- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Labrador ACL/CCL Tear
Posted on 2/4/21 at 7:08 pm
Posted on 2/4/21 at 7:08 pm
My lab turns 9 at the end of this month. Last weekend he tore his ACL (CCL) while running back and forth in the back yard.
I have been told by one vet to go with the TPLO surgery ($5,000) then told by another that the lateral suture technique ($3000) has been done for years and proven to work just as well and in most cases proves no better than TPLO.
My main concern is that both vets have said due to his age there is a high probability the other will go within a year.
Has anyone been through this or any vets on the board that can give some direction? I want to give him the best treatment but at his age is there a major difference between the two? He is in good shape and not overweight. He also is a house dog these days and not the duck hunter he was suppose to be so he isn’t chasing birds all day.
I appreciate the help as I have been trying to figure out which way to go but cannot determine the right path.
I have been told by one vet to go with the TPLO surgery ($5,000) then told by another that the lateral suture technique ($3000) has been done for years and proven to work just as well and in most cases proves no better than TPLO.
My main concern is that both vets have said due to his age there is a high probability the other will go within a year.
Has anyone been through this or any vets on the board that can give some direction? I want to give him the best treatment but at his age is there a major difference between the two? He is in good shape and not overweight. He also is a house dog these days and not the duck hunter he was suppose to be so he isn’t chasing birds all day.
I appreciate the help as I have been trying to figure out which way to go but cannot determine the right path.
13
Posted on 2/4/21 at 7:31 pm to Phil
Take him to dr Braud in Gonzales, will do the surgery for 1/4 of what you have been quoted
Posted on 2/4/21 at 7:57 pm to Phil
That's a crazy price for one knee.
Posted on 2/4/21 at 8:05 pm to Phil
Both those quotes seem high. If the dog is still active then I’d recommend fixing it. Lateral sutures can work in big dogs but tplo has less chance of breaking down. Much greater recovery with tplo though. If you don’t want surgery you can brace leg. Google canine knee braces. I’ve done these in a few instances where surgery wasn’t an option and was pleased with result.
Posted on 2/4/21 at 8:28 pm to Phil
Just went through this but my lab wasn’t quite 2 when he tore his first one. Doc told us we should probably get it fixed or he’d be likely to tear the other one. He was still happy as could be and would run full speed fetching and playing just like normal so I put it off. Got quoted $2500 for TPLO. They said if I ever wanted him to be able to hunt (which was the plan and I was mid training when it happened) I should get it fixed so I decided he’d just be a house dog instead of a hunting dog. Plus he would have to be kennel bound pretty much all the time for about 6 weeks and I didn’t have the heart to do it to him when he was still so happy and active.
Well after about 6 months he tore the other one. For about 3 months after that he was still running and all like normal, he’d just be a little slow to get up the next day after running hard. After that his quality of life started being affected and he’d limp pretty bad most days so I decided to get the surgery. Took another 3 months to get it scheduled and all. Had both legs done at once, was given an estimate between $3000-$3700 and it ended up costing $3200. I’m actually on week 2 of the 12 week recovery right now and it’s not easy. I’m sure it would be easier only having 1 leg done but it would still be tough. Definitely do your research on the recovery before you commit so you know what you’re getting into.
I went TPLO rather than lateral suture bc I was told and read that with big breeds it’s coming for the lateral suture to fail.
I should also mention the vet I had it done at has an agreement with some top notch surgeon in the area where he comes in once or twice a year and does surgeries for like half price to help people out. That’s why mine was so cheap. I read stories online of people paying over $10,000 for a double TPLO. I’m in Oklahoma btw. I could go on and on about it so if you have any other questions just ask.
Well after about 6 months he tore the other one. For about 3 months after that he was still running and all like normal, he’d just be a little slow to get up the next day after running hard. After that his quality of life started being affected and he’d limp pretty bad most days so I decided to get the surgery. Took another 3 months to get it scheduled and all. Had both legs done at once, was given an estimate between $3000-$3700 and it ended up costing $3200. I’m actually on week 2 of the 12 week recovery right now and it’s not easy. I’m sure it would be easier only having 1 leg done but it would still be tough. Definitely do your research on the recovery before you commit so you know what you’re getting into.
I went TPLO rather than lateral suture bc I was told and read that with big breeds it’s coming for the lateral suture to fail.
