Potato’s Story:

Potato tore her knee muscle in winter. I had insurance, but because she was limping prior to a minor sprain, they didn’t cover it. I couldn’t stand seeing her limping around anymore so i paid the $3000 for the kind of surgery where they cut the bone so the leg isn’t bowed anymore and so it stabilizes the knee (TPLO). She is doing ok and today is the second day after surgery.

I thought I had sedated her enough, but I left the room for two seconds, and somehow she got off her chair. I was going to let her sit in it with my help but now that is off limits. Then today, I left her in my bedroom with her cone on, I thought she wouldn’t be able to get on the bed…but when i got home she was on it. I have no idea how.

The most important thing I have learned from this is…THEY WILL DO WHAT YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO DO. She doesn’t understand that these two attempts could have easily ruined her newly operated knee, and me underestimating her also almost wasted that $3000. I’ve learned that i can’t leave her for one second, and that she is going to have to be crated. She really scared me.

Also, her ankle is a little swollen, but thanks to this web site i might not have to pay another $200 to see what it is. One of your contributors said that their dog had just fluids trapped there and that massage and ice helped with them. I called the vet, and they are calling the specialist who did the surgery for me and recommended heat. If it continues past the weekend I will go back to the vet, but this website helped me with the initial panic.

Thank you so much!

TPLO, 2 Days Post Op – Potato is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

What is a dog TPLO surgery?

TPLO stands for Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, which in simple english means that they are changing the bones of the knee joint to make them work in a different, more “level” manner.  The veterinary surgeon will start by making an incision in your dog’s injured leg, and the cut will be made down the length of the leg.  Through this incision the veterinarian will then access the injured acl (or ccl as it is more properly called in dogs) and begin by removing the severed, torn and/or ruptured ends of the ligament.  Once the cranial cruciate ligament damage has been removed, a cut is made in the top of the tibia.  Measurements are then taken and compared to those from the pre-op x-ray, and the tibial plateau is positioned to make the slope of the knee level.  A plate is then screwed into the top of the bone to allow the bone to heal in its new angular position; the metal plates can be removed later, although this involves another procedure.  To read more about this surgery click TPLO Surgery Procedure.

TPLO Cost?

A Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy is a difficult veterinary procedure, and you should expect to be billed accordingly.  While prices vary across the US, I can tell you first hand an estimate I received for my 90 pound dog.  The estimate came with both a high and low price, and included all of the pre and post operative care, barring any complications, which are not included.  This estimate was from a veterinary speciality hospital, and my dog would have stayed overnight following the surgery with monitoring and pain control.  The low end of the estimate was $3,892.79 and the high end of the estimate was $4,03.58 for TPLO surgery.  The lowest quote I have seen for a TPLO knee repair was $2,500 at a rural veterinary clinic in one of the midwestern states, and I have heard up to $6-7,000 for a TPLO acl surgery at one of the leading veterinary school’s affiliated clinics.  Vets are aware that the cost of a TPLO surgery for your dog can be a difficult burden, and many are willing to work with you to cut out on extra costs and/or create payment plans.

TPLO Surgery Dogs is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

How much will a TPLO surgery for my dog cost?  How much should I expect to spend on a TPLO repair?

TPLO, also known as Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, is a CCL repair technique through which the veterinary surgeon alters the head of the tibia and plates it to create a new joint angle.  Simply put – your veterinarian will re-invent your dog’s injured knee joint to provide increased stability through changing the way the top and bottom of the leg meet at the knee joint.  This is the most invasive, and requires the most surgical skill, of all the surgical cranial cruciate ligament repair options; it is also the most expensive.  In this article we will break down an actual TPLO cost estimate and explore the cost of choosing this type of CCL repair surgery for your dog.

Below is the estimate I received for my dog to undergo TPLO surgery. 

A few things to note before going into the details of the invoice:

1)  My dog in an American Bulldog weighing roughly 90 pounds (normal weight), and is 5 years old.

2)  He is in good health with no pre-existing conditions that would complicate anesthesia or surgery.

3)  This estimate, although some of the information has been blacked out to protect privacy, is from a speciality veterinary clinic with veterinary surgeons who specialize in cranial cruciate ligament repair surgeries in dogs.

4)  I live in Southern California, and this estimate is from a veterinary office in that area.

Here is the estimate I received for a TPLO CCL repair.  The low end of the estimate was $3,892.79 and the high end of the estimate was $4,03.58 for TPLO surgery.

