Questioning Canine Cruciate Ligament Surgery - Veterinary Practice News - November 2012
What I like about this article is the referenced research at the very bottom of it.
\I have access to another research paper /// behind a pay firewall - and quite frankly the risk of infection after surgery is anywhere around 5% +or- and the risk that the other ACL tears is upwards of 40%. There are very few studies that look at small or toy breed dogs comparing conservative medical management outcomes versus surgical outcomes over the long term. But what few studies are in place indicate that arthritic changes will occur even with the surgery.
The final decision is yours as the pet owner - and I do concur get a second opinion a second specialist opinion. And I can't fathom why Xrays were not taken........
This is not a black and white issue.