TPLO

[Sharon]

I'm kicking myself for letting my dog run hard in this icy, deep snow this month. He's got his other hind leg drawn up high for 3 days. ( Had TPLO on the other leg a year and a half ago.) Stats say that the likelihood of needing it on a second leg is about 50 %.

$3500.00 ... there goes my income tax return.

I'm hoping it's a muscle pull only like Carey Price has.

What I've learned: Don't have 3 dogs unless you can afford 3 dogs. So far I can , but I see 2 dogs in the future.

for those not familiar with the procedure:

http://allwestvet.ca/tplo-surgery.html

PS Should have put this in the "Dog House" section maybe , but it seems it affects hard -working sporting breeds mostly. Don't let me lead you astray on where things go.

[Jakezilla]

Hate to tell you Sharon but drawn up for three days is very probably ACL. I just went through it and my dog is in rehab right now. I learned my lesson, winter is a good time to just let them hang out in front of the fireplace. They can't do in an ACL there.

[krakadawn]

Sharon, Depending on dog's age there may be options:

1. TightRope Procedure which is cheaper and if problems post surgery, easier to get out of for Vet(infection etc)
2. Old fish line procedure(half the cost)
3. A brace from 'Pawsability'($900)

We decided to go with a brace for a 12 year old rather than another surgery for him and in 4 months the brace came off.

Vets will tell you that TPLO is the Cadillac process but if you get an honest one, they'll tell you that they still don't have a definitive answer re which process because if they did they would advocate ONE process over the 4 alternatives.

Good luck.

[Sharon]

Sharon, Depending on dog's age there may be options:

1. TightRope Procedure which is cheaper and if problems post surgery, easier to get out of for Vet(infection etc)
2. Old fish line procedure(half the cost)
3. A brace from 'Pawsability'($900)

We decided to go with a brace for a 12 year old rather than another surgery for him and in 4 months the brace came off.

Vets will tell you that TPLO is the Cadillac process but if you get an honest one, they'll tell you that they still don't have a definitive answer re which process because if they did they would advocate ONE process over the 4 alternatives.

Good luck.

That's very helpful. Thanks. She's 8 and still a great athlete - rarin' to go . It's going to be a hard decision. I know one thing. She isn't going anywhere until I see grass.

[Sharon]

O kay , I'm looking for sympathy.

Yes the young setter needs leg injury surgery.

The old setter still has a mass and a heart murmur.

The pup has embedded stitches that didn't dissolve from his neutering surgery. They have to be removed.

The cat died last week.

[terrym]

This might be a good time to take up drinking if you don't already. Maybe it's time to start a new thread on pet health insurance?

[MikePal]

If you remember Sharon I went thru the TPLO on 3 of the legs of my Bernesse Mountain Dogs...tough haul and a huge cost, thankfully we had Pet Insurance and they took the hit.

My dogs were injured playing with a Great Dane....he would prod them to chase him and if you watched you could see that Berner's aren't designed for speed and they blew out the knees. Thankfully the surgery is top rated and they had full recovery and never had further issues.

Sorry to hear you're having so many Pet related issues all at once...surprising no matter how bad it gets, we always find a way to make it right for them. There is a place in heaven for people like you.

[Sharon]

This might be a good time to take up drinking if you don't already. Maybe it's time to start a new thread on pet health insurance?

Not that far gone yet, Never really was big on pet insurance ; always believed in saving money for emergencies, which I've done , but still............would rather be using it to go to Hawaii.

[marysburg]

Good Grief! What a winter this has been for you. Maybe all the disasters are behind you (except the knee), and you will not have another vet bill except for vaccinations? Naw, we have 4 dogs, it never ends. You and yours really have had more than your share lately, and I hope it quiets down a little for a while.

[Sharon]

Thanks Mary..... You have always have a kind word and I appreciate it.