I will go line by line to go over the charges included in the cost of TPLO surgery.  For smaller animals some of the values will be less, and accordingly for larger dogs.  Hopefully this invoice will give you a basic picture of what you can expect to pay for a TPLO, and where all of the money goes.

EST TPLO Surgery Med/Large – $0 – Just tells us what type of estimate we are looking at.

CBC and Chemistry Profile – $163.80 – Basic blood panel the veterinarian will want to run prior to surgery to determine if you dog is fit to be put under anesthesia and to rule out any other complications.  One way we could have saved money here was to have our dog’s regular vet perform this blood panel at a lower price than to have it done at the speciality clinic.

Radiograph, 2 Views – $224.70 – This is the x-rays that need to be performed prior to the TPLO so the surgeon is able to properly manipulate the tibia during surgery to create the desired angles.  These will need to be performed somewhere prior to TPLO, and some veterinarians will want to do the xrays themselves.

Radiology Interpretation – $45.68 – Fee charged for processing and reading the x-ray.

Catheterization, Intravenous – $94.00 – This fee is for the placement and maintainence of an IV catheter while your dog is undergoing and recovering from TPLO surgery.  Your dog will be given IV fluids and possibly medications through this catheter during the duration of surgery and post operative hospitalization.

Epidural Injection – $86.52 – Local anesthetic (pain relieving medication) will be injected into the lumbosacral (in the spine) space of your dog prior to surgery.  Depending on what types of medication(s) your veterinarian uses this can help to alleviate pain after surgery, and desensitize the effected site during surgery.

Surgery Room Use – $113.82 – Fee for using the Operating Room space to perform the TPLO.

TPLO Inhalant Anesthesia – $306.34 – Cost of putting your dog under gas anesthesia for the time required to perform the TPLO procedure.  This is used in conjunction with the epidural anesthesia.

Surgical Anesthesia Level 1 – $294.00 – Fee for dog to be put under anesthesia and monitored during TPLO surgery.

Surgical Supplies, Orthopedic – $358.05 – Cost for instruments to be used during surgery; this does not include the cost of the actual TPLO implant.

TPLO Surgical Implants, Med/Large – $358.05 – Cost of TPLO implant plates to be placed on the bone during surgery.

TPLO Surgeons Fee – $974.40 – Price veterinary surgeon charges to perform TPLO operation.

Radiograph, Post Op – $192.52 – Cost of x-ray to be taken following surgery to check placement of implant and knee joint angles.

Elective Ortho Hospitalization, General – $138.92 – Cost of overnight hospital stay following TPLO repair surgery.

Fluids – IV, Inital 24 Hours – $0-$190.31 – This would depend on whether or not your dog was being cared for at the hospital post operatively, and how much fluids your pet required.

Misc. Medications, Orthopedic - $450 – This includes prescription medications given to your pet post operatively and those sent home with you during the post operative period.  They would include a sedative (Acepromazine), pain relief (Tramadol), anti inflammatory (Rimadyl), and an antibiotic(Cephalexin), and possibly other medications at your veterinarian’s discretion.

Fentanyl, 75 mcg patch – $65 – Pain relief patch that will be placed in your pet to control post operative discomfort.

Buster Collar, Clear – $25.26 – Collar to be placed on your dog during the post operative period to prevent them from ripping out their stitches or injuring the surgical site.

Included:  X-ray at 8 weeks to check the post operative recovery and  misc. sedative (not sure if this is sedative used during the surgery itself or the sedative medication to take home with you following TPLO surgery).

Also included are all of the post operative recheck visits, but be aware that if you pet develops any complications related to the surgery you will be required to pay for any additional expenses incurred.

What is the Actual Cost of TPLO Surgery? is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

I dropped Beau off at the vet’s at 7:30 am and went on to work, warning all my co-workers to expect a basket case in the office that day. By 8:30, I had a call from the vet’s office. I started panicking, but it turned out that they just had a question about when he’d received his last dose of Metacam. The technician told me he was fine – so fine that he wouldn’t go to sleep with the pre-anesthesia like a good boy should! We decided he was looking for cheese – that’s what he usually gets when he goes to the vet.

The morning passed slowly, but by 12:30 I had a call that the surgery had gone well, Beau was in recovery, just waking up, and we arranged to pick him up at 4:30 that day. Leaving him overnight was an option, but because the office was not staffed at night, we felt that it was best to just take him home. The vet agreed and encouraged us to do so.

