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A while back, I noticed that Fazzi, one of my agility dogs was lame in his left hind. Since he had had some recent health problems and was overweight due to steroids, I pegged it as arthritis. I spoke to my vet and he told me to go ahead and use the medication I had at home at the correct dosage for his weight and to put him on a diet. I did that and waited two weeks to see if he would have any improvement and when he did not, I took him in to the vet.

After exam and x-rays, it was determined that Fazzi had a torn ACL. My vet, not the most tactful of men at any time, basically told me I had two options. The first was surgery, which he would not do himself, then the second option was to amputate the leg. I was naturally a bit shocked by this suggestion and I asked him if he was serious. He told me he was dead serious. I have never heard of a leg anputation for this kind of injury

A few days later, I had to take my mom's dog to her vet and I just so happened to ask him about this situation. He was horrified and told me that he would never suggest amputation for this injury, but there were several surgical options and taking significant weight off him might aleviate his pain a good deal. I am taking the weight off and he does seem to have improved function.

So, I called back my vet for a discussion and then he tells me that he will do the amputation or the surgery at a discount, (that's a long story, but he usually discounts things for me if he can). I told him I'd be in touch.

A side note to this is that a few months ago, my Chihuahua had a lump and when I took him in expecting it to at least be biopsied, he, my vet, told me that he doesn't go after lumps of that size. I was taken aback by that as well.

So, my question is, should I find another vet? I'm thinking I should, but what do you all think?

In my opinion Yes absolutely find another vet. Those are pretty shocking things to say when there are other options available. Amputation seems extreme in your case. And I'm baffled why he wouldn't biopsy a small lump, better to catch a problem early. Maybe he prefers surgeries to make more money?? But definitely do what you feel is best

Yes. I would be looking for another vet too. I live in a smaller town and we have 'old-school' country vets that sound a lot like your vet.
They're fine for quick "I need an antibiotic for this" or updating rabies shots, things like that. But I have another vet I use for more serious things that is about an hour away.

Your vet should be willing to discuss options, several, or at the least willing to research them. I know it's hard to find a new vet, ask breeders near you and try one out for an annual exam or something small to get a feel for them.

Best of luck!

OMG! YES! Find a new vet. I took my chihuahua in to see my vet for a suspected ACL tear and she gave me half a dozen treatment options - none of which were amputation! We actually settled on physical therapy with no surgical option and he's doing amazing. Full disclosure - I have about 5 vets that I take my pets to for different reasons, and have absolutely no qualms about dropping a vet if I feel weird about their treatment suggestions or behavior, or even if I just don't feel they are listening to me as a client. (Seriously, if I tell you the dog is gonna bite you and you need to put a muzzle on her, then ya probably should put a muzzle on her, not attempt to probe her ruptured anal glad and then comment on her "bad attitude" while you pour iodine on your newly bloody finger).

No question about it -- find a new vet!!!!

OMG!!!

Seriously - RUN FOR THE HILLS!!! :O

I'm VERY shocked to hear that ANY vet would advise to AMPUTATE a leg due to a recently ruptured ACL/CCL!!!

I work as a vet nurse for an orthopaedic surgeon in Australia - and his surgical skill is renowned around our country. The only dog who has ever had an amputation from a cruciate rupture was a 3 y.o Boxer who had ruptured the ligament when he was less than 12 months old and his dip***t owner had abused the poor dog and left it sitting in a backyard chained up for over 2 years before he surrendered the dog to a charity. The leg has absolutely zero muscle left due to the dog not being able to move or use the leg and had severe arthritis in the joint because it had been left untreated for such a long period of time.

But that case was a one-off.

Cruciate rupture is one of the most common injuries for dogs world-wide. There are many veterinary orthopaedic surgeons around the world who specialize solely on this injury!

There are multiple different surgical techniques to correct the injury - and each specialist has their own preferred methods. The dogs that we operate on at my clinic are walking within hours of surgery and toe-touching on the operated leg within 24 hours. By their 8 week post-op xrays the bone is fully healed.

I've seen some SHOCKING surgeries performed by 'vets' who don't know what they are doing - and the dogs come to us for us to 'fix the damage' that has been done to them by these idiots - and some of these poor dogs can't even walk on the leg 3 months AFTER the surgery! Its absolutely disgusting!


So - YES please find a new vet before he does irreversible damage to your dog!

If I were you I would go straight to a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who knows what he/she is doing!


Edited to fix typo's.

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Last edited by Chaos and Havoc on 5/14/2016 11:12:11 PM

I've seen some shocking stories about bad vets but this has to be one of the worst - seriously - WTF!

I had a torn ACL on one of my agility dogs and went the non surgical route as I had seen so many bad results from the surgery - it was a long road, and several months of quiet on lead walking, but he made a total recovery.

I would have to agree with the others - find another vet, regardless of the discounts.

I'd go a step further and perhaps send a letter to the veterinary governing body whatever that might be for you - I'm sure they have some sort of professional organization. You don't have to necessarily lodge an official complaint if you don't want to but just give them a heads-up that this guy may not be up to snuff anymore. Is he getting on, maybe not keeping up with current research and practises? Is he nearing retirement?

Thanks to all who replied.

I think I will find another vet, though I admit I feel like a traitor. Intellectually, I know I will be doing the right thing for my dog, and that's what's most important.

Finances are definitely concerned where Fazzi's treatment is concerned. I do notice that even though he isn't using the leg and is still in some discomfort, taking weight off him has helped him tremendously. He's stopped hiding under the bed, which he began doing after the injury, and he is more engaged and is moving better. Steroids are a double edged sword, in my opinion.

I think my current vet is in his fifties, because he said something to my dad to that effect, but I don't know for sure. Writing a letter is a good idea. I mean, with the lump on Micah, I was just anoyed, but with this, I was horrified.

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posted by Bennett Working Dogs
Thanks to all who replied.

I think I will find another vet, though I admit I feel like a traitor. Intellectually, I know I will be doing the right thing for my dog, and that's what's most important.

Finances are definitely concerned where Fazzi's treatment is concerned. I do notice that even though he isn't using the leg and is still in some discomfort, taking weight off him has helped him tremendously. He's stopped hiding under the bed, which he began doing after the injury, and he is more engaged and is moving better. Steroids are a double edged sword, in my opinion.

I think my current vet is in his fifties, because he said something to my dad to that effect, but I don't know for sure. Writing a letter is a good idea. I mean, with the lump on Micah, I was just anoyed, but with this, I was horrified.

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Don't feel like a traitor. This vet clearly isn't aware of the options and is one of those do or die vets who think everything is the end. My Beagle who died last year had a heart murmur his whole life, and our vet constantly said he wouldn't make it long if we didn't do this or that treatment. He lived to be about twelve (though he did die from cardiac arrest). Our vet was a doomsday character and frankly I think he was more interested in the money he would get from performing surgeries or prescribing drugs to the dog...be careful. Don't feel guilty. Do what is best for the dog!