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by keepthefaith on 26 January 2013 - 21:01
My 5 year old GSD was diagnosed with a ruptured ACL. The vet recommended surgery and indicated that it would cost approximately $4000.
We live in Northern VA and the cost for vet services (and pretty much everything else) here is defintitely on the high side. The one alternative he offered was to take the dog to Virginia Tech vet school where the cost would be around $2600. This would be about 3-4 hours away from where we live. I assume the quality of service at this school would be decent.
I'd prefer to have the surgery - if it is necessary - performed by a vet who is experienced in this sort of procedure and preferably within two hours of Northern VA. Any suggestions as to less expensive alternatives that members are aware of in the area would be welcome.
We live in Northern VA and the cost for vet services (and pretty much everything else) here is defintitely on the high side. The one alternative he offered was to take the dog to Virginia Tech vet school where the cost would be around $2600. This would be about 3-4 hours away from where we live. I assume the quality of service at this school would be decent.
I'd prefer to have the surgery - if it is necessary - performed by a vet who is experienced in this sort of procedure and preferably within two hours of Northern VA. Any suggestions as to less expensive alternatives that members are aware of in the area would be welcome.
by Eldee on 26 January 2013 - 21:01
My friend had her Lab's ACL tear operated on. Months of rehab and she still won't let her off the leash to run probably ever again. The flip side, our last shepherd tore hers as well but we chose the less expensive route. She was in a cast for a month, then leashed for 6 months. It was never the same again, but even if you operated I don't think it is ever the same either. It does take longer if you choose to not operate, however I think the end results are the same. Just my opinion.
by guddu on 26 January 2013 - 22:01
Results of the surgery, depend on the surgeon. Find someone, who has done many of these operations and the results will be good.
by dragonfry on 27 January 2013 - 00:01
What method is your vet suggesting?
I had an American Bulldog male that tore his ACL at 8 months and my vet suggested we wait until he was 1.5 years old for the surgery. He didn't want to work on a still actively growing puppy. My dog had the "Monofiliment fish line" method and he recovered very quickly. In fact he walked out of surgery the same day. Rested at home for a few hours. When i took him out to the bathroom he stood on the surgery leg to pee! His recovery was perfect and he returned to normal life quickly. I scrapped any plans for him to become a sports dog. But he did play with agility, did regular AKC style obedience, ran, swam, played and was a big happy goofy dog till he passed last year at 9 years old. I even finished him in conformation.
My vet is in florida or i'm highly recomend using him.
Get more info from the vet about which surgery they are planning. The vet schools i've experienced are usually top knotch, experienced vets teaching through real life medical issues so students may get real life training.
Wish you and your dog the best and a quick recovery.
Oh yeah my surgery was $1500.00 but that was 10 years ago.
Fry
I had an American Bulldog male that tore his ACL at 8 months and my vet suggested we wait until he was 1.5 years old for the surgery. He didn't want to work on a still actively growing puppy. My dog had the "Monofiliment fish line" method and he recovered very quickly. In fact he walked out of surgery the same day. Rested at home for a few hours. When i took him out to the bathroom he stood on the surgery leg to pee! His recovery was perfect and he returned to normal life quickly. I scrapped any plans for him to become a sports dog. But he did play with agility, did regular AKC style obedience, ran, swam, played and was a big happy goofy dog till he passed last year at 9 years old. I even finished him in conformation.
My vet is in florida or i'm highly recomend using him.
Get more info from the vet about which surgery they are planning. The vet schools i've experienced are usually top knotch, experienced vets teaching through real life medical issues so students may get real life training.
Wish you and your dog the best and a quick recovery.
Oh yeah my surgery was $1500.00 but that was 10 years ago.
Fry
by Donmcinn on 27 January 2013 - 02:01
Our lab had surgery on both of his rear legs. The first operation went off without a hitch. The leg healed fine and was good to go. When his other rear leg went, it took three operations to get it right. Our vet took him to her mentor, who did the third operation.
He recovered fine in both legs, when it was all said and done. We slowly rehab'd him with swimming and slow walks. With the exceptions of the scar on his right rear leg, you would not have noticed that he had any surgery done. It did cost us about 1800.00 each time (4 in total)...but it was money well spent.
Don
He recovered fine in both legs, when it was all said and done. We slowly rehab'd him with swimming and slow walks. With the exceptions of the scar on his right rear leg, you would not have noticed that he had any surgery done. It did cost us about 1800.00 each time (4 in total)...but it was money well spent.
Don
by keepthefaith on 27 January 2013 - 03:01
Thanks for all the responses:
Eldee re: The flip side, our last shepherd tore hers as well but we chose the less expensive route.
What specific procedure was used for your dog?
Dragonfry re: What method is your vet suggesting?...........He didn't want to work on a still actively growing puppy. My dog had the "Monofiliment fish line" method
He was suggesting either the TPLO or TTA methods. He seemed to feel that the tight rope method - I assume that it is the same as the "fish line" method your referred to was less likely to be successful given that my dog weights 79 pounds. He said that the fish line method works best with smaller dogs.