Upon arriving at the vet’s office, we had some much welcomed good news! The meniscus had not been damaged. And the CCL had only partially torn. He had still needed the surgery to repair the tear, but this could only be good news for his recovery and long term prognosis. Our wallet fared slightly better than the estimates as well. The total cost of the surgery and take home medicines was approximately $1,500. (This does not include the initial x-rays and exam.) Of course, seeing Beau again was the best part! He hobbled and he was a bit groggy, but he was glad to see us! He’d been shaved more than I had anticipated and he wore a purple polka dot bandage, but he was managing to “walk” which I hadn’t expected. His “walk” has his bad leg either slightly lifted or with an awkward (and rather eerie) toe dragging gait. We lifted him into the car and took him home. Once home, I did have the foresight to make sure he stopped on the grass to relieve himself so that he wouldn’t need to go outside again for awhile.

The evening was fairly uneventful. Beau had trouble getting in the lying down position, but he managed after a time – perhaps as much as 15 minutes. We gave him a little food, administered his pain medication on schedule and tried to ensure that he was as comfortable as possible. One odd thing was that he didn’t really sleep, his eyes were open and just staring ahead. But since he otherwise seemed okay, we let him be. He became restless around 2:00 am, and we took him outside, re-dosed him and tried to settle him down. Once again, he had some trouble figuring out how to lie down and he was also disappointed that the couch access had been blocked, but eventually he opted for his own bed that we had brought down from upstairs. I believe he actually slept much better than we did that night.

Beau’s Day and Night of CCL Surgery is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Our dog Beau is a seven year old Golden Retriever and master of the household! He’s friendly, fun, energetic and spoiled! Unfortunately, we learned early in his first year that he also has hip dysplasia. Until now, this has not stopped him from having an active, doggy life. However, in late November we noticed some on again, off again limping and after a few days of this, we took him to the vet to check it out.
After an exam and x-rays (done under sedation) the bad news turned out to be a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament. Our vet said that this is a common injury in dogs, particularly large breeds and particularly dogs with hip dysplasia who tend to alter their gait and put added stress on the knee ligaments. While humans tend to tear these ligaments in sporting activities (the football player who misses the season due to a torn ACL), dogs put much more stress on their knees (stifles) and are more prone to rupturing these ligaments over time, without a significant trauma. We were presented with the following options for Beau:

1. No surgery. Treat with rest, physical therapy, pain and anti-inflammatory medications. Our vet did not feel that the ligament in a dog this size would heal on its own, however, and indicated that the likely outcome would be abnormal wear and tear leading to arthritis which would continue to worsen over time, becoming chronic and debilitating.

2. TPLO surgery (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy). This is a surgical procedure in which the head of the tibia is surgically altered and plated to create a new joint angle. A new angle is created in the stifle to prevent the femur from sliding off of the tibia. This surgery would need to be performed by an orthopedic veterinary surgeon and would be very expensive. We were never actually given an estimate for this surgery, but my research puts the cost in the $3,000 – $4,000 range. Our vet indicated that this procedure is considered by some to be the gold standard in treatment. However, due to it high cost and invasiveness, she did not recommend it for a seven year old dog.

3. Traditional Repair surgery (Extracapsular Imbrication). This procedure uses a strong leader line placed within the knee to provide stabilization. As it was explained to us, the downside of this procedure is that the line will eventually break and it is impossible to say when. It could be that the line lasts five years, or it might only last two months. With a large dog like Beau, our vet didn’t feel this was our best option.

4. Modified Traditional Repair surgery. This is the same procedure as in number 3 above, except that the dog’s own muscle is used to provide the stabilization, which is much stronger. As the area heals, it heals around this graft of muscle and further increases the knee stabilization. The cost of this surgery, as well as the surgery in 3 above, depended in part on whether or not the meniscus was damaged. The meniscus is the pad between the bones of the joint – a shock absorber. Estimates for this surgery were from $1,700-$1,900. Our vet recommended this option, which would be performed in their offices by a different veterinarian with extensive experience in this procedure.

