Akita post - how is your dog doing now?

My Akita had acl surgery 3 weeks ago. She would limp for 2 to 3 days and then stop. Then it came full time. She never acted like she was in pain, ever. This is actually very painful. Dogs can't tell us. We had her stay an extra night at the vet. Brought her home on day 3. Akita's don't cage well, had carpet installed in living room an installed 3 baby gates, blocked the couch. Put a mattress for us t sleep on for a week. Scared to death. Have to leash walk her and make sure no visitors. Vet said her acl was torn and gone. She is using the leg if we walk slow. ( they want them too). Very tough keeping her confined and not jumping. Developed a small bump by her incision but it it just fluid. Very hopeful this will work. She is only 3 yrs. old.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm the person who first posted about Helping Hands in Richmond. I am so glad you got down there for your dog's surgery and that you were able to save $3K! Fantastic!

I hope she recovers well and good luck!

She is doing well so far ..... thanks for posting. She is still crated most of the time and will remain crated for another week except when she needs to be taken out on leash to do her thing.

Coincidentally, I heard about Helping Hands a few days prior to your post on a different forum but seeing your recommendation certainly offered one added assurance regarding the reputation of the clinic.

I definitely recommend this clinic for anyone in the Washington metro area who wants to have a major procedure done on their pet. They appear to be in business to help pet owners as opposed to many vets who fleece pet owners when medical attention is needed. Vets and dentists are my least favorite professionals in terms of their mercenary tactics ...... yes, there are exceptions but they are rare.

OP, I'm the person who first posted about Helping Hands in Richmond. I am so glad you got down there for your dog's surgery and that you were able to save $3K! Fantastic!

I hope she recovers well and good luck!

Anonymous wrote:OP, just a quick note - my dog-in-law (brother & SIL's dog) had ACL surgery and about 5 months later tore the OTHER ACL - apparently, that's a relatively common event. So be advised, it can happen. Maybe look into the insurance now and see if it might cover a second ACL surgery down the road.

On a happier note, said dog-in-law is doing awesome after her two surgeries!!!

OP here: Thanks for the suggestion ...... will definitely look into it.

Our dog had her surgery yesterday. It was done at the Helping Hands Veterinary Surgery and Dental Clinic in Richmond and we were pleased with the service and attention received. She had extracapsular surgery which is a less expensive form of surgery than TPLO, etc. It is a type of surgery that is better suited to smaller dogs than a German Shepherd but given that our GSD is not an overly active dog and not overweight, there is a decent chance it will work out according to the vet here as well as the one in Richmond. Time will tell.

Her ACL was completely ripped apparently and so conservative treatment would likely not have worked. The cost came to just over $1000! She will remain crated for the most part for two weeks and let out to do her thing only on leash. Thereafter, we will commence taking her on short walks on leash and build up her level of activity. She tends to be laid-back for the most part except when we exercise our other GSD who loves to play "fetch" ...... we used to do it with both at the same time but will now have to change that pattern at least for a few months until the knee stabilizes and scar tissue helps to hold the ligament in place.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

Our lab had a TPLO surgery a month ago at VOSM in Annapolis Junction (which is actually near BWI). Was around $4,000. We were impressed with the facility and the vet. They really seem like they know what they are doing. All they do is veterinary orthopedics, and many of the dogs they see are working and agility dogs. They get dogs from all around the country and outside the country as well.

I did some research before we decided on VOSM, and I didn't see much price difference among the respected vets in the area. The big cost differential I saw at VOSM was the physical therapy, but we didn't see a need for physical therapist for our companion dog. We are doing the stretching and exercises at home.

You'll find a lot of information on the internet questioning the value of ACL surgeries even in bigger dogs, but our dog wasn't showing any real signs of recovery in the couple months before the surgery. Our big concern was that delaying or failing to do the surgery would lead to arthritis.

Re: recovery, I didn't find it to be that big of a PITA. The main challenge is keeping your dog inactive, which our dog seemed to know to do intuitively. A month out now, however, she's really starting to get cabin fever. She thinks she's healed and wants to get out to play. Thankfully, we are beginning to lengthen her walks.

In short, I can think of a lot of other things that I wanted to spend $4K on this year, but what can you do? I do recommend VOSM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your welcome, I was treated very well at the place in Richmond. My colleague recently took her cat there for a dental and also had a good experience.

Did you stay at one of the pet-friendly motels listed on the website? Just wondering how habitable they are!!

No, because it was a dental, I just went for the day. Got there around 8am and was able to take my cat home by 4pm.

Please forgive my ignorance but I tore my ACL decades ago at a time when surgery would not have helped all that much and was just told to give up certain sports. Is it not possible for a dog to manage with a torn ACL? Or is that impossible because dogs just want to run when they want to run?

Anonymous wrote:this is why pet insurance is a good thing to have.

True but you still have to come up with the money upfront--no vets take the insurance first as with human docs. Even then, insurance only covers some of the cost.

OP, just a quick note - my dog-in-law (brother & SIL's dog) had ACL surgery and about 5 months later tore the OTHER ACL - apparently, that's a relatively common event. So be advised, it can happen. Maybe look into the insurance now and see if it might cover a second ACL surgery down the road.

On a happier note, said dog-in-law is doing awesome after her two surgeries!!!

Anonymous wrote:Your welcome, I was treated very well at the place in Richmond. My colleague recently took her cat there for a dental and also had a good experience.

Did you stay at one of the pet-friendly motels listed on the website? Just wondering how habitable they are!!

Your welcome, I was treated very well at the place in Richmond. My colleague recently took her cat there for a dental and also had a good experience.

Anonymous wrote:There's a vet in Richmond that only does surgeries and dentals and their whole mission is to stop euthanasia due to expensive surgeries. I went there and saved about $700 on my cat's dental. It was just under $200 for the blood tests, dental and one tooth extraction (and they will do as many extractions as needed for the flat price).

I went here -- great place, great folks and worth the trip. Prices are also on their site.

http://www.affordablepetsurgery.com/

Wow, thanks for posting this.

Good luck. Kudos for being a great dog owner.

OP here: our dog is scheduled for surgery on the 28th. It is a variation from the usual surgeries but highly recommended as being effective. Will provide more details after the event. There is still a couple of weeks when she will have to be crated and her movement will need to be severely restricted.