Two years ago my shepherd mix Bella ruptured both Acl's in one week. We under went surgery mrit which she had an allergic reaction to something administered during surgery. She went into shock. She contracted an infection in the incision which my vet went in a month later cleaned out the incision. All was well, at least that's what I thought. Bella and I did water therapy 3 times a week but was never able to regain full function. July 2012, Bella was anemic. Same week my lhaso lost his battle with kidney failure. Bella received a blood transfusion, and was on prednisone for 6 months. The knee that had the surgery hen blew up like a block of wood. It was cultured and cultured but no one could pin point an infection. He get then did an exploratory surgery ruling out cancer. However the infection came back on the skin. We finally resolved that t my knowledge as it has not been apparent in 6 months now. We opted for acupuncture which did well. However we recently sought out the services of an orthopedic surgeon, he said her leg is far past point of knee replacement. Yet her right leg is now a candidate for knee replacement. As for the left. He said arthrodesis is an option or amputation. He wants to move forward with arthrodesis on the left to provide support til total knee replacement on right is healed then possible amputation of left. Bella now 7, is a happy happy baby whom wants to go go go. I want her to have the ability to go at her leisure. Has anyone had arthrodesis? Any good results? One side of me doesn't want her to go thru unnecessary surgeries to end up wi a poor result. The vet thinks without going thru these steps, the way her arthritis is progressing. She may not see the end of this year.