I cannot praise this website enough and thank you to everyone who has contributed. I feel qualified to give my 100% endorsement to using the conservative management method because I have experienced both TPLO surgery and opting out of surgery and following the CM method. There is NO WAY that I would ever recommend the TPLO surgery route to anyone.
My first dog, Durango, a black Lab, got a ruptured ACL at age 6. The vet recommended TPLO surgery (cost over $3,000) and since I knew no better I agreed. The surgery went ok but it was a long and painful recovery for my poor little girl and a year or so later she ruptured her other knee and again, since I knew no better, I just trusted the vet to perform another surgery. Durango always walked with a limp after that and got arthritis in both legs. On rainy days she could barely walk.
So….more recently when my 7-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog had a knee injury and I had her checked at the vet (a different vet now, because this is about 10 years later and we live in another state), of course the first and only thing this vet recommended was TPLO surgery (about $3,000). This time, unlike last time, I was not in a position to be able to pay $3,000 and I just cried when I left that office. UNTIL…..I got home and searched frantically for another option. Thankfully I found this site and Tiggerpoz site and was blessed to find the conservative management approach to help my dog. I followed it every step of the way and Annabelle recovered. But, you might have guessed within about 6 months she injured her other knee, which is very common among dogs with knee injuries, since they favor the good leg.
Again, I followed the CM approach and today (over a year later, don’t have the actual dates handy) 
she is actually chasing squirrels again!!! This is a (just turned) 9-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog who has more energy and is more active than she was before the surgery…..it’s a miracle and I have this site and these people to thank!!!!!
I want to spread this news so that vets will stop trying to make money off surgery that is not necessary. My vet was not happy with my decision but now cannot deny that the CM works. Unfortunately I still don’t think this is what he will recommend to his other patients for the obvious reasons. Sad but true.
THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION….IT HAS TRULY CHANGED MY LIFE. I hope my 2 different experiences can help someone else decide what is best for their dog.
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