 Luxating Patella surgery
Hello, I'm new to YorkieTalk and hope I'm posting this in the right place.
My one year old Yorkie is in need of surgery. There is a split of the patella bone on her right hind leg, so that will need pinning, and she suggested that whomever I choose to do the surgery will examine my Yorkie to let me know if the luxating patellas on both hind legs need surgery, but she categorized both legs between level 3 and 4, so believes the Vet(s) will probably diagnose the need for both legs to be surgically repaired.
My general practitioner Veterinarian gave us 3 referrals:
Two of those referrals are board certified orthopedic surgeons, the third Vet is a general practitioner who my Vet says has done this procedure many times, and she said if my Yorkie was hers, she would feel comfortable using him.
My problem is deciding between driving 70 miles to one of the two clinics with board certified orthopedic surgeons, or using the doctor referred to in my own city who according to my Vet "has done many of these surgeries and most people she referred to him are quite happy with the outcome." I worry that I would have to drive my Yorkie to surgery that far away and then have to drive her back the same miles home, post-op. On the other hand, I want the best surgery done to pin that bone and diagnose surgeries on the luxating patellas.
I read often that many at this site have only used board certified vets to do the surgery. Has anyone had this surgery done by a regular vet who had experience with this surgery and if so, were you satisfied with the surgery and post-op recovery? Of course, my doctor is expecting me to make the decision, and I feel torn about the importance of a veterinarian being board certified.
Thank you for your consideration about my dilemma concerning a choice for doctors.
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