UK in Lexington?

Is there any other option for your pet considering age and activity? I know if it were my dog we'd have the surgery, but I just couldn't give you more of an opinion. Our Collies went over 14 years of age, as did our Terror, uhm Terrier. I hope we have equal luck with our new to us Belgian Shephard.

[stomachmonkey]

Oh man, Been there twice.

The diff in surgeries may be the technique used.

The cheap guy may be using the fishing line replacement. They basically replace the acl with fishing line. Least invasive but least reliable, lowest skill level required.

The other two options are most likely TPLO's Tibial Plateu Leveling.

A few of us on the board have had it done with great success. My dog required both legs a year apart. They open the dog from ankle to hip and cut the top of the femur and then bolt it back in place at a different angle that basically eliminates the need for an ACL.

Check this thread

My DOG is getting some suspension work done

vetrinarian or dog question

The recovery is a good 6 months although they appear completely healed after about a month. You have to watch thier activity because they can break the bone very easily during recovery and then you have a real problem.

I hate to say this but having gone thru it twice I would not subject an 11 year old dog to it. No way.

Sorry, the whole thing sucks. I hope it works out for you and your pet.

Scott

[Dan in Pasadena]

I had a dog that had to have that done 20 years ago. They told me to put her to sleep; that it was a taxing surgery and would cost over $600 - then, 1985-86. I took the chance and did it. She was young and lived a fully life afterward, though she became arthritic in that leg later.

As an aside, my Lab mix is nearing 14 and honestly he's gone down hill very fast from what he was at 11. And that's without any difficult surgery. Best of luck in your decision.

[many944s]

Sorry, to hear.... I've been there before as well. I would recommend contacting the Vet School at Purdue University here in West Lafayette, Indiana. I had a Golden about 6-7 years ago that had to have the ACL in both hind legs rebuilt. IIRC, it was in the neighborhood of $1800 for both. And they preformed the procedure the day after we called them.

The golden did very well, for several years afterwords until he developed cancer, but that was a different problem.

If you need contact information, let me know, I would be more than happy to look it up for you. I will also ask around tomorrow as I may still have some friends on the teaching staff in that department.

-Nick

[FastCarFan]

Thank you all for the advice. Thanks for the link Scott -- lots of good info there, particularly the link to vetsurgerycentral.com.

Additional info...While Shelby is getting rather old, she is a very young 11 -- she seems much younger than other 11-year-old dogs I have known. And the question is which option to take, not to put her down. Unless, of course, the vet says it will be too much for her or if she will be in constant pain.

Keep the advice coming. My wife & son were somewhat skeptical about the response we would get on a Porsche Web forum, but I knew the community would be very helpful.

I will update the posting after the procedure. At this point we are going to talk to the local vet, while keeping our appointment a week later at the ortho clinic. We will challenge him about his experience & the technique he uses. If we feel comfortable with him, we will use him -- he can work us in the earliest & he is the least expensive. However, I am skeptical that he will be as good as the ortho clinic.

Stay tuned....And thanks again. You guys are great.

[stomachmonkey]

I would listen to the experts. See the specialist and see the universities. She will not be in pain after recovery, the TPLO is that good. It's whether she is young enough to recoup. But you and your vets know the answer better than some guy on the internet that you don't know.

My dog was 5 on the first knee and 6 on the second. No way was I putting her down at such a young age when we had other options no how matter how costly.

Given Mastiffs relatively short life span had it happened at 8 I would have done the first knee, at 9 I would have had a difficult decision to make. I probably would not have done it.

In the end Dakota had to be put down at 9.5, bone cancer.

If Shelbys prognosis is good I say go for it. But please, please, please, remember that you love Shelby and what's best for you may not be best for Shelby.

I hope this works out the best for all of you.

That you are even considering this speaks volumes about your love for Shelby.

FWIW, I'd go with the Ortho for a TPLO.

Good luck.

[CRH911S]

This subject has been discussed extensively on justlabradors.com forum. Sorry to hear about your friend and hope everything turns out well and wishing her a speedy recovery. Try animalheathchannel too. Lots of useful information. Clinton

[KFC911]

Originally posted by Dan in Pasadena

As an aside, my Lab mix is nearing 14 and honestly he's gone down hill very fast from what he was at 11. And that's without any difficult surgery. Best of luck in your decision.

Nice lab Doug! My 13 year old yellow lab has also declined greatly since she was 12 (perfectly healthy up to then). I've been carrying her up and down steps for a year now (the worst hip x-rays my vet has ever seen - virtually no joint socket), can't control urination, etc. It's VERY hard, but I could/would not put her through a surgery unless it's absolutely necessary. I don't know if it's the same w/ dogs, but I haven't had an ACL in my left knee for 20 years now (basketball injury)...good luck!

[gduke]

My dog had the surgury in December. She turns 11 this year and is now doing great. I had the choise between the major surgury and the fish line surgury and chose the fish line surgury, not because it was less expensive. My 65lb dog recovered sooner with this surgury and I felt she was to old for the other. Another factor was that she is only 65lbs and in great shape for her age. The other surgury would be recomended one for a heavier dog.

Why not chose one of the surguries for your dog? My dog is doing fine. However, I've been keeping her on her leash.

Good luck w/ whatever you chose.

Gary

[gduke]

Btw, her surgury cost $1000 and the surgeon did 25/yr. and all but on was successful.

Gary

[FastCarFan]

Thanks Gary for your reply. For the record, we ARE planning to go ahead with some sort of surgery...unless the vet/ortho doc strongly recommend otherwise. Shelby is only about 65 lbs., too. And, as I said, she is a very young 11.

We plan to visit the 2nd vet on Monday to see what he recommends & then make our decision, hopefully between the 2 surgery options.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by gduke
My dog had the surgury in December. She turns 11 this year and is now doing great. I had the choise between the major surgury and the fish line surgury and chose the fish line surgury, not because it was less expensive. My 65lb dog recovered sooner with this surgury and I felt she was to old for the other. Another factor was that she is only 65lbs and in great shape for her age. The other surgury would be recomended one for a heavier dog.

Why not chose one of the surguries for your dog? My dog is doing fine. However, I've been keeping her on her leash.

Good luck w/ whatever you chose.

Gary

Yeah, if the weight is low enough the fishing line is probably better for an older pooch.

Fastcar, keep us updated. I'm pulling for Shelby.

[450knotOffice]

Good luck to you and your doggy. Our beloved old Keesh (since passed away) tore her ACL and had reconstructive knee surgery. Poor girl was very sore for a while.

[Zeke]

Sorry, but what's ACL?

[stomachmonkey]

Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

Basically a ligament that crosses like an X in the back of the knee.

When it goes the joint does not stay together.

[Zeke]

Ouch. Thanks for the info. I guess this is not that uncommon?

[stomachmonkey]

It's an architecture thing. You can measure the angle of the joint and if it is greater than 25 degress (i think that was the number) the dog is at risk. The thing that sucks is if they do one they have usually already partially torn the other or will tear it within a year so you are looking at 2 surgeries.

Then there are the dogs that just blow them but are not predisposed. That's usually the older dogs.

I saw it happen both times with my dog, she went tearing into the yard after a critter and put on the brakes kinda like a roping horse and BAM, the ligament just goes.

Link to the TPLO surgery

http://vetsurgerycentral.com/tplo.htm

This is what they do to correct the angle

[targa911S]

Big Henry had BOTH his done( TPLO) at age 3. He's 11 now and still chasing squirrels. Cost about $2,800.00 to do them both. Worth EVERY penny! They are our kids.

[Dan in Pasadena]

"Hank's" a cool looking dog and apparently tough too!