Patella luxation help!

[samlf]

I have a 2.5 year old border collie, she was going intermittently lame when walking her, would hold her leg up and be lame for a few strides then carry on going and would be sound again.
Took her to vets, they did numerous x-rays and felt her leg, decided it was patella luxation.
They said it is grade 1, as far as I know by looking on internet/asking knowledgable dog owners that grade doesnt usually require surgery.
Yet they are telling us surgery is the only option, and trying to push us into getting an appointment with their visiting orthopedic surgeon tomorrow.

Is this REALLY the only option? I dont want to put her through a big operation really, if there are any other options. We also wanted to be referred to a different surgeon for a second opinion but they dont seem very keen!

Any help appreciated!!

 

[Supertrooper]

We generally go more with how much it's affecting the dog. I the dog is rarely going lame and it's not affecting quality of life then we wouldn't operate. I'd 100% recommend hydrotherapy for her, water treadmill if you can as if you can some muscle built up on that leg you may find she copes with it better xx

 

[KS1]

My dog had LP in both knees one was stage 1 and the other stage 2, my vet said sent me to a specialist that deals with these operations as the knee at stage 2 definitely needed operating on as it was degenerating, when the specialist examined my dog he said it was highly likely that the other knee would get worse as well.

My dog was not lame but twice in a few days the knee at stage 2 locked and he cried out. I could not sit back adnd watch my dog suffer, on having x-rays it was also discovered both his tibia's were bent and this was causing further problems to his knee's.

Both knee's were operated on and today you would never know, his recovery was very quick, the hard part was tyring to keep him quiet.