Cruciate ligament surgery

[JessyJames]

The dog has been limping for a while. Saw the vet who gave us painkillers and advised a few weeks of shorter, on lead walks. But this didn't help.
Today she's has had an anaesthetic and x-rays which have shown a torn cruciate ligament. Going to have a consultation with the senior vet on Monday to discuss surgical options.
Has anyone else been through this with their dog? Just wanted to get some idea of what to expect post op.
There is a possibility that she's going to be referred to the TV supervet as he's quite local and specialises in orthopaedics. That sounds expensive to me, even though she is insured.
Thanks!

My retriever boy is now a year post op. He ruptured both cruciates within 6 weeks - they will tell you this is a strong possibility - when one side goes the other knee will invariably rupture at some point.

It was a long, slow recovery and we did a lot of hydrotherapy but he is now completely back to his old self.

Cakedog (springer) has had TPLOs on both sides; last year and the year before. Expensive, but covered by insurance. Without the surgery, he wouldn't be walking by now - but, like pp, he is as good as new. Last weekend he had a long day running around the moor, and didn't even need Metacam the next day. You honestly wouldn't have known.

I highly recommend the surgical route. The cage confinement is a bore (for us) but surprisingly Cakedog took it in his stride and it just became the new normal to him. He was a star.

Just a different point of view...our dogs cruciate went. Not covered by insurance and we had no way of finding that kind of money.
The vet said “she’ll never walk again” blah blah. We researched it quite a lot... and opted for no surgery.
2 years on..she’s walking, running and happy in herself. We don’t take her for long walks anymore, just a mile or so.
We also give her a supplement each day ‘you move’. Which I believe helps her joints.
I think the Vets are invested to push push push, and sometimes simply there are other ways.
Not at all implying my way would fit your dog, but something to think about when the Vet is quoting telephone numbers.

Thanks everyone for your replies.
What sort of cost am I looking at for surgery? She is insured for up to £4000 so I'm hoping that will be adequate.
Today's visit has cost just over £400.

Roughly speaking, the first one was about £3600, the second about £4000. That's including all the appointments at our own vet before and after.
Thank goodness for insurance.

One of my dogs had Cruciate surgery with Noel Fitzpatrick. It cost £3600.

The surgery was success but he had to go back two months later and have a meniscus release.

I am going to get shot here but this has been one of several encounters with Fitzpatrick and whilst I can not criticise the expertise etc aftercare was woeful in both instances. Not sure of your area but an excellent practice is Lumbry Park Alton. I would go there over Fitzpatrick every time. The op was a little cheaper in same size dog £3200 but the care was second to none.

In our case the dogs stayed overnight, then crate rested for 6 weeks. First few days they did feel sorry for themselves and we slept with them for the first night home as they were obviously uncomfortable but after that they were feeling much better.Then gradually building up to more exercise. Now several years later both dogs are doing extremely well and show no issues of the surgery.

I also have a friend who kept her dog on complete rest after a cruciate rupture and has done extremely well without surgery. It is definitely possible, but more likely to be successful in a smaller or lighter dog. I don't honestly think the vets are keen to operate unless absolutely necessary, it's a big op with plenty of potential to go wrong.

It was £2600 for my dog in December for TPLO surgery. She is having the other leg done next week.

Recovery is long and boring. Weeks of complete rest then building up little walks but by 12 weeks they should be back to normal. My dog is on two 20 min walks a day at the moment.

I was told surgery was recommended for dogs over 15kg.

Sounds like the insurance should cover the surgery - phew!
I'd rather not see Mr Fitzpatrick, purely as it will be much easier if everything is local (Dorking area).

Oh even better - ask your vet about Anderson Abercrombie in Dorking and if they are suitable.

No personal experience but friends sporting dogs that compete internationally have had treatment there - they would not go anywhere else.

Had a discussion with the vet this morning.
The Dog is having the surgery on Wednesday. Not looking forward to the aftercare, complete rest is going to be tricky for such a lively dog!

Sympathies. I found the recovery hard going, with a young dog who just lives to run.
If she's not crate trained then a doggy playpen is good, as she needs to be closely contained in the beginning. ( you also need to know that if you go out she's not going to go upstairs or jump on the sofa. )
If you have hard floors get loads of mats or non slip vet bed - sliding in excitement and damaging the newly operated leg is real risk.

Our Labrador did her cruciate when she was eight and a half. Our vet xrayed and said she had arthiritis on both legs, so it was better to just slow her down and not operate. We don't insure our animals, but the money was there for the operation. We kept her on the lead for a few months, then let her wander round our fields as she saw fit. Within four or five months she was running about and coming on short walks, with occasional longer ones. I think a lo of vets operate far too easily.