San Diego BS Thread.

So my doggie Anza has blown out both of her rear knees (double cranial cruciate ligament rupture) as well as a patellar luxation AKA dislocated knee cap on one side.
Super bummed, she is not totally lame and I have to wheel her around in a cart after she manages to get all the way down to the bottom of the yard and then she is unable to get back up to the top since I live on a hill she has a real hard time going uphill since she now puts 90%+ of all her weight on her front paws since she is in a lot of pain if any weight is put on her back legs, especially her right rear..

She was having issues with that knee for a while and I got a brace for her so I thought I was helping but then since she would often sprint at the sound of the coyotes she eventually did that side in as well. And during this time I thought her limp on the right leg was just a minor strain but it was much worse than I thought so now so is pretty lame.
The reason for my little essay here was to ask if anyone has an experience with good vet surgeons in San Diego area, hopefully North County where I can go to have her fixed?

I have a local vet I normally go to and that cost me $550 for X-rays and sedation so they could articulate the joint for the diagnosis of the injury. That seems a bit pricey but vets usually are not cheap IME... was even thinking about going to Mexico since if I could find a good vet there it would likely be 20% of what they want up here..

The Vet I was referred to from my local vet (Mira Loma vet clinic) is in Rancho Bernardo, Bernardo Heights (I forget the name) and it is Dr. Frankel. The cost for the surgery is $3400-$3800 per leg...ugh. That's a lot more cash than I happen to have laying around, that's for sure. But I'll have to figure something out for my dog even if I have to sell some stuff to afford her surgery. I'm just looking for possible less expensive options since I don't have a ton of spare cash at the moment unfortunately so hoping there are other options available.

Anyway, thanks guys. Hope you are all doing great and had a great weekend.

 

Jason

Dr. Schatzle did surgery on my lab when the bozo ate some bicycle derailleur wire and got it stuck in his intestines. One thing I remember vividly from that experience was how pragmatic he was, his words were "I think there are many good years left for this dog" and he was right, that was 2008 and that lab made it to 2013, I got him in 2001 as an adult. I'm not sure how they saw the wire, he showed me the xray and I couldn't see anything but it all made sense after the fact.

https://www.lacostavet.com/our-practice/

I don't think he's particularly inexpensive though so your plan to go to Mexico sounds like a good option worth exploring. I asked my old nanny who has family in Mexico if she knows anyone, will send to you if I have any good leads.

 

My heart goes out to you man, Anza is such a good pup. Unfortunately I don't have any recommendations but I would fully support trying to find a Mexico vet. Animal surgery costs here in the US are stupid high.

 

Sorry to hear that, she's a good dog. My aunt and uncle have used San Carlos Animal Hospital for knees and hips, between 2 different dogs. They say they're the greatest. No idea on the price though.

I think some vets will take payments too?

 

Lake Cuyamaca is almost full. I haven't seen it like this in years

 

A buddy has access a vineyard close to the Pacific Coast Trail markers in your first photo where we sometimes go target shooting. Took one of my other buddies one time with a Jeep that wanted to cruise down the border fence line to check it out....here I am in the backseat (Brown Boy) with a bunch of guns in the Jeep....I said "Hell No!" Markers are also close to the Memorial for the Border Patrol Agent that got ambushed and killed years ago by smugglers.

 

Photo taken from the wooden bridge at the north end of the Lake?

 

That really sucks Jason, I'm sorry to hear this. She's a really cool dog. Unfortunately Vet cost are astronomical as you're seeing, we dealt with it with horses back east.

 

Lake Henshaw is definitely up as well. Saw a group of at least 100 Turkeys as I was driving through Sunday morning. More outside of the photos I took. I always see wild turkey in this area, but never in groups this big.

 

Damnit, sorry to hear about this. I hope you get everything figured out quickly man.

 

I know of a vineyard down the 94, I wonder if it's the same one you're talking about. The lady wants to stop by some day.

