Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
Oct 6th 2009 | 10:31 am
#16
Thread Starter
Bristolish expat
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,700
From: Bristol ~ Nanaimo, BC ... It's a bit like Salem's Lot!!
Re: Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
~ she's a Catahoula/mastiff mix (will PM you too, ta x)Our dogue de Bordeaux had the same op. It wasn't as bad as I expected, you just have to keep them quiet - but really they seem to know that it hurts and dont want to jump up etc. Cant remember how long it took but it wasnt such a big deal as I thought it was going to be.
Word of warning - the other leg went 6 months later - apparently this is quite common!
Wish you luck!
Word of warning - the other leg went 6 months later - apparently this is quite common!
Wish you luck!
My dog had it done. It went well and she was as good as new. The problem we had was keeping her quiet, and when the time came she hated going out on a lead. We used to live across the road from fields so as soon as she was over the road she couldnt understand why the lead was still on. It actually made her depressed. Soon as the vet gave us the go ahead to let her be free, she cheered up.
The first couple of days after the op were the worst for her and me.
The first couple of days after the op were the worst for her and me.
My friends spaniel "needed" ligament surgery, but funds did not permit it (it aint cheap), so the pooch went without.
Whatdoyouknow, a year later the dog is fine, no sign of a limp anymore. Maybe not an athletic spring chicken any more, but he's an old dog anyway and he seems happy enough having avoided the surgery and prolonged associated recovery.
Whatdoyouknow, a year later the dog is fine, no sign of a limp anymore. Maybe not an athletic spring chicken any more, but he's an old dog anyway and he seems happy enough having avoided the surgery and prolonged associated recovery.
Henry here!
Blue your so pretty - I think your really brave getting your whole body wet, it makes me nervous getting my paws wet - that's really traumatic
Mum thinks my other girlfriend Kelty had that done - or it was something simliar, but she's really old and now she's not allowed to play with me very much - so I think you need to move closer
Hope your op goes well and that you don't have to wear a lampshade for too long. AND I hope you Mum gives you lots of treats. I know a chow puppy that had to have ops on both his legs at the same time and his Mum put him in a buggy when it was walk time so he could still go out with his big sister, maybe your Mum could get a buggy for you so you can still sniff the good stuff
Blue your so pretty - I think your really brave getting your whole body wet, it makes me nervous getting my paws wet - that's really traumatic
Mum thinks my other girlfriend Kelty had that done - or it was something simliar, but she's really old and now she's not allowed to play with me very much - so I think you need to move closer
Hope your op goes well and that you don't have to wear a lampshade for too long. AND I hope you Mum gives you lots of treats. I know a chow puppy that had to have ops on both his legs at the same time and his Mum put him in a buggy when it was walk time so he could still go out with his big sister, maybe your Mum could get a buggy for you so you can still sniff the good stuff
... we could go to the pool together.Lily our Black Lab (pet of the week at globalpetfoods.ca 
) had a torn ACL and was limping so we looked into the options and decided on TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) and she had the surgery in June last year.
It did seem somewhat invasive when we looked into what they would actually do, but it certainly has rectified the problem and she's very happy and is still able to run and swim, perhaps not as manically as before, but then she is seven!
It's not an overly cheap procedure, but if you have pet insurance and there isn't a pre-existing condition of ACL then it may well cover it, but you'd want to check with the insurance company before hand.
) had a torn ACL and was limping so we looked into the options and decided on TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) and she had the surgery in June last year.It did seem somewhat invasive when we looked into what they would actually do, but it certainly has rectified the problem and she's very happy and is still able to run and swim, perhaps not as manically as before, but then she is seven!
It's not an overly cheap procedure, but if you have pet insurance and there isn't a pre-existing condition of ACL then it may well cover it, but you'd want to check with the insurance company before hand.
talk about closing the door after the mutt has bolted!!Thanks for all your replies & good wishes guys
Oct 7th 2009 | 7:40 am
#17
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 789
Re: Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
Our dog had it done is May and is 90% herself now. Still got a weak leg but she is out running round the garden as I type. She is a rotti/husky cross and weighs in at 58 kg so lifting her was a problem. She was very good and coped very well. It cost $2638 including drugs and after care but not xrays. She still have to had supplement every day and an injection once a month. She had to be kept in doors for 8 weeks with only very short walks on the leash. She has a 30% chance of the other knee going and at some point she is going to need hip replacements and she is only 3.
We are glad we had it done. We're only up the road in Courtenay so pm me if I can give any further info.
We are glad we had it done. We're only up the road in Courtenay so pm me if I can give any further info.
Oct 7th 2009 | 10:18 am
#18
Thread Starter
Bristolish expat
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,700
From: Bristol ~ Nanaimo, BC ... It's a bit like Salem's Lot!!
Re: Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
Our dog had it done is May and is 90% herself now. Still got a weak leg but she is out running round the garden as I type. She is a rotti/husky cross and weighs in at 58 kg so lifting her was a problem. She was very good and coped very well. It cost $2638 including drugs and after care but not xrays. She still have to had supplement every day and an injection once a month. She had to be kept in doors for 8 weeks with only very short walks on the leash. She has a 30% chance of the other knee going and at some point she is going to need hip replacements and she is only 3.
We are glad we had it done. We're only up the road in Courtenay so pm me if I can give any further info.
We are glad we had it done. We're only up the road in Courtenay so pm me if I can give any further info.
