Roxie's ACL Surgery

The Injury
Roxie is a sweet, loving German Shepherd who loves to be outside chasing squirrels, going on runs with her doggo dad, snacking on bully stick treats and enjoying long car rides. This weekend she was playing at the dog park and suddenly went down. Unable to walk, Corey had to carry her back to his apartment. After anxiously waiting to see if a good night's rest would help, she did not show significant signs of improvement. Roxie was seen by the vet yesterday and unfortunately her diagnosis is not the best news - but it is also not the worst. X-rays concluded she tore her ACL and TPLO surgery is strongly encouraged to give her leg the best chance at permanently recovering to ensure she can continue living an active lifestyle for years to come.

Her Treatment Plan
When a dog tears its cranial cruciate ligament (analogous to the ACL in humans, and sometimes called the same), every time they stand or put weight on the leg, the femur slides/rubs on the back of the tibia. This rubbing causes pain and inflammation, which is very uncomfortable. This is why most dogs with a torn ACL will not put any weight on the leg, or if they do, they will just toe-touch the ground. 

 TPLO, or tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy, is a surgery performed on dogs to stabilize the stifle joint after ruptures of the cranial cruciate ligament. Essentially the procedure cuts and removes the damaged portion of the tibia and replaces it with tissue from other areas around the knee and a metal insert - which Corey has named "Roxie's terminator knee surgery." 

This surgery results in faster recovery times compared to other procedures to stabilize the knee, and is the best option for her recovery per the veterinary hospital. Most dogs (over 90%) regain a very athletic lifestyle with no post-operative complications and without the need for long-term pain medications. In other words - after surgery and some physical therapy - Roxie will be back to her badass self.

GoFundMe Goal
The average cost of TPLO surgery in the U.S. ranges from $3,500-$5,000. In most cases this includes pre-surgery blood work, anesthesia, pain medication, the surgery itself, post-surgery care and to-go-home medications. Roxie is family and Corey is doing everything to ensure he makes the best decision for her health and happiness. We know budgets are tight and times are hard as everyone adjusts to the impacts of COVID. Our goal is to raise at least $1,000 towards Roxie's procedure, but every dollar helps. Please only donate if you can truly afford to! Also, if you are aware of any state or national grants that can assist with animal procedures, we'd be grateful for that information. If you cannot donate, don't feel bad. You can support Corey and Roxie by sending messages of encouragement and support during this difficult time <3

Lastly, if you have a fur baby but do not have a pet insurance policy - please use our story to reconsider. Companies will not provide any coverage for Roxie's ACL as it is deemed a pre-existing condition now due to this injury. In the grand scheme of things, $10-$15 a month is insignificant compared to the thousands of dollars in bills that can stack up during an animal medical emergency. 

Additional Resources
To read more on pet insurance policies:
https://www.consumervoice.org/top-pet-insurance 

To read more on TPLO procedures:
https://www.topdoghealth.com/library/orthopedic-surgery/articles-surgery/tibial-plateau-leveling-osteotomy-tplo/