# $3500 for ACL Surgery.. for my dog! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487 "2006-02-21T16:45:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/21 "2006-02-22T07:11:26Z")
Indiana Bones our 95 lbs love mutt tore his ACL a few years back. The vet gave us two options, a simple repair for $900 dollars or remanufacturing the knee (done by a specialist) for approx $2500. I spoke at length with the vet about the different surgeries. The less expensive option uses 80# monofilament fishing line (really!) strung in a loop and secured to itself with a special crimp on sleeve. The doc said that she could actually use fishing line, but she can’t get the crimp sleeves at the tackle store. 😃 In talking to her she also said that she did not like to do the operation on dogs weighing over 80#. When asked, she said that this was the tensile strength of the line used. I pointed out that if the line is doubled, the breaking strength is now 160#, and the dog is not hanging on this line, he is using it to replace the ACL. She thought for a moment and agreed that my thoughts seemed reasonable. I asked what would happen if the les expensive surgery failed. It can be done again if necessary, or the more expensive surgery can be done. Since we could do three of the less expensive surgeries for about what the more expensive one costs, we went ahead with the less expensive choice. Our dog has fully recovered. He limps sometimes if it is cold, or he has been running too much. During the surgery the doctor noticed that he was getting arthritis, so the limp could also be from that. Other than that he has full functionality. It is your dog and your call. I can only tell you our thought process and the result. ---
**Author:** ![powercat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@powercat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/powercat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/22 "2006-02-22T13:46:27Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Indiana Bones our 95 lbs love mutt tore his ACL a few years back. > The vet gave us two options, a simple repair for $900 dollars or remanufacturing the knee (done by a specialist) for approx $2500. > I spoke at length with the vet about the different surgeries. The less expensive option uses 80# monofilament fishing line (really!) strung in a loop and secured to itself with a special crimp on sleeve. The doc said that she could actually use fishing line, but she can’t get the crimp sleeves at the tackle store. 😃 In talking to her she also said that she did not like to do the operation on dogs weighing over 80#. When asked, she said that this was the tensile strength of the line used. I pointed out that if the line is doubled, the breaking strength is now 160#, and the dog is not hanging on this line, he is using it to replace the ACL. She thought for a moment and agreed that my thoughts seemed reasonable. I asked what would happen if the les expensive surgery failed. It can be done again if necessary, or the more expensive surgery can be done. > Since we could do three of the less expensive surgeries for about what the more expensive one costs, we went ahead with the less expensive choice. > Our dog has fully recovered. He limps sometimes if it is cold, or he has been running too much. During the surgery the doctor noticed that he was getting arthritis, so the limp could also be from that. Other than that he has full functionality. > It is your dog and your call. I can only tell you our thought process and the result. We had the exact same options. However, we were told that the dog’s body would eventually break down the monofilament line. That was the 4-5 year timeframe. It’s not good for anyone, dog included, to be sedated at an older age, and with our timeline, it would be possible to have to do the surgery twice. This is why we went with the more expensive surgery, so she wouldn’t have to go through this more than necessary. We were also told that even though the dog may not be complaining, an ACL tear is EXTREMELY painful. Oh, and an ACL tear will certainly cause arthritis in the joint if not treated, which is also painful. We didn’t want our dog to have any unnecessary discomfort. I understand not getting the expensive surgery if a person doesn’t have the means, but an ACL tear is not something to be left untreated. The lesser surgery will work in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![Dogvet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/91b2a8/32.png) [@Dogvet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogvet)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/23 "2008-12-29T00:23:25Z")
There is absolutely no difference in either short term or long term outcome in dogs who have the more expensive TPLO procedure or the less expensive “fishing line” procedure - known as the Lateral fabellar suture. Check out medline and search the author Conzemius in the journal of the american veterinary medical association in Jan 15 2005. More data is coming out comparing dogs with TPLO vs Lateral suture at about 5 years post-op and again they’re finding there is absolutely no difference between the two procedures. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/24 "2008-12-29T00:43:43Z")
Do everyone a favor… shop around. Because people don’t shop around when buying medical treatment, the establishment gouges everyone. Inject some competition. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/25 "2008-12-29T01:22:44Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I’m with **David Simmons**. I’m a farm kid, and uneconomical animals met with the same fate regardless of whether they were pets or livestock. I understand being attached to a pet, but 3.5 grand? Not that attached. We have no understanding of paying a million dollars for a tractor. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/26 "2008-12-29T01:53:24Z")
How much does your dog weigh, btw? Anesthesia is by the pound so you’ll be paying more for a big dog. You can see how **robby** ’s little doxy only cost $800 but some of the other dogs have cost much more. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/27 "2008-12-29T02:03:51Z")
EEK! Zombie dog knee thread! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/28 "2008-12-29T02:04:53Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I see that **David Simmons** is not showing his location… If there’s a heaven, I’m sure he’s in it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487/29 "2008-12-29T02:08:18Z")
Closed zombie thread. **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3500-for-acl-surgery-for-my-dog/345487.md?page=1)