I should also mention the vet I had it done at has an agreement with some top notch surgeon in the area where he comes in once or twice a year and does surgeries for like half price to help people out. That’s why mine was so cheap. I read stories online of people paying over $10,000 for a double TPLO. I’m in Oklahoma btw. I could go on and on about it so if you have any other questions just ask.
Posted on 2/4/21 at 9:14 pm to Ragnar
Yea I should have clarified, I’m in South Carolina. The numbers I gave were quoted by the main 2 surgical centers in my area (they were basically the same price at either place). The vet quoted me $2900 for the lateral suture but does not do TPLO. It sounds like they are gouging people around here compared to what y’all are saying you have paid.
I plan on doing one of the surgeries but just am having a tough time deciding which one. He is hobbling on it pretty much right now. He definitely isn’t running even though I can tell he wants to. I know something has to be done but being as though I’m planning for the other to fail, I’m trying to decide on $6k or $10k (barring I can’t find anywhere that comes close to the numbers y’all are saying).
I plan on doing one of the surgeries but just am having a tough time deciding which one. He is hobbling on it pretty much right now. He definitely isn’t running even though I can tell he wants to. I know something has to be done but being as though I’m planning for the other to fail, I’m trying to decide on $6k or $10k (barring I can’t find anywhere that comes close to the numbers y’all are saying).
This post was edited on 2/4/21 at 9:21 pm
Posted on 2/4/21 at 9:27 pm to Phil
Yeah. They will both go out. My boxers did. Guy in Bessemer AL did it for 750 per knee. He was great.
Posted on 2/5/21 at 12:28 am to AUCE05
South paws in Mandeville is the only places to go. Had both of my 60 pound dog done there. He was 8 at the time. He is 15 and still going strong. It’s the only place you should take your dog for this surgery. They are the best in the business.
This post was edited on 2/5/21 at 12:30 am
Posted on 2/5/21 at 4:31 am to Phil
Call Clemson NC State but UTK was only about 2800
Posted on 2/5/21 at 6:10 am to Phil
My 12 yr. old lab did this last March and I was told the same thing you were. Look in to laser treatments. This is the route we took and it's worked out fine. Talked it over with your vet. Good luck.
Posted on 2/5/21 at 10:35 am to Phil
This happened to our Lab at 1 year old (about 9 years ago), we opted for suture and it went flawlessly, she recovered in 3 months. Tough to keep a lab, let alone lab puppie "still" for a month to 2 while they heal, but we did it. When we turned her loose after 3 months, she promptly tore the other one the first time we brought her back to the camp.
Again, opted for suture, but had numerous complications, and a couple follow up surgeries....eventually healed, she basically spent her entire second year in a kennel recovering.
at the time the cost for each knee was $1200-$1500.
She's 10 now and is doing well, runs fine but we can tell arthritis is happening , she limps pretty good after she runs or swims a bunch.
TPLO just seemed so drastic...they saw their bones apart and bracket it back together at a different angle(better geometry) ....I couldn't get my heard around that. Plus was more expensive.
Good luck on whatever you decide, it wasn't easy.
Again, opted for suture, but had numerous complications, and a couple follow up surgeries....eventually healed, she basically spent her entire second year in a kennel recovering.
at the time the cost for each knee was $1200-$1500.
She's 10 now and is doing well, runs fine but we can tell arthritis is happening , she limps pretty good after she runs or swims a bunch.
TPLO just seemed so drastic...they saw their bones apart and bracket it back together at a different angle(better geometry) ....I couldn't get my heard around that. Plus was more expensive.
Good luck on whatever you decide, it wasn't easy.
Posted on 2/5/21 at 1:47 pm to cajungoalie
I called around today and reached out to a few vets in Columbia. Got quoted $3800-$4400 at one place and $3300-$3500 at another for TPLO surgery. One lady I talked to said, “if you have a lab your going to get TPLO”.
The group that quoted lower has a doctor come in from Charlotte to do the procedure. The building isn’t the newest of facilities but I guess whatever gets the job done.
I guess it’s all about supply and demand.
The group that quoted lower has a doctor come in from Charlotte to do the procedure. The building isn’t the newest of facilities but I guess whatever gets the job done.
I guess it’s all about supply and demand.
Posted on 2/5/21 at 3:14 pm to Phil
Funny you should post this. One our beagles jumped off the patio table (my daughter was brushing him) Sunday and tore a ligament in a back knee. We brought him to the vet and he said if he's just a couch potato, which he is, that it could heel on it's on in a month or so.
