So, my parents called me today with some bad news about my dog. He has been having problems with his left back leg, and having a lot of trouble going up and down the stairs over the last several weeks. For the past 2 days, he has not been able to bear any weight on it at all. They took him to the vet this morning and apparently, he has a torn cruciate (sp) ligament in his left hind knee. The Vet said that the surgery he needs to have will costs at least $1500. Anyway, my question is whether or not the Vet school would do a surgery like this?

9/20/2007 5:21:30 PM

I'm sure they would...
good luck

9/20/2007 5:38:06 PM

There's also the Veterinary Surgical Referral Practice in Cary.
http://vsrp.net/


And the Veterinary Specialty Hospital which has locations in Raleigh & Cary.
http://www.vshcarolinas.com/VSH_G_DrivingDirections.htm

I don't know if either of these places could do it, but there may be more options than just the vet school even if you're just looking in-state/in town.

9/20/2007 11:44:39 PM

$1500 is pretty good, I've seen estimates much higher.

9/21/2007 12:00:20 AM

If he needs orthopedic surgery, that is something they'll do, but don't go into it thinking that taking your animal to the vet school is like getting teeth pulled at a dental school.

9/21/2007 1:17:26 AM

Thanks for the info guys, I guess I'll tell them to get the surgery done at the local Vet in Burlington. He's comfortable with the people there and it will probably be less traumatic anyway.

9/21/2007 7:42:07 AM

My understanding is that the Vet School is for top-notch care, not cheap care.

9/21/2007 8:47:15 AM

I hope Picasso has a speedy recovery. So he can get back to scaring blacks and mexicans.

9/21/2007 9:05:28 AM

He does hate the black folk for some reason

9/21/2007 9:25:58 AM

Quote :

"My understanding is that the Vet School is for top-notch care, not cheap care."

This is correct.

For something like this surgery you are better off with someone local. At the vet school, every aspect of care is handled by board certified specialists and optimal materials/methods are used that are going to cost more. A smaller hospital will use more technicians and not be as excessively thorough as the vet school so it helps keep costs down. Going to the vet school for this would be like an average person going to the Athletes Performance Institute to train for their first 5k... hell, yeah it will get the job done but you really don't need that level of care/attention for this situation.

Don't go to the vet school until you've exhausted your local options, its a freakish disease/problem, or you simply have money to burn.

9/21/2007 2:18:47 PM

Wow, I had no idea they were so elite over there. I guess it was the whole cheap dental school thing that made me think of trying to get them to do it. Now I just have to find something I can sell really quick.

Thanks anyway guys

9/21/2007 6:43:55 PM

How big is picasso? bigger the dog, the more likely he'll need the more complicated of the two main surgeries for this, and some private practice vets won't do it because it's pretty involved. You might get referred to a specialist anyway, but you ought to be able to find someone nearby.

9/21/2007 11:02:24 PM

Magnolia Animal Hospital on Capital Blvd. can do it for MUCH cheaper. My friend had the same problem with her lab, and the surgery didn't cost more than $700, when it was all said and done. The Docs over there are top-notch!

9/21/2007 11:29:39 PM

I also know, that oftentimes in cases like these, especially with the larger dogs, the overcompensation with the other leg, causes that cruciate to blow also. This could happen a few years down the road, but it's not a bad idea to try to keep costs low with this surgery, as you may be looking at another one a bit down the line.

9/21/2007 11:31:21 PM

^^^He's a lab/dalmatian mix about 60-65lbs.

^^ I'll give them a call

^ my parents said the vet told them something like that, which is why I wanted to get the surgery done quick.

9/22/2007 12:33:36 AM