"I think so" when asked if he could perform a surgery.
The dog in question has an appointment for x-rays under anesthesia Monday, so for now this situation is still hypothetical - but here it is...
5 year old dog doesn't use his front leg at all. During the physical exam the vet thought he felt a dislocated part in the elbow. The vet has never seen this part dislocated before and feels like it will require some kind of reconstructive or total elbow replacement surgery. This vet has been our family vet for my lifetime plus some. He has performed countless surgeries and has repaired many elbows, he's just never encountered this exact problem. So when asked if he would be able to perform the surgery he says, "I think so".
Would you trust your lifetime vet, or go looking for a specialist?? Unfortunately, this being the time of year for tuition and taxes, price is a factor.
The dog in question has an appointment for x-rays under anesthesia Monday, so for now this situation is still hypothetical - but here it is...
5 year old dog doesn't use his front leg at all. During the physical exam the vet thought he felt a dislocated part in the elbow. The vet has never seen this part dislocated before and feels like it will require some kind of reconstructive or total elbow replacement surgery. This vet has been our family vet for my lifetime plus some. He has performed countless surgeries and has repaired many elbows, he's just never encountered this exact problem. So when asked if he would be able to perform the surgery he says, "I think so".
Would you trust your lifetime vet, or go looking for a specialist?? Unfortunately, this being the time of year for tuition and taxes, price is a factor.