He said if he was younger and/or a hunting dog he would recommend the surgery. I don't remember what he called them, but there were 2 options and 1 was $1000 and the other about $3000.
He said if he was younger and/or a hunting dog he would recommend the surgery. I don't remember what he called them, but there were 2 options and 1 was $1000 and the other about $3000.
Posted on 2/5/21 at 4:15 pm to Phil
About 11 years ago had a similar situation with a 14 month old lab. She jumped out of the back window of my F250 on our duck lease while I was doing about 5 miles an hour to go after a herd of cows. At any rate, after limping around for a few days vet gave me the news. Ended up taking her to Texas A&M vet clinic for TPLO surgery. Ran me about $2800 or so. She was young and the suture technique was unlikely to hold up on a young dog, they are just too active and jump too hard. I hunted 3-4 days a week so she was very active in rice fields.
Worst part about TPLO is you have to confine the hell out of your dog for 4-5 months. Talking a small pen that is too low for them to jump in. We had a 24" x 48" x 36" tall cage in the house. She could only come out to eat and go outside on a leash. Bone has to have time to heal or the TPLO surgery is shot.
Went through it and she was fine for the next 8 years and then started having some arthritis in that leg which is normal.
For a 9 year old "non-working" dog I would think the TPLO surgery would be hard on them and not something really needed. Suture would be my recommendation and I am not factoring in cost.
Worst part about TPLO is you have to confine the hell out of your dog for 4-5 months. Talking a small pen that is too low for them to jump in. We had a 24" x 48" x 36" tall cage in the house. She could only come out to eat and go outside on a leash. Bone has to have time to heal or the TPLO surgery is shot.
Went through it and she was fine for the next 8 years and then started having some arthritis in that leg which is normal.
For a 9 year old "non-working" dog I would think the TPLO surgery would be hard on them and not something really needed. Suture would be my recommendation and I am not factoring in cost.
This post was edited on 2/5/21 at 4:19 pm
Posted on 2/5/21 at 4:29 pm to Phil
What the vets are telling you was true in my case. Your story is virtually identical to what we went through. Backyard, age, and options. We chose the lateral Suture procedure and it worked well, but within a year of recovery, his other leg went. Fixed that one too, but he was never the same playful dog. Absolutely no regrets about any of it. He was with us another year and a half.
Don’t know where you are, but prices seem very high compared to what we paid here in Cincinnati. We called around and found large differences here in town. Suggest you do likewise and see what you find.
Good luck.
Don’t know where you are, but prices seem very high compared to what we paid here in Cincinnati. We called around and found large differences here in town. Suggest you do likewise and see what you find.
Good luck.
Posted on 2/5/21 at 7:10 pm to WSK
Yea, his age has me concerned as well. He turns 9 at the end of the month. I want to get him healed but also don’t want to over do it with surgery and rehab. This is definitely something to think about. Thinking of just going to do a consult from the emergency surgery group and getting their suggestion. I guess that’s the only way of understanding options.
Posted on 2/5/21 at 10:04 pm to Phil
That’s stupid prices but if you want convenience pay for it but you could save money and go to a teaching hospital with several hundred vets in 4 diff directions of Columbia
Posted on 2/5/21 at 10:21 pm to Cracker
I’m all for suggestions....everyone I have called east of Columbia refers me to the surgical centers in Columbia and Charleston.
Edit: I’m not saying it isn’t stupid pricing considering what others have posted here, but I spent part of the day callings places in and east of Columbia and posted the best pricing and options I found. Like I said, I’m all in for suggestions if you know other places.
Edit: I’m not saying it isn’t stupid pricing considering what others have posted here, but I spent part of the day callings places in and east of Columbia and posted the best pricing and options I found. Like I said, I’m all in for suggestions if you know other places.
This post was edited on 2/5/21 at 10:35 pm
Posted on 2/6/21 at 8:03 am to Phil
We just competed the second TPLO on our Dogo Argentino. Both were successful and were 3 years apart. Cost on each was $3K plus and the hardest part was keeping her contained for 8 weeks of recovery. No running or jumping as it is critical to allow the bone to heal properly. If rehab done right then prospects for full long term recovery are outstanding. Only issue long term will be if the dogs body begins to react to the hardware in the leg years down the road.
Posted on 2/6/21 at 8:59 am to Phil
Hope Animal Clinic in Bessemer AL is the group I originally told you about. Not sure if it would be worth the drive, but may be worth a call.
Page 1 of 2
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News