Beto's story

Owner: Gene Gratton E-mail: geno@transport.com Date posted: October 31, 2000 Beto's leg post-surgery Beto is a 4 year old Lab/Rott mix, but looks like a big black lab. He STORMS after balls thrown, and is a complete maniac about fetching. Unfortunately, his powerful form did not hold up to this play. On year ago he returned from the park on three legs. The lameness did not subside. Two veterinarians diagnosed the tear and recommended the TPLO procedure. We are in Portland, Oregon and were referred to Northwest Veterinary Specialists -- in Clackamas, where an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lozier (excellent) took care of him. On top of the TPLO, the Dr. recommended adjusting the femur, to aid in the results and prevent an awkward gait. This meant breaking and angling the femer several degrees, which added an hour to the procedure. Total cost for one TPLO: $3064, not including initial radiography, $300. (There goes our European vacation, but it was worth it. He's our baby.) The most difficult aspect of this process is keeping such a powerful, playful animal down. He LOVES to romp and jump like a 6 month old puppy. He does not like the "Elizabethan collar." His recovery is going very well. He is putting weight on the leg and even uses that leg to support his weight while urinating (as males do). The dreaded e-collar! We give him a sedative daily to help him calm down. We call them his "crazy pills." Advice to others: Give your dog a nice flea bath the day before the surgery. Then he smells nice while you're comforting him, and since he has the Elizabethan collar on, he can't scratch him/herself too well.