[OwnedByJezebel]

What did the xray / exam show? I don't blame you for getting a second opinion -- I would definitely do that if I were you. Get the opinion from a board certified surgeon, since that is who you would want to do the surgery anyway, not a regular vet.

I am not disparaging your vet in any way or questioning their honesty, but they just don't have the level of experience that a board certified orthopedic surgeon has. There have been several here that were told that surgery was necessary by the regular vet, but when they went to the specialist they found out it wasn't. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones.

My pup wasn't so lucky and and did have to have surgery to correct LP with a torn ligament, but I knew my pup was in great hands with an expert that had lots of experience. Interestingly, my regular vet (during a yearly exam before the injury) diagnosed Jez with grade IV LP, which I highly suspected was wrong since I had never seen her lift her leg or limp. When she was injured and I took her to the specialist, he diagnosed her with grade II. Big difference from an expert! And he would not have recommended surgery if the only problem was grade II LP, it was necessary because of the torn ligament.