INPUT NEEDED PLEASE! ACL Repair

[LolaLover]

Our baby Lola has been limping around on her back right hind leg so we took her to the vet to be evaluated. She was diagnosed by our primary vet with a partial ACL tear. He recommended that lola get the TPLO surgery to repair this. We decided to take her to another vet to get a second opinion, and he confirmed her partial tear and recommended that she get the lateral suture repair. I have research both of these operations online and see pros and cons of both, and now I am SOOOO confused which surgery is best for her. I am very stressed out and was wondering if anyone had any opinions or experience regarding this. HELP PLEASE!!!

 

[JennyeStear]

Have no experience in this. But am sending lots of love for you and Lola both.

 

[clightfoot]

You know, when all else fails, get a third opinion. Remember that the least amount of times your baby has to go under anesthesia, the better.

As a former vet tech, I've seen both surgeries. I don't know which is best for your baby, but I would recommend a "tie-breaker". Get a third vet to take a look and see what surgery he/she recommends.

Tough call, and I'll be thinking of you and your Lola!

 

[2BullyMama]

What were the reasoning behind the decisions they gave you... does one do something more than they other that you may not really need to have done?

agree with another post -- 3rd opinion

 

[LolaLover]

Thank you all so much for the love and support. This is a very stressful thing to go through, and she is like my child and I want the best for her. I think you are all right I think I am going to seek out a third opinion. Great advice thanks so much for the help!

 

[Starkie]

We are not experts by any means.
But these are the actual results we experienced.
So maybe surgery should probably be a last resort.

Shadow (9 year old Yorkie) had the same problem (torn ACL).
Same recommendation too, a $3500 surgery.
They said they would try to knock it down to $2500.
The prognoses they provided indicated the other leg would need the same surgery later.
No guarantee that either surgery would really work long term.
They also told us he would eventually get arthritis in both legs.

We decided to go with Vet Liedecker's suggestion.
Pain pills and confinement in his crate for 2-3 weeks.
To let it heal.
He hated both but guess what, it worked!
That was 6 months ago.
Since then, no more hobbling/limping.
Hard to believe when he races through the house with Walley-Bubba (English Bulldog).
Despite both of us yelling "NO RUNNING IN THE HOUSE" at them both.

Good luck.

 

[LolaLover]

WOW thats amazing what a little rest will do. We have been trying our best to keep Lola still but she is such an active little chunk! Thank you though so much for the advice!

 

[MarleneK]

I'm curious to know did you try crate rest for Lola?

 

[Maximus]

I can relate to this ----- my EB, Maximus, tore his ACL 2 weeks before Christmas. I had to take him to a Veternarian Orthopedic specialist who initially said to watch him and return in 2 weeks. He began weight-bearing on the leg, and subsequent visits to the Vet (after indicating that he most likely would need TTA ACL surgery) said that for some reason totally unknown, he managed to heal himself - with scar tissue around the joint area that stabilzed the knee joint. Today, Maximus is walking ok, full weight bearing, but we are watching him closely to insure no running or jumping so that he does not re-injure the leg. So, my initial impression is that he did not really tear his ACL but probably just strained it somehow. He is now on a diet to lose weight, and seems to be doing ok, but of course things can change in an instant. So, good luck to you, I know how stressful this can be. I cried for days, and couldn't sleep after it all happened, thinking my poor Max was in pain and was crippled for life. Keep us posted on things. Sending you big hugs !