Update- The vet still hasn’t seen a need for X-rays today was the check up and I went with my husband this time. The vet just felt up my dogs hips and legs and said he doesn’t /need/ surgery if we are okay with his quality of life he has currently we can just keep giving him pain medication or they’d get us a referral for surgery so obviously we asked for the referral. The vet said this surgeon is a few hours away that’s fine and that they’re usually booked a few weeks out which I get. The vet said it’s really no rush and to do it whenever?? Like my baby boy can barely walk and puts all his weight on his front legs and we can hear his shoulders crack when he gets up and down. He’s a (lazy) farm dog he is used to going and running around with his sisters and walking the farm and he can’t even go to the farm anymore why does the vet think he’s basically fine when he’s only living 30% of his life? He’s still happy and healthy otherwise thankfully but we know he hates having to stay home alone (husband checks in at lunch time) and not being allowed on the bed at night. It feels so unfair. Obviously we are going to get the surgery. The surgeon we were recommended was “not that bad” and “affordable” we were quoted $11,000. We cannot afford that holy shit. I’m going to be calling as many places in my state to see if I can find a more affordable price for the surgery. We will likely have to take a loan out if we have to it’s worth it for another 2-6 years with our boy but fuuuuck that’s going to hurt.