To be honest, we didn’t give option 1 too much consideration. Neither my husband nor I could bear the thought of our middle aged (but not old), active dog declining early in such a painful manner. On the other hand, TPLO surgery was simply too expensive for us to consider and our veterinarian seemed to think this surgery would be warranted for a young dog, but not a seven year old dog. Option 3 seemed too risky and also was not recommended by our vet for a dog of Beau’s size. Thus, we elected for the Modified Traditional Repair using the dog’s own muscle to stabilize the knee. I was unable to find much information on this modified type of repair on-line, but it may be that there is a particular name for it which I was not searching under. I did see information on the Tightrope repair surgery, but our veterinarian felt that this was not in favor currently. One very sober fact: the vet told us that 40% of dogs that rupture the CCL eventually rupture the CCL in the other leg. Whatever choice we made, we best be prepared to make it again.
Unfortunately, we learned the next day that the veterinarian who was to perform the surgery was out of town for several weeks. The surgery was scheduled for December 8^th and our job was to keep Beau quiet and calm until then!

Our Dog Beau and His CCL Injury is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Prices for veterinary surgery vary greatly depending on where you are located no matter whether you choose TTA, TPLO, TR, or a lateral suture method.  The prices can also fluctuate due to the availability of a certain procedure, number of surgeons performing the surgery, and the size of your dog. A number of veterinary practices will include a number of weeks of post-op physical therapy, including hydrotherapy, as part of a package price for the surgery. It is important when comparing prices to understand what is included in the quoted price, so you are able to compare apples to apples.  Taking these factors into consideration can help to explain the wide variance in prices presently for the Tightrope (TR) CCL repair surgery.

We would expect TR costs to be substantially lower than TPLO or TTA, but slightly higher than a conventional Lateral Suture Surgery (extracapsular imbrication, traditional repair).  Reported Tight Rope costs have ranged from $700 to $2500, and seem to depend mostly on geographic location and type of facility where the surgery was performed.  At a private practice in North Dakota an owner paid $1108 for everything, which included exam, diagnostics, anesthesia, scope, surgery, FiberTape implant, post operative monitoring, bandages, and medications (TPLO was $1900 at the same practice). At one major US state university vet facility, the total bill for TR done by top ortho surgeons including was in the $2200-2500 range.

The materials used in TR are a lot less expensive than those used in TPLO/TTA, and the surgery itself is a lot less complex. A typical TPLO procedure takes about one hour, whereas TR is completed in about 20 minutes. Less time under anesthesia, less surgical time, a simpler procedure, and fewer materials should translate into a lower cost for dog owners. I expect in the future we will see the prices for Tightrope repair somewhere in the $1000 range as more veterinarians become trained and proficient in this technique.

Remember, when looking for a veterinary surgeon, a higher price does not necessarily mean a better surgeon or superior procedure.

Below is the invoice for an estimate I received when contemplating Tightrope repair for my dog.  The low end of the estimate was $3,551.16 and the high end of the estimate was $3,635.94 for Tight rope surgery.

A few things to note before going into the details of the invoice:

1)  My dog in an American Bulldog weighing roughly 90 pounds (normal weight), and is 5 years old.

2)  He is in good health with no pre-existing conditions that would complicate anesthesia or surgery.

3)  This estimate, although some of the information has been blacked out to protect privacy, is from a speciality veterinary clinic with veterinary surgeons who specialize in cranial cruciate ligament repair surgeries in dogs.

4)  I live in Southern California, and this estimate is from a veterinary office in that area.

I will go line by line to go over the charges included in the cost of Tightrope surgery.  For smaller animals some of the values will be less, and accordingly for larger dogs.  Hopefully this invoice will give you a basic picture of what you can expect to pay for a Tight rope repair, and where all of the money goes.

EST Tightrope Procedure – $0 – Placeholder to tell us what type of estimate we are looking at.

CBC and Chemistry Profile – $163.80 – Blood panel including complete blood count and general chemistry to make sure your dog is healthy enough to tolerate anesthesia and the TR procedure.

Radiograph, 2 Views – $224.70 – X-rays needed prior to surgery to both confirm diagnosis of torn CCL (rule out other possible causes of lameness), and to act as a guide for the veterinary surgeon during the procedure.

Radiology Interpretation – $45.68 – Cost to have a veterinary professional examine and read the x-rays.

Catheterization, Intravenous – $94.00 – An IV will be placed in your dog’s vein through which your pet will receive medication and fluids during and immediately following surgery.

Surgery Room Use – $113.82 – Fee associated with use of the operating room for the duration of time required to perform the Tightrope surgery (this value is significantly more for a TPLO).

