We rather figured it would happen. The vet says 40% of dogs who tear one ACL eventually tear the other, whether or not the first one is repaired. Almost exactly a year ago, Rosie tore her left ACL while chasing a squirrel. ACL = Anterior Cruciate Ligament = knee (called a stifle joint on a dog). Surgery was $2100. Here we go again...another credit card attack.

But it must be done. She's family! Surgery is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 4 (tomorrow). Oh how I dislike that big plastic collar!

Please wish for a smooth surgery and recuperation.

Prayers for Rosie. Let us know how things went. I'm sure she'll be back to chasing squirrels in no time.

A
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poor doggie. Vet bills are so horrific though! My thoughts are with you.

I'm so sorry your dog needs surgery, but I'm sure she'll be okay. I will pray for her. Vets can do so much more now to help animals. I understand the vet bills though. When I had my dog who had lupus, we spent alot of money trying to keep him comfortable. He had alot of treatments and took alot of pills which I gave him three times a day for two years after diagnosed. I now have four animals. A rescue calico which I got as a kitten who has a heart murmur, a rescue hound who has constant ear infections from her floppy ear and needs dental surgery because of the tartar on her teeth, a torte which a dear friend of mine wanted me to take after she passed away earlier this year and a shiapoo which my great aunt wanted me to take after she was diaganosed with alzheimers and had to go into a nursing home. I don't feel that good because of my health problems with rsd, but couldn't say no to them. And my furry babies keep me moving which is good therapy for my mind and body. It's a full house but I love my animals. I understand the worries and vet bills though, but I'm sure your furry baby will be okay and maybe the vet can set up a payment plan if you need it. Our vet helps us with our vet bills thank goodness. Take care and my thoughts and prayers are with you both.
PS - I think I saw new collars which are much softer that are now being sold. I can't remember where I saw them, but maybe drs foster and smith or petsmart may have them. They looked alot more comfortable for animals. Take care.

Rosie is home. Very unhappy but she ate and pooped, 2 good things to happen after surgery. My BF is laying on the floor with her, his head inside her hood. She's stopped whining and has finally laid her head down.

I'm glad Rosie is home and is okay. I'm sure she will heal quickly. Give her a gentle hug from me!

Rosie is healing well. Had her staples out Monday. She did not get to them to lick like last year, so her incision has healed nicely. She's still wearing the Elizabethan collar at night, or if we catch her licking the leg during the day.

Her PT has gone from flexing the knee joint to picking up each front foot, one at a time, for 5 seconds (then gradually longer). This forces her to put weight on that back leg. She's already doing that and wants so bad to walk up the road where she normally "does her business". But that means going into the ditch and that's more strain than her surgery site needs.

That's a bad thing now? The (pardon the expression) 'old wives tale' seems to be true (or at least have some merit)...
Of course I quote this with tongue firmly implanted in cheek. The problem with dogs (like some people I know) is that too much of a good thing can be harmful, and they don't know enough/when to stop—hence pet lampshades...
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Here's a better article from a veterinary source explaining both sides.

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Doc

In some instances, dog saliva is healing. Wild canines have no other medicine. Natural wounds, left untreated professionally, are indeed healed by licking. We didn't want Rosie pulling out staples like she did last year.

I believe that old wives' tale!