So our 6 yo dog (50 lbs) blew her CCL on her right leg this weekend. Initial vet we saw on Saturday (not our normal Vet) was recommending tightrope surgery. She's a fairly active dog that loves to play fetch with her ball and full on sprint after it. After researching, it seems that her best chance at a near full recovery is with TPLO, even though I have heard some people with success stories with the extra-articular procedures. And I know she has almost a 50% chance of blowing her left CCL at some point in the future

Wondering if anyone in the Austin/San Antonio area has recommendations for a surgeon? I've seen a couple names with simple google search, but at the end of the day, it's all about having an incredibly experienced surgeon if you are hoping for the best outcome. I know post operative care is imperative for the rehab process, so we'll be extremely careful with that as well.

I've seen some posts from A&M Ortho faculty (dr_boogs), and have contemplated if we should go so far as taking our dog to College Station for the surgery, but figured I'd see if anyone had a good experience in our local Austin/San Antonio area.

Thanks!

I work at the CVM here at TAMU. I'll ask around and I'll get back to you. My lab just ruptured his CCL recently as well. I feel your pain.

Call the vet school tomorrow. If you can make the drive they may be able to perform the surgery.

Blue pearl stone oak has excellent surgeons. I know several of them personally. Not cheap but they do great work and I would let them cut my dog if needed.

Don Hulse at AVES in Austin is one of the best of the best. He does a modified version called a CBLO. The joint clean up is done arthroscopically and he's done the surgery on numerous of our patients over the years. TPLOs are going to be the most common surgery most boarded surgeons are doing, so they get a lot of experience.

Dr. Kerpsack at CTVSH did both of the TPLOs on our weimaraner. One of the best TPLO surgeons there is, as I've been told.

Some good recommendations on this thread already.

I'm on service at A&M this week, so feel free to reply and post some contact info and I can reach out to you tomorrow. Would be happy to answer any other questions you have about this disease and its treatment. We'd be happy to see you at A&M. We scope all our knees and do the surgery through a much smaller incision than most. We also focus a lot of attention on managing peri-op pain and post-op recovery.

Your veterinarian in Austin would need to call us and make a referral. Let me know if I can help. I've operated quite a few TexAgs posters' dogs over the years. If at all possible, I would not recommend TR or any ex-cap in a dog of this size. If staying in Austin my recommendation would be Dr. Hulse or Breiteneicher (Breit) at AVES.

dr_boogs said:

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Some good recommendations on this thread already.

I'm on service at A&M this week, so feel free to reply and post some contact info and I can reach out to you tomorrow. Would be happy to answer any other questions you have about this disease and its treatment. We'd be happy to see you at A&M. We scope all our knees and do the surgery through a much smaller incision than most. We also focus a lot of attention on managing peri-op pain and post-op recovery.

Your veterinarian in Austin would need to call us and make a referral. Let me know if I can help. I've operated quite a few TexAgs posters' dogs over the years. If at all possible, I would not recommend TR or any ex-cap in a dog of this size. If staying in Austin my recommendation would be Dr. Hulse or Breiteneicher (Breit) at AVES.

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I might need to talk with you soon about my pups issue!

Thanks for the offer dr_boogs!

My email is pers785@gmail.com

I appreciate all the recommendations thus far, and will definitely check out those listed above (Dr. Kerpsack and the two surgeons at AVES).

I had a friend of a friend recommend a Dr. Justin Harper in San Antonio, or if I preferred Austin a Dr. David Allman. If anyone has had experience with either of them and can comment, feel free to either respond to this thread, or email me at pers785@gmail.com

Thanks again!

pers785 said:

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Thanks for the offer dr_boogs!

My email is pers785@gmail.com

I appreciate all the recommendations thus far, and will definitely check out those listed above (Dr. Kerpsack and the two surgeons at AVES).

I had a friend of a friend recommend a Dr. Justin Harper in San Antonio, or if I preferred Austin a Dr. David Allman. If anyone has had experience with either of them and can comment, feel free to either respond to this thread, or email me at pers785@gmail.com

Thanks again!

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These k9 ortho threads are always tough for me. Dr. Boogs and Dr. Allman are both clients of mine whom I have become personal friends with so its difficult to recommend one over the other. They are both excelent surgeons with proven histories.

Since you asked for experiences with Dr. Allman specifically, I will tell you that he did a TPLO on my lab and I was very pleased with the outcome as well as the post op care. I was talked into excap on her first blown cruciate and it was a HUGE mistake. If she wasnt 10 years old, I would have Allman or Boogs do a TPLO on that leg too.

I'd also recommend Dr. Kerpsack at CTVSH. My 34 pound Boston Terrier tore both of his ACL's and Dr. Kerpsack repaired them. We were very happy with the results.

Email sent.

Happy to help. You can PM me and we can set up a time to talk in person or by phone.

Justin Harper is a personal friend. He has done many TPLOs (and CBLOs as well) in the San Antonio area. He would be an excellent choice if you want the procedure done at your local veterinarian. But the others mentioned would be great choices as well. Dr. Boogs is a great surgeon and using him would give you a chance to see the amazing new vet school as well. Dr. Hulse was one of my instructors in vet school and is the CBLO guru. The others I don't know as well.