Ya, I'm aware of the story. Everything seems safe down there until it's not.

 

This is taking from SRH.

Here's a closer view from the north side

 

That's good to hear. Lake Jennings is still looking pretty sad though.

That's a massive gaggle of them! I bet they feel unbeatable in a group that size.

 

There was a tom in the middle of the road showing off, I stopped for him and fed his ego

 

I dont think they are taking new clients, but maybe if you say a current client recommended them you could get in touch with Fletcher Hills Animal Hospital. They are incredible, by far the nicest vet and assistants ever.

Literally can see this place from my house!


Worst case you can do a bikini taco car wash! Or we can do some fundraiser stuff too. I'm willing to donate some custom die cut stickers or laser engrave some goodies.

 

That’s some painful reading. We like our vet in Blossom Valley but can’t vouch for their surgery services.

If you want some company south of the border, I offer my español services and can drive you in there, and back.

 

Has anyone been out to Sheep Canyon lately? Heading out there this weekend and wondering the state of the 3 water crossings since we had all that rain recently. Thanks!

 

Jason, I can whole heartedly recommend Dr Nancy Hampel who has been practicing in San Diego for more than 30 years. My Springer Spaniel had a joint issue and she used a stem cell procedure that gave him another 10 years of great life. She and her husband Dr Steven Johnson just started a new practice in El Cajon called All God’s Creatures Teaching Hospital & Surgery Center. https://www.allgodscreaturesteachinghospital.com/ I don't know what the cost of treatment might be but she has taken care of 4 of my dogs over the past 30 years and she is a straight shooter. 619-489-3339

 

Got it, I really appreciate that. I was thinking about stem cell but it's difficult to find a good doc for the treatment, dosage, interval, etc and I.. I know its not "certified" by those 3 letter agencies but I think we all know at this point that just because it doesn't get the stamp means very little.
Awesome thank you! I'm in no position to afford 2 knees for my dog at the moment, they want way more than I can afford but it's so horrible to see my dog suffer, she's my best friend, and it is hard to see her suffering like this and I have to carry her around when she gets stuck in the yard too far from her bed, such a bummer.

 

I get ya, I totally understand, and dude you are awesome getting contact with her in case that is the rote I take, you're a good dude David, thank you so much for that!!

Thanks man, yeah life is not about what we deserve its more based on randomness, well in my lizard brain anyway.. And yeah they are, they can take advantage of your love for your animal and try and use emotions as a way to extract more but it's a business and I certainly don't want to put a rubber stamp on all vets/animal surgeons and put them all in the same box.
If people thought all mechanics/welders/technicians we're all shitty (a lot are unfortunately) then I'd have a hard time staying busy and that's simply not the case, thank god!!
Thanks my friend and have fun out there! And watch out for those vehicles not paying attention (Most drivers IME)

Hey bud, hope you are doing well! And yeah if we end up having to do surgery local that will be the way it goes, the costs are hard to swallow.
I still have a bad scapula plus the Titanium and Kevlar that was replacing my acromioclavicular and CC ligaments were replaced with Kevlar since I ruptured (AKA snapped them clean off) in a motorcycle crash and ever since then its been pretty rough, I can't seem to walk this one off unfortunately.
Thank you Brett.

Yessir they sure are, large animals can be expensive...
Miss you buddy, I wish you guys were still out here!!

Thank you brother. me too. Sadly I don't think there will be much "quick" about this whole deal but we an always hope! I know I do.. My doggies are like my kids so it sucks to see either one having such a rough time just moving around.
Thank you.

Haha I've never even seen myself in a Bikini! I would be better off paying people not to watch, haha.. Maybe it can be more of a "Save your eyes Carwash" Just don't make eye contact with dude in said Bikini and its not gay from what I hear. I'm not fat and kinda small so it might get weird if they don't look closely enough at the (dude) washing trucks in his wife's bikini.
Oh sheesh, I better stop talking now or I might be sorry.