Torn ACL on dog

[Mike #1]

My 8 year old beagle was diagnosed with a torn ACL, she is going to need surgery and I will be getting it done, however, my vet is quoting me $2000 and I am guessing it should cost less if I took her some place else. Any recommendations on where I could take her? I live in the Twin Cities area. Oh and by the way, if I had the torn ACL it would be easier to have me go without the operation and or put to sleep before the dog so please do not suggest either one, the family loves her more than me... I'm sure of that. Thanks for the help

[Random Sample]

Mike

Sorry to hear, this vet is considered to be the best surgeon in the Twin city area. I uded him for knee surgery on my dog and he has healed up nicely. Veterinary Surgical Specialists. Dr Steven Levine, DVM, DACVS. There is information about him available online. Good luck

[PerchPounder]

Our 9 year old lab had surgery on hers last fall and is doing great. I think the cost was around $1700 that was for a Dr. From Iowa State to come to our vet center and do the surgery.

[B-man715]

First you must ask yourself how long ago your dog started limping? A year a ago, or week ago? Does it limp all of the time? Or does it only limp after a lot of running?

If it has just started, or only happens after a lot of running, a few weeks rest may be all your dog may need! It's a sad thruth that 95% of the vets out there "over diagnose" which happens to make them a lot of money.

Get a few opinions before just paying for a possible unneeded surgery.

If your dog has had a persistant limp over time, she will likely need surgery. The damage is done, and other than laying her up forever, surgery is your only answer.

Go online and search for all of the vets within 100 miles. Call them all and you will get a price range of $600 - $4,000 for the exact same surgery!!!!

One of my beagles tore his acl bad enough to need surgery a couple years ago. I called around and found a vet in Amery, WI who did the surgery for A LOT less than most of the others I called. I literally saved thousands of dollars by doing so, and to this day he chases hare like no tommarrow, with no sign of a limp or pain.

[Mike #1]

Thanks for the reply's so far. I will start following up.

[Bryce]

Do a search for Dr. Levine(maybe Lavine). Don't know prices as our cantact with him was over 10 years ago but I can attest to results.

[jeffreyd]

Well must have jinzed myself as my 2 yr old was chasing the 1 yr old yesterday we hear a wimper and the older dog is limping carrying his left rear leg. just go home from the vet she things he blew his acl so we have to see a specialist. she said that the surgery is upward of 3k depending on the type done. there are two types of acl sugery in dogs. so i will update when i find out. my poor buddy is hurt, he is 95 lb and i have to lift him in and out of the car. nearly makes my eyes water writing this.

[brittman]

First you must ask yourself how long ago your dog started limping? A year a ago, or week ago? Does it limp all of the time? Or does it only limp after a lot of running?

If it has just started, or only happens after a lot of running, a few weeks rest may be all your dog may need! It's a sad thruth that 95% of the vets out there "over diagnose" which happens to make them a lot of money.

Get a few opinions before just paying for a possible unneeded surgery.

A full torn ACL results not in a limp but a leg that can not hold any weight. The leg pretty much dangles. A full ACL tear is not something that becomes chronic over time, it occurs when the dog makes a move and the ligament cannot support that move. Pop, torn ACL. Dogs that are larger or overweight are more prone to ligament tears.

My WBL vet did the surgery for me on one of my Britts about 10 years ago. His cost was about 1/2 the cost of the vet and probably even less than that if you would have added in the difference in hospitalization charge. She progressed nicely after the surgery and hunted well the following fall.

They say the repaired ligament is more often stronger than the unrepaired leg.

Remember good bird dogs are extreme athletes that are active on uneven ground. Chronic limps (those that do not go away over time) after exercise are more often arthritis related... been there too.

[LipRipper!!]

My brother had two repared on his lab and a friend had one done also... Check out Alexandria Vet Clinic in Alexandria,MN. I believe thewy were pretty resonable since our friend brought his up from the metro.. Plus both dogs recovered very well and are back to hard core rooster hunting!!! Good Luck!!

Ripper!!

[MinnesotaMike]

My lab had the surgery last year. Vet in Forest Lake did a good job, less than $1000.

Mike