Question for dog-owners - cruciate ligament sugery?

[anakiwa]

I have a 65 lb 5 year old lab who had both knees fixed in October.

Her trouble started last spring. I really wanted to try conservative measures first- we tried aspirin, glucosamine, rimadyl (a great pain med by the way, but it still wasn't enough). It started with just her left, then the other one was bothering her as well. She's normally a really active dog (runs, cross-country skis, hikes with me). By the end of the summer she was clearly really uncomfortable most of the time. By the time I wound up seeing the the orthopedic surgeon I knew it was the right thing to do to have it operated on.

My operative report says 'fibular head transposition secured with a screw and spiked washer'. I suspect that it's the first surgery that you're talking about. Total cost to do both knees was $2200 (this was the low end of the estimate they gave me, everything went smoothly and she only needed one night at the vet).

We're now at the 3-4 month point and I'm really happy with the results. She's not normal yet (not sure if she'll get there or not), but she continues to get better all the time. She was really uncomfortable the first night I brought her home, but after that she did fine. I had her doing short runs 2 months later, and she's able to cross-country ski with me now. The biggest difference is that she's clearly not in the pain that she was in before having surgery. She's a pretty active dog (and not overweight) and that probably helped with the recovery. There's no doubt that it was the right thing for my dog (and again it took me a while to admit to myself that she needed surgery).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[maillotpois]

Nothing helpful to say except - I LOVE SIMON!! What a great face!!

[bikerz]

Thank you everyone for all your stories and advice. Yes, my little buddy is a great dog, and such a trooper!

Simon weighs about 55 pounds, and I can pick him up and carry him moderate distances (I've done that a few times over the last week when he seems like he's having trouble with stairs). I am a little concerned about the recovery, but my roommate's dog (who has since passed away) had very poor mobility, and we had ramps for her off the deck into the "elimination area", so luckily those are still around and can be pressed into service for Simon.

I'm going to call a few other places tomorrow for estimates on the non-TPLO, since so many of you have had (or know of) good results with it, and then get the procedure scheduled as soon as possible. I don't want to leave it too long, but I have to be back east for a week in 2 weeks, so I may have to schedule it for after that if I can't line up some good puppycare for him when I'm gone. Luckily, Simon has a huge fan club!

And because I can't resist, if you thought that other photo of him was kissable, how about this one? (For those of you who can't read pitbull lips, he's saying "wooo wooo")

[chickwhorips]

good luck with everything. i have no advice to offer, but that face just gets me!

peanut says she would like to be his friend.

[KnottedYet]

Oh, he is so GORGEOUS!!!

[crazycanuck]

What a cute doggieeeeeee

Give him a big hug from me. Wroooof Wroooof

C

[sbctwin]

He looks like he is singing in the choir...so adorable, and yes, kissable...I hope all goes ok....

[Bad JuJu]

Woo-Woo to you too, Simon, and good luck with your surgery!