Hi,

I just adopted a new dog 3 weeks ago (a 3-year-old terrier/chihuahua mix) and over the weekend, he was diagnosed with a luxating patella, meaning that his kneecaps pop out of place when he runs, which is currently causing him some discomfort, but with time, will begin to be painful if he does not get it corrected with surgery. My vet told me that this surgery will cost between $3K-$4K. This was a bit overwhelming for me, especially considering I’ve only had him for 3 weeks, but this little guy is my family now and I want him to have whatever he needs to live a happy and comfortable life. I know it’ll suck to be down $4K, but I will survive.

I have a few questions, though. Have you gone through something like this with your pet? What was the process like? I’m sure I need to consult an orthopedic surgeon, and soon, because I know specialists tend to have long waits for appointments. Also, is it too late to get pet insurance? I would be open to any advice.

Thank you.