Pet Surgery

[Back Alley Gator]

She is doing fine...able to get around pretty much at will. There's a pronounced limp, but she is no longer carrying the leg. We are keeping her knocked out with trazadone and gabapentin. She'd be running around like a nut otherwise. Of course she only had one knee done, so she can compensate with the other. Im not sure how Cowboy will do with both hind legs out at the same time. My guess is you will have to use a harness of some sort (a towel looped under his abdomen) to take the weight off the legs for the first week or so when he goes to the bathroom.

I didn't realize he was 70 lbs. That's larger than he looks. I was guessing around 50. Either way, tightrope would work well for him. The issue will be finding someone to do it.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

You guys who are getting surgery for "bloating" on a dog....here's a tip. Take a green apple and cut it up into pieces...dip it in peanut butter and feed it to the dog...

WARNING: Under no circumstances should the dog be restricted from going outside.
This also works better for any overweight dogs that you may be considering to put on a Jenny Craig diet.......

 

[daytonacane]

In 1970 our German Shepard, Bugger, had hip dysplasia and was in obvious pain. He was just 3 years old. My 2 sons and I took him to the vet and I authorized an arthrotomy of the hip. The cost was $400. I worked in orthopaedics my entire career & knew this procedure would greatly benefit him. We made a good decision to not tell my husband the cost & I told him it was on a "payment plan" which it was. Besides, I made good money plus I was not the one who had just purchased a 17' fancy speed boat.

I looked it up and $400. in 1970 = about $2,600. in 2020. Bugger gave us a lot of pleasure for many, many years and lived to the ripe old age of 18. When Bugger died it was a though we had lost a close family member. Yea, I would most probably do it again.

Good luck and I hope Cowboy does well.

 

[NVGator]

She is doing fine...able to get around pretty much at will. There's a pronounced limp, but she is no longer carrying the leg. We are keeping her knocked out with trazadone and gabapentin. She'd be running around like a nut otherwise. Of course she only had one knee done, so she can compensate with the other. Im not sure how Cowboy will do with both hind legs out at the same time. My guess is you will have to use a harness of some sort (a towel looped under his abdomen) to take the weight off the legs for the first week or so when he goes to the bathroom.

I didn't realize he was 70 lbs. That's larger than he looks. I was guessing around 50. Either way, tightrope would work well for him. The issue will be finding someone to do it.

Thanks for you honesty. They said we’d have a harness for him for the first few weeks. Exactly as you said. Still research our options. Appreciate your POV.

 

[NVGator]

In 1970 our German Shepard, Bugger, had hip dysplasia and was in obvious pain. He was just 3 years old. My 2 sons and I took him to the vet and I authorized an arthrotomy of the hip. The cost was $400. I worked in orthopaedics my entire career & knew this procedure would greatly benefit him. We made a good decision to not tell my husband the cost & I told him it was on a "payment plan" which it was. Besides, I made good money plus I was not the one who had just purchased a 17' fancy speed boat.

I looked it up and $400. in 1970 = about $2,600. in 2020. Bugger gave us a lot of pleasure for many, many years and lived to the ripe old age of 18. When Bugger died it was a though we had lost a close family member. Yea, I would most probably do it again.

Good luck and I hope Cowboy does well.

Thanks Daytona. Working on our plan as we speak so to say.

 

[MJMGator]

No way I’d drop $10k on a dog. No way.

 

[MJMGator]

It's just as well. Any dog owned by you would prefer euthanasia anyway.

Would you drop that money on a parakeet? Goldfish?
Bottom line is it’s a pet. No pet is worth $10k.

 

[MJMGator]

What's something that you'd be willing to spend $10k on?

Hookers and blow.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Hookers

So much for mans best friend being a dog....

 

[Gator By Marriage]

So much for mans best friend being a dog....

Groucho Marx quote: “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”

 

[Bullag8r]

Thanks Daytona. Working on our plan as we speak so to say.

My daughter's family's Doberman has had 2 ACL surgeries in the past 2 years and is doing well. I think it cost between 8 and 10k. If it was my dog I couldn't afford it but my son-in-law makes a lot of money. The decision really comes down to love for the pet and financial ability. Best wishes NV.

 

[NVGator]

My daughter's family's Doberman has had 2 ACL surgeries in the past 2 years and is doing well. I think it cost between 8 and 10k. If it was my dog I couldn't afford it but my son-in-law makes a lot of money. The decision really comes down to love for the pet and financial ability. Best wishes NV.

Thanks Bull. Try telling that to a 6 & 7 year old.

 

[Zambo]

Best advice so far is to get a second opinion.

Another option to consider is a leg brace. Our dog tore the acl and rather than do surgery we fitted her for a brace like the ones you see offensive linemen wear. It worked well and she seems good as new.

 

[Theologator]

It’s tough. My parents’ West Highland terrier had a ligament injury that supposedly required surgery. Dad decided to wait awhile. The dog recovered and 10 years later remains active.

Our black lab needed mast cell skin cancer surgery. It cost us $2k. Immediately post-op, the surgical wounds were pretty hard for her to manage and we said “never again.” When she died 2 years later, we were very thankful we’d bought her the extra time.

So I’d get a second and even 3rd opinion, but remember that vets are wired to fix the problem you present. I’d also wait and see if/how he heals. If he absolutely needs it and it’s too much for your family, I’d try going through the Humane society to find a vet that will do it for lower or no cost.

Edit: But I’d do it if necessary and at all possible. Otherwise we’d live with the disability or find him the right home.

 

[Zambo]

The company we used for knee brace was called Posh. It was more expensive than an off-the-shelf brace because it is custom made. But still way less than surgery.

 

[NVGator]

The company we used for knee brace was called Posh. It was more expensive than an off-the-shelf brace because it is custom made. But still way less than surgery.

Do you have more information on Posh? Sounds like it could be an option.

 

[Zambo]

Do you have more information on Posh? Sounds like it could be an option.

Posh Dog Knee Brace | Custom Dog Knee Brace For Dogs With A Torn CCL
You can call and talk to them directly, they show you how to measure your dog in a bunch of different ways and they build the brace to fit, then when you get it they have a video call with you to make sure you know how to put it on and adjust it correctly. Its been a while since our dog wore hers, but I think that putting two on at the same time wouldn't be a problem. The fact that both legs seem to have the the same injury is the weird thing, but this is all the posh company does so I think they can give you some good advice. I think the brace was about 800 bucks, which is at least twice what an off the shelf brace costs but its obviously a lot less than an operation.

 

[NVGator]

Posh Dog Knee Brace | Custom Dog Knee Brace For Dogs With A Torn CCL
You can call and talk to them directly, they show you how to measure your dog in a bunch of different ways and they build the brace to fit, then when you get it they have a video call with you to make sure you know how to put it on and adjust it correctly. Its been a while since our dog wore hers, but I think that putting two on at the same time wouldn't be a problem. The fact that both legs seem to have the the same injury is the weird thing, but this is all the posh company does so I think they can give you some good advice. I think the brace was about 800 bucks, which is at least twice what an off the shelf brace costs but its obviously a lot less than an operation.

Thanks. I’ll call them on Monday.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

My business partner: "You know, when I was a kid, we never took our dog to the vet, they never got shots. They would always get run over in the road and we would just go get another one."

 

[Bullag8r]

Thanks Bull. Try telling that to a 6 & 7 year old.

In that case, love for the pet outweighs the cost of surgery. Best wishes