Oct 7th 2009 | 10:02 pm
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 245
From: London, UK but want to be in Seeleys Bay
Re: Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
Interesting that they did pay for both. Were they both diagnosed at the same time, and then one done first, some healing time, then the other one. Or was it a case of one went and was done, and then later the other went and was done.
If it was the former I can see why they would pay out, if the latter, I'm surprised they did as I'd have thought they'd do their utmost to get out of paying up by touting the old "pre-existing condition" line, even though it would have been a different leg. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on insurance companies?
Who do you have insurance with btw?
sharkus is offline Add to sharkus's Reputation Report Post Reply With Quote
If it was the former I can see why they would pay out, if the latter, I'm surprised they did as I'd have thought they'd do their utmost to get out of paying up by touting the old "pre-existing condition" line, even though it would have been a different leg. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on insurance companies?
Who do you have insurance with btw?
sharkus is offline Add to sharkus's Reputation Report Post Reply With Quote
Oct 9th 2009 | 7:34 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
This question should perhaps go on another thread, but I'm a little horrified by the sums of money needed for these surgeries 
Luckily we have some pet insurance, but if you didn't have that, is there a figure that would tip the balance for any of you pet owners?
Some friends of ours sold their second car to pay for surgery on their dog. They still only have one vehicle months later. I don't think I'd go that far
And would you feel there is a difference between a 'suggested' surgery versus an emergency surgery?
Maybe I'm a little callous or hard-hearted but I certainly have a low limit as to how much I would pay out for a pet
Don't get me wrong, I love our two mutts and they are well loved and cared for. They are vaccinated and walked, fed and played with and live the life of Riley. But if a vet said I needed to find $5,000 for a fix, I wouldn't have it, and would have second thoughts as to if I should find it ...
Luckily we have some pet insurance, but if you didn't have that, is there a figure that would tip the balance for any of you pet owners?
Some friends of ours sold their second car to pay for surgery on their dog. They still only have one vehicle months later. I don't think I'd go that far
And would you feel there is a difference between a 'suggested' surgery versus an emergency surgery?
Maybe I'm a little callous or hard-hearted but I certainly have a low limit as to how much I would pay out for a pet
Don't get me wrong, I love our two mutts and they are well loved and cared for. They are vaccinated and walked, fed and played with and live the life of Riley. But if a vet said I needed to find $5,000 for a fix, I wouldn't have it, and would have second thoughts as to if I should find it ...
Oct 9th 2009 | 11:40 am
#21
Thread Starter
Bristolish expat
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,700
From: Bristol ~ Nanaimo, BC ... It's a bit like Salem's Lot!!
Re: Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
This question should perhaps go on another thread, but I'm a little horrified by the sums of money needed for these surgeries
Luckily we have some pet insurance, but if you didn't have that, is there a figure that would tip the balance for any of you pet owners?
Some friends of ours sold their second car to pay for surgery on their dog. They still only have one vehicle months later. I don't think I'd go that far
And would you feel there is a difference between a 'suggested' surgery versus an emergency surgery?
Maybe I'm a little callous or hard-hearted but I certainly have a low limit as to how much I would pay out for a pet Don't get me wrong, I love our two mutts and they are well loved and cared for. They are vaccinated and walked, fed and played with and live the life of Riley. But if a vet said I needed to find $5,000 for a fix, I wouldn't have it, and would have second thoughts as to if I should find it ...
Luckily we have some pet insurance, but if you didn't have that, is there a figure that would tip the balance for any of you pet owners?
Some friends of ours sold their second car to pay for surgery on their dog. They still only have one vehicle months later. I don't think I'd go that far
And would you feel there is a difference between a 'suggested' surgery versus an emergency surgery?
Maybe I'm a little callous or hard-hearted but I certainly have a low limit as to how much I would pay out for a pet
Don't get me wrong, I love our two mutts and they are well loved and cared for. They are vaccinated and walked, fed and played with and live the life of Riley. But if a vet said I needed to find $5,000 for a fix, I wouldn't have it, and would have second thoughts as to if I should find it ...
... live & learn I have a better policy now but too late for the mutts knees unfortunately.I had to think long & hard about this because as you say, it's not an emergency but a 'suggested' OP ... over the last couple of months she's been swimming & having a jab every 4 weeks to try & improve her knee but is not allowed for any walks/weight bearing exercise & there's been no improvement ... she's only 3yrs old, maybe if she was an old dog I wouldn't do it but never to come out & be part of our walks? (I walk a lot!) I can't do that to her ... financially it's a hell of a strain for us (loan) it's been a pretty tough year all round & this is the last thing we need
but we love her 
I was talking to one of the teachers at work today who had her 5yr old GSD put down when she found out how much it was gonna cost ... different strokes for different folks eh?
Blue had her last swim today before the OP next Wednesday & stepped/swam in to help a newbie that was learning ~ see photos
Last edited by bananahammock; Oct 9th 2009 at 11:48 am.
Oct 9th 2009 | 12:26 pm
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: Cruciate surgery for the mutt :(
Thanks Banana - it's a nightmare really and I'm glad it's not me making the decisions at the moment (but that moment will no doubt come at some point).
Love the photo - how cute !!
"C'mon mate - it's easy - you just get in and do this - look, I'll show you one more time but you gotta get your paws wet, OK?"
Love the photo - how cute !!
"C'mon mate - it's easy - you just get in and do this - look, I'll show you one more time but you gotta get your paws wet, OK?"
