[Yorkiemom1]

There are several responses above that I agree with completely....I do not know how to get them all copied into one response, so I will just give my opinion!
1) Vets seem to love to do surgery on these LP's....as someone said above, I would trreat medically until it hits a four, then have surgery.
2) I started some of my seniors that started getting "stove up" with joint issues....I started them on Cosequin, open a cap and sprinkle it on pups food...it must taste pretty good, because I have never had a pup refuse its meal with the med added to the food.....this worked well for several years. I increased the dose to 2 caps, one morning and repeat at night, as these darlings aged and became more "stove up"....that dosing worked great for another year or so....then I switched to Glyco-Flex III....my vet recommended it and it was well received from people on here that have used it....it worked great.....I crumble up the little pill and put it in the food....but it is tasty enough that I think a lot of dogs would take it with no problem, almost like a treat.....this stuff works super.....now, with no teeth, my senior, senior little man that really feels the cold in his joints during these winter days, I have some of a liquid prescription med left over from surgical procedures that have been done (c-sections and teeth work and spay/neutering)over the last several years....I give him a tiny dose, just 0.02/cc and it helps him splendidly....my vet is on vacay....I called my vet to see if this would be allright, she OK'd it, and I will use this until I need to take him in and then I will get something else if she thinks it needs to be changed. It works so well, takes so very little a dose, and he does so well with that, I like it.
3) I cant get insurance for my dogs as I am a breeder....I wish I could get it!
4) I would go ahead and get the insurance....even if it is too late to cover the LP, there may be expenses you are going to run into in the future, that you want help paying for.... Your vet wont even consider letting you do a monthly pay plan? They are USUALLY much more compassionate with their senior citizen clientel....I guess since he is the only vet within 80 miles, he knows he has you by the nose hairs and wont cut you any slack.....
5) I just got a TON of help from GoFundMe for my dental work....there is CareCredit also!