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04-13-2015, 11:37 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nj
Posts: 497
| grade 2-3 LP. Surgery price HIGH Turns out Maggie does have LP of a grade between 2-3. She has been fine these past 2 weeks with less walks and very little ball chasing. She still jumps on and off the sofa and goes up and down the stairs. I was keeping her on lower activity in case it was her ACL. Dr says she doesn't think it is acl. Says her knee pops in and out quite easily. Took her to a vet from the list of board certified in our area. Maybe it is lack of competition around here (south jersey), but the price is way higher than I expected. Is it possible that a place like Jefferson or U of Pennsylvania might be cheaper? The range I was quoted, depending on what is actually done is 3214-3913. This includes level 2hospitalization dr exam iv catheter iv fluids pre-op chem 10 pre-anasthesia gen anasth first 30 gen anasth, additional 15 mins OR fee 0-2 hrs surg asst fee per 15 mins drugs, cefazolin, hydromorphone, rimadyl, bupiacaine,Cerenia MPL repair ($1450-1650 for this line item) MPL implant fee (range 50-250) e-collar, meds to go home radiographs 4 views w/ radiologist review, pre and post op ($362) Game Ready Cold wter compression (She said this is right after) The total is as i stated 3213-3913 depending on what is actually done and how long it takes. My assumption is that the longer we wait to do it, the worse her knee becomes, and the more it costs. She said it is ok to walk, even on the beach and on hills, but the ball playing (maggie flies after the ball and often tumbles when she stops to get it) is not a good idea. I don't think Maggie needs surgery yet as her symptoms are not occurring often. If I ever do it, it will be in the winter not the spring/summer. Is this price in line with board certified surgeons? Why is is so much higher than the $1500 I thought I had read about? We are located about 15-20 miles south of Philadelphia in NJ, on the way to Atlantic City from Philly. |
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04-13-2015, 12:00 PM | #2 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| I would wait until she is lame. My dog is going to be 15 in sept and has grade 4s. One was fixed at age two and the other never fixed and she does fine. I recently had a flare and my vet had me do twice a day Adequan shots and Daisy did amazing all for $20. As for price, I think it's abot $2800-3000 here in the northeast for a repair.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
04-13-2015, 01:21 PM | #3 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| Is that price for both knees or for just one? The $1500 price that is floating around here is for one knee as far as I understand. Seems like many vets want to do one knee than the other after the first has healed. that quoted price seems about right. I agree with Cathy. I would not do it until she really cannot walk. The recovery is really tough on them, about 8 weeks.
__________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12 |
04-13-2015, 01:46 PM | #4 |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Price sounds about what it costs here.
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! |
04-13-2015, 01:53 PM | #5 |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| The first knee Callie had done has to be done at that time about three years ago because of a partial ACL tear. The second knee I had done last July because it's seemed to be bothering her and she loves to run and I figured at 7 there was a lot of life left for a small breed dog so I had it fixed. It is expensive and the recovery time is rough but it is doable and at the end me and my surgeon felt it was best to do. My surgeon also said with any kind of surgery it's better if they are walking in rather then not using the leg I guess because because of the loss of muscle mass a such. He said when the walk in they are normally able to walk out some what. Both times Callie was toe touching the next day when I picked her up which a lot of the time does not happen for awhile.
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! |
04-13-2015, 02:17 PM | #6 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nj
Posts: 497
| I'm pretty sure its for one knee. Report says "very low grade and not symptomatic on the right knee, but the left kneecap pops in and out spontaneously" "The left knee can be stabilized with surgery....the best success is when the tibial tuberosity is moved to better align the patella...results in a fracture that is back in place with pins" Recommends high qulaity fish oil to help as a natural anti-inflammatory...If she holds leg up more than once a day or has difficulty jumping onto sofa etc. then surgery is recommended. We're not doing it now because she isn't doing badly, but that price is a whopper. |
04-13-2015, 02:31 PM | #7 |
Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 9,462
| While you are limiting her activity, PLEASE stop the jumping on and off the couch, or furniture of any kind. That jumping on and off furniture is a major cause of LP, and most definately an extreme aggrivation to the joints....there can certainly be a genetic issue with shallow joints, and this can be seen on xray as a puppy, but slamming those tiny joints together repeatedly is the worse thing that can be done to normal joints, damaging them with this "repetitive motion injury"! Please, do not let your small dogs of any breed, slam-jam their tiny little bones/joints together by jumping off furniture! As far as the surgery, I personally would wait until the pup is lame. I would give tissue/joint support with antiinflammatories.....I use GlycoFlexIII in several of my seniors that have arthritis in joints....not the same thing as LP, but I know several neighbors and a couple of my cousin's neighbors that have dogs with spine issues (two are weenie dogs) and they have been able to avoid surgery with support with this medication....some take other meds as well, one is given shots.....but surgery has been held and the dogs are doing well. I can not imagine a Grade 2 requiring surgery! |
04-13-2015, 02:34 PM | #8 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| Both of mine have kneecaps that pop in and out. Grade 2 to 3. I would try the fish oil first if she's not having issue much now. Mine don't even hike their legs. Uni only did it once and that's why I found out about it after I took her to the vet to get it checked out. Also get a second opinion from another surgeon. Some are surgery happy to get your money.