Isoflurane Gas Anesthesia, Initial 15 Min – $117.88 – Cost for the anesthetic gas used to put your dog under anesthesia during the procedure.

Isoflurane Gas, Additional – $168.60 for 60 minutes and $252.90 for 90 minutes – Cost for additional quantities of anesthetic gas depending on how long the ccl repair takes.

Tightrope Standard – $470. 00 – Cost of Tightrope surgery related supplies, this is mostly the cost of the Fiber Tape.

Surgical Anesthesia, Level I – $294.00 – Cost associated with keeping your dog under anesthesia during surgery and providing medications/monitoring.

Surgical Supplies, Orthopedic – $268.54 – Fee for use of general surgical supplies used during Tightrope repair (scalpel, drapes, cautery tools, etc.), this does not include the cost of the actual Tightrope Fibertape material.

Surgeons Fee 2 – $960.75 – Price the surgeon charges to perform Tightrope repair surgery.

Elective Ortho Hospitalization, General – $138.92 – Fee to have your dog kept in the veterinary hospital overnight following the CCL surgery with monitoring.

Misc. Medications, Surgical – $400.00 – This includes prescription medications given to your pet post operatively and those sent home with you during the post operative period.  They would include a sedative (Acepromazine), pain relief (Tramadol), anti inflammatory (Rimadyl), and an antibiotic(Cephalexin), and possibly other medications at your veterinarian’s discretion.

Fentanyl 75 mcg patch – $65.00 – Pain relief patch that will be placed in your pet to control post operative discomfort.

Buster Collar 25 cm, Clear – $23.86 – Collar to be placed on your dog during the post operative period to prevent them from ripping out their stitches or injuring the surgical site.

Also included are all of the post operative recheck visits, but be aware that if you pet develops any complications related to the surgery you will be required to pay for any additional expenses incurred.

What Does TightRope Surgery Cost? is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

The Tightrope CCL repair surgery is the newest surgical option available for dogs with cranial cruciate ligament injury.  Unlike in humans, canine CCL tears and damage generally takes place over a period of months or years, rather than being associated with a single traumatic event.  Because of the nature of these injuries, and their degenerative process over time, this new procedure focuses on a technique used in human ankle joints using bone to bone fixation in a minimally invasive way.

Tightrope CCL is an extracapsular technique using the lateral suture stabilization (LSS) procedure in conjunction with a material called FiberTape to provide bone to bone stabilization.  The Fiber Tape is placed in the dog’s knee through a few small incisions which create tunnels through the bone.  Once the implant is anchored to the bone it is able to control cranial tibial thrust, and provide correction for the canine drawer sign, all while allowing internal rotation of the knee joint and normal range of motion.  Similar to traditional extracapsular repairs using monofilament sutures (similar to a leader line or fishing line), the Fiber Tape used in TR repair will degrade over time and is not meant to provide permanent stablization to the knee joint.  Bascially, the Fiber Tape is there to hold the joint in place while the knee forms scar tissue around the knee to permanently stablize the joint.

The cases of failure in the study were related to incidences of not properly following guidelines related to physical therapy in the post operative period.  A recovery period of 10-12 weeks is recommended for all dogs recovering from CCL repair surgery, and this is the same guideline used for the Tightrope surgery.

Right now this surgery is still in the clinical phases, but with such encouraging preliminary results, I expect to see much more on this procedure in the very near future.

Tightrope CCL Procedure is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Owners beware, obtaining health insurance for a dog with a known cranial cruciate injury is next to impossible, and most pet insurance companies will not pay for a CCL repair surgery if your dog has not been an incident-free, premium paying, member of their policy for at least one year.  Even dog owners with pet insurance often have a difficult time seeking reimbursement for the surgery, and this is something every pet insurance holding dog owner should be aware of.

Pet Insurance for CCL Repairs is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Below is a list of financial help resources for dogs facing illness, disease, surgery or a life threatening emergency. Click on the underlined titles to be taken to the rescue and/or financial assistance website.

General

Care Credit – This is the most readily available and easiest to obtain of all the financing options for CCL repair surgery. They offer a full range of payment plans with low/no interest for a set period, which depends on the agreement CareCredit has with your veterinarian’s office.

Good Sam Fund – Good SAM (Special Assistance and Memorial Fund) was established to create financial aid for sick or injured animals who either are stray or client-owned animals in special circumstances. The fund is supported entirely by outside donations and your pet must meet one part of their criteria to be considered for financial assistance.

