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Originally Posted by Maccsc  Thanks for the info on the mvd though. She doesn't show any of the signs of a shunt except for being a pee pot. The next test suggested is the dye or an ultrasound. I'm thinking the vet we saw just does orthopedics and may not be board certified hence the less expensive cost. We do have to take cost into account. |
I understand about the cost. What I am saying is that the opinion of a boarded vet may be different. I think it is worthwhile to pay the money to have a second opinion in cases like this. I have had many pups in my home with LP who did not need surgery .. even with 3 and 4. Many times you fix them and they end up tearing their CCL anyway and then you really have an issue that absolutely needs surgical repair. Another painful and costly surgery when both could have been done at once. Once a pup is an adult, the surgeon I use advises against it for that reason. Of course it is individual and if there is a big issue with them walking, it is a different story. ALSO, he advises both knees be repaired at one time .. the pups do fine and the cost of the second knee is minimal. Both knees here in the Houston area with a boarded surgeon is around $3,200 - $3,600.
That is a pretty high cost for liver shunt repair....but again, you may not be facing that.