I have a 6 year old springer who had a cruciate repair at 2 years old, she went off her leg and the vet suggested rest and an anti-inflammatory drug.

With hindsight, which is a great thing, I wished we gone straight for surgery, when it became clear rest wasn't helping she did have surgery, but due to the delay there was a fair amount of arthritis in the knee due to the unstable joint, this made the surgery more complicated as some of the bone had to be removed.

It was a long recovery with 4 weeks crate rest and her being carried out side to the toilet, I prepared for this by crate training her before hand, then 4 weeks crate rest with her walking out out side, avoiding steps and pulling, during this 4 weeks we gradually extended the lead walks to build up the wasted muscle, followed by a further 4 weeks of restricted off lead exercise, the most difficult part of the regime actually as she thought she was match fit again.

Around 6 months after surgery she was admitted again for the day because she was limping, she was given an injection in to the knee under anaesthetic which supposedly rebuilds cartilage, the difference after the injection was marked in that she no longer limped after exercise, 4 years on she appears to be getting little stiff on that knee again after exercise, the vet has suggested she has the injection again, either in to the knee as a day patient, or as a course of injections under the skin as an out patient.

There are two common types of surgery for the ligament, the one my springer had was basically open the knee up, drill holes in the bone above and below the knee, thread what is essentially strong fishing line and tying the the two halves of the knee together to stabilise it while muscle and new cartilage takes up the slack. It's is less expensive then the second type around £800.00, but has a longer recovery time.

The second method involves opening the knee, taking a slice of the head of the tibia off and repositioning and holding it in place with a metal plate so that there is no slack in the knee joint. it is more expensive, around £1800, and dogs are walking and weight bearing on it very quickly, it also means less arthritis is formed and the dog can return to full exercise much quicker.

We weren't offered the second option by our vets at the time, if we had we would have taken it, insurance was paying so cost was irrelevant anyway, always get a second opinion if you can.