It is possible to keep a dog with this injury although long term there will be degenerative joint changes in the knee. The ACL stabilizes the knee and without it the bones will rub together damaging cartilage and causing swelling and pain. Fortunately labs have lots of stabilizing muscle around the joint and they also tolerate pain well.

Two suggestions. First call around and see if you can find another clinic that does the surgery for less. I do large animal work and am not up on small animal prices but it seems like there might be a clinic that does them for less. Some clinics bring in a surgeon to do these and they generally charge more. They can be done without a board certified surgeon although there are fewer clinics with someone with the interest to do this surgery on a large dog. Second if you decide not to do surgery keep the dogs weight and activity under control and use as few anti inflammatories as possible.

The claim the dog will die in a few years of liver or kidney failure is related to the use of pain killers. Use them as little as possible while still managing pain.

Good luck

There are two basic causes for seizures. The first type is metabolic. Things such as low blood sugar (glucose), or an electrolyte imbalance (sodium, calcium or potassium). Both of these are possible but usually occur only under extreme physical stress or as a result of another serious illness. Blood testing can be done to help identify these causes or in the case of low blood sugar the history is sometimes helpful. For example if they occur after long periods of extreme physical activity.

The second cause is seizures. These do occur in a certain percentage of dogs and usually begin to occur when dogs are a year to two old. The seizures can range for mild to very severe and over time a pattern usually develops for both frequency and severity. There are several drugs that are used to help control seizures. Phenobarbitol was mentioned and there are several others. These drugs raise the seizure threshold which often reduces the number and somtimes the severity of seizures. There is no cure for this type of seizure but there is hope for sucessful management and a normal life including hunting.

Many dogs sense they are going to have a seizure and certain behaviors can be identified which helps predict seizure activity but my experience with hunting breeds is when they are hunting they forget all else and give little warning. As far as giving chocolate to a seizing dog. Be careful. Most seizures are very short in duration and probably are over before the chocolate does anything. It just appears there is a relationship between the sugar and the end of the seizure. Second dogs can and do bite during seizures as they have little control of their behavior. Third chocolate is toxic to dogs although in my experience small amounts in big dogs has not been a big problem. I have seen small breeds die from chocolate toxicity. Karo syrup or another sugar dense syrup would be a better choice although hard to carry in the field.

In addition to seeing dogs in the clinic I hunted with a friend with a german shorthair that often seized when he went on point. I medicated him and he improved somewhat but still occaisonally seizes when he gets around birds. Fortunately for him there are not many grouse around here now. \

good luck.

Peroxide can be used to induce vomiting. A tablespoon is usually enough. Wait 15 minuites and repeat if it is not. However be careful when you are not sure what the dog swallowed. A pin or other sharp object can do much damage coming back up. The peroxide should be used mainly for ingested non caustic poisons (rat poison, chocolate, anti-freeze)and foreign objects that you see them eat that are not sharp or likely to tear the lining of the esouphagus. I have removed tennis ball parts, carpet, bone chunks, part of a tennis shoe, diapers ……. Gourmets they are not. Call your vet if you are unsure or symptoms persist. The greatest risk is in waiting to long.