When I'd first spoken with my old vet for a second opinion, he'd mentioned that, ordinarily, he, too, would have done the surgery, given the experience one gains with doing the experience on dogs and he'd done a few adult cats. But his point was he never would want to mess with growing growth plates. That told me he'd some some real messes that could happen with that which was helpful advice. This was why he felt the orthopedist was warranted in the case of a kitten.
However, even if the kititen issue is no longer an issue, there's a new wrinkle. My current vet said he wouldn't want to do the surgery, in spite of having worked on open hearts. Here, the fused knee seems to present a new problem. That'll have to be unfused even before a so-called "normal" patella-luxating surgery could begin. He said the ortho guy woudl really earn his fee...
I'll still seek a better estimate so I can understand more of what I'm facing. It's a relief to think it could only be in your part of the country where it'd be so much. ... and I'd heard, too, from my old vet that the recovery wasn't near as long as I'd uncovered in some of my research. So, all might be good.
I agree that patella-luxating surgery done on dogs as a routine procedure by vets could be similar to patella-luxating surgery done on cats as a routine procedure, too. Whether this comes from being small, being bow-legged or cow-hocked or is, simply, genetic, it'd be the same thing. I think what makes it unusual is whether it's on kittens with the open growth platels, which you, too, found could be a concern, or whether there are other complications, such as we have with Lolly's now-fused knee. In some cases, surgery performed by the orthopedist will be warranted...
This is all useful information!
Many thanks,
Linda
However, even if the kititen issue is no longer an issue, there's a new wrinkle. My current vet said he wouldn't want to do the surgery, in spite of having worked on open hearts. Here, the fused knee seems to present a new problem. That'll have to be unfused even before a so-called "normal" patella-luxating surgery could begin. He said the ortho guy woudl really earn his fee...
I'll still seek a better estimate so I can understand more of what I'm facing. It's a relief to think it could only be in your part of the country where it'd be so much. ... and I'd heard, too, from my old vet that the recovery wasn't near as long as I'd uncovered in some of my research. So, all might be good.
I agree that patella-luxating surgery done on dogs as a routine procedure by vets could be similar to patella-luxating surgery done on cats as a routine procedure, too. Whether this comes from being small, being bow-legged or cow-hocked or is, simply, genetic, it'd be the same thing. I think what makes it unusual is whether it's on kittens with the open growth platels, which you, too, found could be a concern, or whether there are other complications, such as we have with Lolly's now-fused knee. In some cases, surgery performed by the orthopedist will be warranted...
This is all useful information!
Many thanks,
Linda