cruciate ligament tear, surgery?

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Ambivalent89
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cruciate ligament tear, surgery?

Post by Ambivalent89 »

My chow is about 13 years old and she slipped on ice. She started to limp, so we took her to the vet and they said it's a suspect a cruciate ligament tear, similar to what basket ball players get (it was her right-back leg). The vet said that the surgery she would need would cost a couple of thousand dollars! It's a lot but I know I would do anything for my furbaby. I ordered her a leg brace and I am looking for an orthopedic doctor, but I'm so worried about many of the bad reviews I see on each animal hospital. Have any of your chows experienced this? Did they heal on their own with care and medicine or did they get the surgery? If they got the surgery how did your chow handle it? Is 13 years old too risky to get this surgery. I would really appreciate any advice. I've given her medicine done reiki on her, make sure she doesn't hurt herself.
Whiskeys Mom
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Re: cruciate ligament tear, surgery?

Post by Whiskeys Mom »

My boy got a full tear on the left and partial on the right, We did ECLS (extra capsular lateral suture) on the left because he was young and his growth pates were still active. We followed all of our restrictions and recuperation directions for the full 6 months to the letter. 2 moths off restrictions and he is gimping again.. on both legs and they look wobbly. So the ECLA failed on the left and conservative treatment of rest, restrictions, slow controlled walks and brace didn't work on the partial tear on the right. We are now scheduled to go back for the TPLO surgery. It did buy us some time for his growth plates to close... but I feel bad about putting my baby through surgery twice. He is only 18 months old now, so I really feel like it's the right thing to do so he can have a long, active life.

I asked several vet offices that are local for recommendations, they all gave me the same name, We are having to travel a couple of hours to get an ortho specialist, but I think it's worth it. Cost is $2500 per leg... slightly less if you do them both at the same time.
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