IMOM – IMOM is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 charity that receives all its money used to help animals from outside donations. The organization was founded in 1998 and since then they have raised over $1,000,000 and saved the lives of over 1,470 companion animals.  This is for animals facing life threatening emergencies.

The Pet Fund – The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care. Their mission is to help companion animal owners to avoid the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect medical needs because of the costs involved.

United Animal Nations – Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) is North America’s leading provider of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services and a key advocate for the critical needs of animals. The LifeLine Grant Program offered by the UAN provides funding to Good Samaritans, animal rescuers, non-profit organizations and pet owners to help them care for animals in life-threatening situations.

AAHA – AAHA Helping Pets Fund works with selected veterinary practices to help owners facing financial hardship.  If your pet is a patient at an AAHA-affiliated location, your vet can recommend for you to be part of this program, and you may receive assistance from their emergency and non-elective fund programs if you qualify.

Help A Pet – HELP-A-PET is a nonprofit which provides financial aid to the following types of pet owners:  physically and mentally challenged individuals, senior citizens and children of the working poor.   They assist in paying for the medical care of pets for owners are unable to afford the expense.

Ashley’s Angel Fund – Pet assistance for North Carolina pet owners whose pets are facing a life-threatening condition, and demonstrate an inability to pay for their pet’s treatment.

NY Save – SAVE: Save Animals in Veterinary Emergency.  Program for New York City pet owners whose pets are facing a life threatening medical emergency.  The SAVE program allows owners to take their dog to receive emergency treatment, regardless of ability to pay.

The Mosby Foundation – Virginia based pet assistance program to assist in the care of sick, injured, abused, and neglected dogs through financial support and public education.

Brown Dog Foundation, Inc. – Assistance for pet owners facing financial crisis for their dog facing a life-threatening, but treatable, condition.

Breed Specific

Pit Bull Rescue Central – Financial aid resources for Pit Bull and Pitbull mix owners facing expensive veterinary treatments and evidence of hardship to pay.

Westie Med Inc. – Entirely volunteer run, non profit organization focusing on providing financial aid to injured or ill rescue Wesites.

Labrador Life Line - This assistance program is specifically for purebred labs, and their financial assistance includes, but is not limited to, covering various medical costs (surgery, treatment, medication) and help to cover rescue or transportation expenses.

Corgi Aid – Financial resource for Welsh Corgi owners facing financial difficulty paying for the treatment, surgery or care of their Corgi.

Special Needs Dobermans – Organization dedicated to assisting Doberman owners facing hardships and difficulty paying veterinary bills.

Dougal’s Fund – Westy and Corgi owners needing financial assistance and help to pay for their vet costs.  Their mission is to see to it that all Westies and Corgis get the medical care they need.

Labrador Harbor – To provide charitable funds to private citizens or non-profit rescue organizations that directly benefit the immediate physical well-being of Labrador Retrievers including medical intervention, surgery, after-care, hospitalization, rehabilitation, behavioral intervention, or other health related needs.

LABMED – Internet-based non-profit organization created to distribute financial aid and assistance to injured or ill rescues around the country, giving them a second chance at adoption and love from a permanent family.

Comprehensive

Detailed List of Resources Kept by the Humane Society – State by State listing of financial aid available for your pet.

Financial Assistance for Dogs Needing Surgery is a post from: Dog Knee Injury

Weight loss, arthritis medications and nutraceuticals (glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate) can have a significant, positive impact on your canine’s comfort level. Though in general this “conservative” approach is considered much less effective than surgical intervention, it does provide owners who can’t afford this surgery the opportunity to take responsible action. In fact, for most bigger patients, it seems that weight loss plays a major role in the recovery process for both dogs going through CM (conservative management) and those that have undergone traditional, extracapsular imbrication repairs.

Is there any way to finance my dog’s surgery?

Remember, there are many dogs that do well with just conservative management, and the smaller your dog, the more likely it is that they will have a successful recovery with CM in lieu of surgery. CM is not just a second resort for people unable to afford surgery, there are many owners that are unwilling or unable to put their dog through surgery, and they have recovered quite nicely with the use of CM alone. No surgical procedure will ever bring your dog’s leg function back to 100%, or pre-injury levels, so as long as your dog is healthy, happy and comfortable, you are making the right choice as an owner.

What If I Can Not Afford CCL Surgery? is a post from: Dog Knee Injury