# CCL Tear (Dog) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168 "2020-08-03T15:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/1 "2020-08-03T15:13:25Z")
Luca, our French mastiff/boxer mix has a torn CCL in his right, hind leg. He’s 7 yo and weighs about 105#. When the vet diagnosed it earlier this summer he quoted me a price of $3000-$5000 (we’d have to go to an orthopedic vet). Since he’s a big dog the procedure is a little different (they break his leg!) and would be in the $5000 range. He gave me a prescription for pain and anti-inflammation. Within a week after resting his leg he seemed to have recovered. It’s been like this for a few months. He limps for a couple of days and then seems ok. At this point, $5000 is in no way feasible. I started researching a bit online and found braces for dogs with this issue. They range anywhere from $50 to custom made braces at $700+. I read both pros and cons for having the surgery and pros and cons regarding the braces. Has anyone here had any experience with either the surgery and/or the brace? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/2 "2020-08-03T15:45:12Z")
My dog had TPLO surgery a year ago. He’s 6 years old and 55#. It cost $4500, which is what I expected. The place I took him to seemed like a TPLO factory. I mean it was an excellent vet and everyone was friendly and knowledgeable, but they are the only orthopedists in the area so they had quite a reliable procedure when it came to scheduling and performing TPLO. Anyway, I had looked in to [TPLO](https://www.ovrs.com/blog/tplo-surgery/) and the other one which is just a “[fishing wire](https://www.medvetforpets.com/extracapsular-lateral-suture-stabilization-elss-torn-cranial-cruciate-ligaments-crcl-dogs/)” replacement of the ligament. I was pretty sure my dog was too young and too large for the latter. The surgeon confirmed that for me. My friend’s slightly younger and slightly lighter dog just had [TTA](https://www.topdoghealth.com/library/orthopedic-surgery/articles-surgery/cruciate-tta/) surgery which seemed to be to be an update to TPLO. It has a faster recovery time. She seems to be doing well. I applied for [CareCredit](https://www.carecredit.com) when I got my dog’s surgery, since it was accepted at the vet I used. I didn’t get it because they have a very stupid verification system that didn’t work because my glasses glared. But still, I would look into getting it if you go for the surgery. I advised my friend to get it for hers. I have no knowledge of the brace. I do know that no amount of resting seemed to make my dog put any weight on his leg before his surgery. I let that guy limp around on 3 legs for like 2 months before I pulled the trigger. So maybe your doggo isn’t in such bad shape. But 105# on a gammy leg…I would try to start saving for the surgery. I have a feeling it will get worse for him. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/3 "2020-08-03T15:45:32Z")
Our GSD had her left cranial cruciate ligament tear. We bit the bullet and had tibial plateau leveling osteotomy done a few years ago. The surgery was a complete success, you cannot detect any orthopedic problem watching her run and play. For one month post-op we really had to baby her. Leash walking only, physical therapy twice a day, medication to help with pain. Worth every penny. The concern with not getting the limb surgically repaired is what happens if the other rear leg’s cruciate tears. Three=legged dogs do ok, two legged dogs not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/4 "2020-08-03T16:22:06Z")
Pet’s are like people they get sick, injured, etc. That’s what pet insurance is for. You normally only pay 10% of the vet cost, and the insurance pays the rest. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/5 "2020-08-03T16:41:03Z")
What’s the difference between Credit Care and any other credit card? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/6 "2020-08-03T16:50:46Z")
CareCredit offers some lower financing options, and might be easier to get than a regular credit card. You might have a credit card that has enough “room” and a lower APR than what they offer, though. > [@](#): > > CareCredit is different from a regular credit card. > > Use it to pay for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by medical insurance, and special financing options are available that you may not be able to get with other cards. > > Pay for health, and wellness care at over 225,000 enrolled providers across the nation. Once you’ve applied, you can use it again and again at any location that accepts CareCredit. > > With shorter term financing options of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months no interest is charged on purchases of $200 or more when you make the minimum monthly payments and pay the full amount due by the end of the promotional period. If you do not, interest is charged from the original purchase date.\* > > \*Subject to credit approval. Details and Terms > > CareCredit also extends longer term healthcare financing for 24, 36, 48 or 60-month periods with Reduced APR and Fixed Monthly Payments Required Until Paid in Full. Purchases of $1,000 or more may be eligible for a 24 months offer with a 14.90% APR, a 36 months offer with a 15.90% APR or a 48 months offer with a 16.90% APR. Purchases of $2,500 or more may be eligible for a 60 months offer with a 17.90% APR.\*\* > > For complete details, see the [CareCredit account agreement](https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/) within your application. > > Ask your provider to find out which promotion is right for you. You do not need to select a promotion before you apply. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/7 "2020-08-03T17:02:16Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Pet’s are like people they get sick, injured, etc. That’s what pet insurance is for. You normally only pay 10% of the vet cost, and the insurance pays the rest. My dogs have insurance. Their plan specifically says “no CCL surgery payment unless you’ve already been enrolled for a year.” Their plans are also fairly cheap compared to most plans, around $30/mo. They only paid out I think $500 (or maybe $1000?) as that was my yearly limit. Plans that let you walk away with 10% of the vet cost are way more expensive per month. I’ve looked into them many times. Anyway, it was better than nothing and stuff but if **TRC4941** hasn’t been paying on insurance already, AND the pup has been seen by a vet that wrote in its chart that it was recommended for surgery, I can’t imagine any insurance would pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/8 "2020-08-03T17:22:16Z")
I can’t imagine what a policy that pays 90% of vet costs would cost. My own health insurance isn’t that good. Way too late to get any kind of policy now. I will certainly look into it for the future. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ccl-tear-dog/917168/9 "2020-08-03T19:50:46Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I can’t imagine what a policy that pays 90% of vet costs would cost. I pay about $40/month for my wife’s dog. Between routine vet visits and a couple of emergency room visits per year we’ve broken even with the insurance, since we’ve had this dog. I’m sure that we’ll have some expensive procedure that will be needed that will make this insurance profitable. Our ranch dogs are not insured, interestingly they seem to stay more healthy than the little Pom my wife has.