Donmcinn: What method was used for the surgery on your dog?
Our GSD is 5 years old ........ and is the sweetest dog ever imaginable. It is really sad that this has happened to her.
Some of the prices quoted seem like a bargain compared to the rates in the DC metro area. But like I said, everything here is expensive. For example, this morning's consult, xray, sedation while being xrayed, anti-inflammatory medication and a pain-killer cost us over $600!
I read somewhere that with TPLO there is a patent on the procedure and the company that owns the patent is paid $1000 for each surgery when the method is used. I don't know if that is accurate. Someone else told me that the actual surgery for both the TPLO and TTA takes about 30 minutes!
Apparently, there is another treatment - the "extra-capsular method" - that is much less expensive. I don't know how effective it is - certainly the vet did not even mention it to us. Perhaps the outcomes are not the best using that method ...... I would be curious if any members of this forum have used this method for their dogs - especially GSDs' - and how well it worked out.
Eldee re: The flip side, our last shepherd tore hers as well but we chose the less expensive route.
What specific procedure was used for your dog?
Dragonfry re: What method is your vet suggesting?...........He didn't want to work on a still actively growing puppy. My dog had the "Monofiliment fish line" method
He was suggesting either the TPLO or TTA methods. He seemed to feel that the tight rope method - I assume that it is the same as the "fish line" method your referred to was less likely to be successful given that my dog weights 79 pounds. He said that the fish line method works best with smaller dogs.
Donmcinn: What method was used for the surgery on your dog?
Our GSD is 5 years old ........ and is the sweetest dog ever imaginable. It is really sad that this has happened to her.
Some of the prices quoted seem like a bargain compared to the rates in the DC metro area. But like I said, everything here is expensive. For example, this morning's consult, xray, sedation while being xrayed, anti-inflammatory medication and a pain-killer cost us over $600!
I read somewhere that with TPLO there is a patent on the procedure and the company that owns the patent is paid $1000 for each surgery when the method is used. I don't know if that is accurate. Someone else told me that the actual surgery for both the TPLO and TTA takes about 30 minutes!
Apparently, there is another treatment - the "extra-capsular method" - that is much less expensive. I don't know how effective it is - certainly the vet did not even mention it to us. Perhaps the outcomes are not the best using that method ...... I would be curious if any members of this forum have used this method for their dogs - especially GSDs' - and how well it worked out.
by windwalker18 on 27 January 2013 - 10:01
Really attend to the Rehab post surgery, as it's at least as important as the surgery. Unless exercise is limited as the healing process begins and then done only in patient stages (yes, swimming is one of the best rehabs, but leaping off docks may not be). I assisted in several of these surgeries when I worked for the Vet. He had awesome surgical technics and very good suture methods even though he was primarily a large animal vet. Both dogs who went thru the surgery were Labs, and were hand walked for some time after the surgery.
by Paul15 on 27 January 2013 - 14:01
friend had dogs with torn acl's. Both went to some place in Maryland. One dog's heeled only to have the other tear later.. One heeled but when the dog sits, the leg points slightly out to left. Not straight.
by starrchar on 27 January 2013 - 23:01
My sister's Border Collie tore the ACL and meniscus on the right hing leg two years ago. The Ortho vet did a TPLO at the cost of $3500. Everything went well. One month ago she tore the left ACL & meniscus. Went to a different Ortho vet and had a TTA at the cost of $1500. The TTA is less invasive and the recovery is quicker, according to the vet. My sisters dog is doing very well and starts PT this week.
by dragonfry on 28 January 2013 - 00:01
My male bulldog was 95 lbs most of his life in solid shape not fat ever. Also my vet does the big dogs like rotties, shepherds, mastiffs all with the fish line. He went to two seminars for the TPLO but refuses to do such and invasive and damaging surgery. And he is a ACL specialist. Be careful TPLO is the new fad. Because when you saw the leg bone in half and screw it back together you have a very real chance of bone infection.
The fish line only goes through the knee joint. No bones are cut and very little material to reject.
I'd do the TTA and only consider the TPLO if for some reason the TTA failed. I've only ever heard of one dog breaking her TTA and she was not done by my vet but one of the big really expensive offices that only has "Specialist" and that dog blew both her ACL's and Both her TTA. They chose not to spend any more money on her and had her put down.
Best of luck with what ever method you ues and speedy recovery!
The fish line only goes through the knee joint. No bones are cut and very little material to reject.
I'd do the TTA and only consider the TPLO if for some reason the TTA failed. I've only ever heard of one dog breaking her TTA and she was not done by my vet but one of the big really expensive offices that only has "Specialist" and that dog blew both her ACL's and Both her TTA. They chose not to spend any more money on her and had her put down.
Best of luck with what ever method you ues and speedy recovery!
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