[Dailydrool] Watson's confirmation.....???

[Katie Strobel]

So, I talked to my vet today. As you may or may not remember, a few
weeks ago we took Watson to the vet because we noticed that when he
runs, every other step or so, he lifts up a leg and runs on three legs
- he doesn't show any signs of pain or limping, and it is only when he
runs. They took some x-rays and messed with his knees, and determined
that he has luxating patellas in both back legs, and maybe a partially
torn ACL. She then said that she would have a orthepedic specialist
look at his x-rays just to make sure and that this specialist would
probably do the surgery.

So, the specialist looked at the x-rays and now things that something
else might be wrong that is causing the luxating pattellas and the ACL
tear. She thinks that something may be wrong with Watson's
confirmation .... that his hips and legs are misaligned and that's
putting pressure on his knees which is what is blowing out his
ligaments....now - she says this is something genetic and that I
should contact my breeder....and that they need a pelvic x-ray and may
have to do this huge surgery where they remove part of his bones! Has
anyone else ever heard of this? Is it necessary to do all of this or
is this just the way basset hounds are? I feel like I'm at a car
mechanic or an oil change and they are saying well....you're
transmission is going too....I have no way of knowing whether they are
just eager to cut into my baby and get a ton of money or whether this
is that serious. If Watson isn't exhibiting any signs of pain - is
such an awfully invasive surgery necessary?

What further complicates this is that Watson is from a backyard
breeder .... I only saw his mother when we got him.... and it could be
likely that if this is such an existing genetic defect it could have
happened...I am just worried that this is unnecessary.

Any advice? We have an appointment with the specialist for Wednesday
the 30th - I have to drive two hours to go see her - but I just wanted
a bit more explanation before I dive in. The specialist is Dr. Jenny
Fick in Longmont Colorado - anyone ever heard of her? I was also
thinking about calling CSU in Ft. Collins - apparently they are the #2
vet school in the country and maybe they would be able to help - does
anyone have any experience with CSU and ligaments/bone configurement?

Any help/drool would be greatly appreciated. We have pet insurance
through VPI but I can't even find on the benefit schedule whether or
not such a thing is covered....

Anyway, I figured that if anyone could put this into english it would
be the Drool experts :)

Thanks for everything
Katie and Watson (momma - nofings wrong wid me! lets go dig in da mud k?)