[codydog]

Looks like my 5 1/2 year old dog has a partially torn cruciate ligament in her back leg. My vet says surgery is the only treatment. I've read some other information on the internet suggesting that some dogs fair just as well without surgery as they do with surgery. It was also suggested that without surgery dogs will get arthritis, but dogs that had the ligament surgery may also develop the arthritis anyway. When I asked my vet about these claims, he said such websites were disseminating misinformation.

This surgery is not cheap, approx. $1500. TLPO surgery is over $4,000. The TLPO does not appear to be an option for us financially. I want what's best for my dog, but there's no guarantee for a full recovery from the standard surgery and if she "may" be just as well off without the surgery, why put her through it?

Although we are leaning toward the surgery treatment option, I am wondering if anyone out there has any experience with this type of injury and what you did and what happened. If you could share your tale (no pun intended) and what advice you have, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.