__________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12 |
04-13-2015, 02:45 PM | #9 | |
Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 9,462
| Quote:
I agree! I am not aware of any necessity of having surgery on a Grade 2, or even a Grade 3....and I do know a breeder with a little girl that has a Grade 4 that is still doing well without surgery. I would get a second opinion for sure....from an ortho. specialist.... | |
04-13-2015, 03:17 PM | #10 |
YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Michigan
Posts: 344
| We went to a board certified surgeon in Asheville and the cost was $1800. That included the ligament repair. If he were to need an x-ray during recovery, that would be 100 dollars more. Our regular vet actually wanted a thousand more, and our regular vet is in a rural area, so perhaps that is the difference. good luck. It's a tough decision. I would definitely get a second opinion about the necessity and also the cost. You might find the first surgeon is just pricey! Last edited by dinkster; 04-13-2015 at 03:19 PM. |
04-13-2015, 05:07 PM | #11 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Certainly get a second opinion but here in the most expensive city in Canada it is about 2500-2000 with only 2 views of Xrays and one overnight stay. I really urge you to stop the leaping off couches and unfortunately ball playing is now out of the question - unless you do the fetch and retrieve in water. Swimming is a great activity for their joints. Coupled with good walks. There are many low impact activities to help your Yorkie enjoy life. Find the toy on non slip surfaces is a great one. When magic was in acute flair - I used to hide the toy around my body and he would get to find the toy! he loves it. You can use an obstacle course in your living room - low height and for each obstacle they get a treat when they complete the task for that obstacle. Get some very good joint supplements and use them now. Consider seeing a canine physiotherapist and develop a program for your pup.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
04-13-2015, 05:19 PM | #12 | |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
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__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis | |
04-13-2015, 05:19 PM | #13 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nj
Posts: 497
| Thanks for the input. The challenge now is to find a supplement she will eat. I just ordered 2 pounds of Premium joint care from Drs FosterandSmith and she will only eat it if I catch her in the right mood. She will happily eat Heartgaurd chews, chicken jerky (likes my homemade 100% chicken only the best) and she loves Pedigree mini jumb. Thats about it for treats, not counting roasted/boiled chicken. I don't intend to get surgery until I see her get worse. The surgeon just put the options on the table, and wanted me to be informed. She didn't give me the feeling she thought I would go for it now. I wonder if I can get a price over the phone for the same list of procedures etc. at Jefferson or University of Pennsylvania vet schools. Cap't noonie. Maggie only hiked her leg about 4 times, within one week. The first time seemed like it happened suddenly and she held it up for several minutes, took about 15 to get back to where she seemed normal. The other 3 episodes were about 4 days after the first, one each on Sat, sun, mon and all three were brief. That was about 2 weeks ago. (took that long to get appt due to Easter.) She took Rimadyl during that time and we kept her from roughhousing. We'll work on a way for her to get up on the bed. It's not as high as many, but still. Right now she jumps onto my Lane cedar chest which is maybe 4 inches lower than the bed. Kind of like this one. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...62601d79bd.jpg |
04-13-2015, 05:55 PM | #14 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
| I wouldn't operate. My surgeon does not recommend for adult dogs...only pups. I am having a puppy done tomorrow and the price for both knees is $2800 +/- 10% so I don't think your price is that far out of line. A board certified surgeon is absolutely going to charge more than a general vet. Yes, you can price check on the phone usually.
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04-13-2015, 05:57 PM | #15 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
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