Hi

Last year my sheltie had cruciate surgery on right leg and recovered quite well. Before that she had probs with fractured ligaments in hock of left leg but got over this with rest.  She does fairly well (although not the dog she was)  but lately the knee ball joint (is that what you call it?)  has been popping out of the socket on left leg and vet thinks she has had a partial collapse of the cruciate on that leg now.  Says that if he operated he could deepen the groove on that knee at the same time. However he says it IS major surgery with a longish recovery time.  Has anyone else had the cruciate  done on both legs?  Also in your experience is the insurer likely to pay for a 2nd op?  I think our vets feels that she has a goodish quality of life as she is able to go for normal walks (not long ones as in the past etc) and maybe we should let things be.  She is only 7 years old though with hopefully a long life ahead.  I am a bit worried about the cost of such an op (if the insurers won't cover it) - but we will do whatever is best for Isla.  I am seeing the vet again tonight.

I would be grateful for your comments.

What's happening on your Shelties other knee sounds just like what is happening to me! Any chance your vet will do a two for one?

Seriously though.
My last dog had a crusciate op when she was 8 and recovered very well from it and lived another seven and a half years. Her other knee was fine for about a year before causing a few worries, but nothing severe enough to do anything about, so really can't comment on that part of your question. Just to say that having such a major op at the age of 7 shouldn't be too much to worry about. However my vet did comment that in the past there had been problems with some insurances (tescos being one of them) paying for the second operation, but he was prepared to argue it out with insurance companies and had been able to talk them into paying.

A neighbour where we used to live had this done on her Large Munsterlander (one side) and it really wasn't very successful.  I can't remember how old he was but he was under 5.   I would say that in my view, she got him back on full exercise way too soon which probably didn't help him achieve a proper recovery.    I guess you can only be guided by your vet re recovery and ongoing prognosis.

I used to have a Newfi and she had this surgery it was extremely successful and it was covered by my insurance at the time

My previous spaniel had cruciate surgery on both legs - he ruptured the first at only 6 months old - after a recovery of about 6 months he then ruptured the other cruciate in his other leg.  We had a few problems along the way but he made a full recovery and lived to the age of 13 when his hips gave way. The insurance paid for both operations without any problem. I gave him glucosamine supplements throughout his life and am sure this helped him. We were warned at the time that he maybe would suffer with arthritis in his old age because of the operations - but his knees were fine but sadly his hips were not.

My Beagle completely ruptured both cruciates on the same day, just a few months ago. She ( obviously ) was unable to walk at all and was in so much pain she was rushed straight into the specialist in Newmarket. They did the op on both legs as an emergency, this was all covered by Petplan. She was on absolute cage rest for 6 weeks and managed to walk with the help of a sling. It is now almost 5 months ago and she is back to herself now, bounding, jumping and running, in fact you would never know it had been done.

She is about 6-7 years old, (but being a rescue this is guesswork). I was very strict on the after care and cage rest was done by the book, but it was worth it when I see her now.

My goodness Silly Sue - that is remarkable!  I feel a bit more optimistic after reading most of your replies.  Thanks so much.

I have been to see my vet tonight who thinks that the luxating patella has got worse and needs together with the cruciate on the left leg to be repaired.  We will go ahead with the op but I will first speak to our insurers.  Vet thinks he may be able to talk them into paying at least some of it (cruciate and/or luxating patella).  How I do wish the sheltie was on a lifetime policy!!

The sheltie,  always a stoic soul, remains fairly impassive as ever .....  She is amazing.....

Having seen the vet last Friday we've decided to go ahead and get the luxating patella/ cuciate fixed and happily,  the insurers (Churchill) have said that is fine  Op won't be done iuntil mid November though as I have a date with my daughter to see the ballet at Covent Garden which means being away from home for a few days - and I can't let her down!  Isla will come with us (not to the ballet!!) and stay at my daughter's as she often does.  She is booked in for the following Monday 16th for the op and it will be about a month's recovery. But she is a good dog and is easy to rest in her pen (thank goodness it is not our Wire Fox Terrier ).  Poor Isla,  I do hope this is the end of her leg problems .....