Injured Simon

So last thursday I went down the stairs in the morning to let the dogs out but forgot that two days earlier we moved our shelving unit that held the key. I went back up the stairs and Simon, excited as usual followed, then whipped back around when i went down the stairs. He miss stepped and fell. His ankle swelled and but he didn't appear to be in pain from the touch, he wasn't stepping on his foot though. We figured it was a sprain and waiting for it to get better. Here we are a week later and he's only starting to put the foot down. His spirits have been high but we decided it was time to see the vet. The young lady who saw us said the way he was moving she thought it was a torn acl. She xrayed to check it wasn't something else and to see if it was the acl which is only viewable a teeny amount. She said the xray didn't show it but three other drs checked him out and concluded it is torn or partially torn. She suggested surgery but didn't push it. We looked like two kids in zombie t-shirts who can't afford mcdonalds. We have a surgery consult on Tuesday. Its so hard to decide what to the do. The internet tells you all sides and who knows which is best. I know one thing, agility has no more decisions to be made. We're done. Our decisions are not financially based for the surgery it is simply what is best for the dog. I had started to think about putting Simon on some gluecosamine a few months back. I wish I had. It would have helped prevent this although probably not a 100% bet. He will be on it now, he has some signs of arthritis, as do we all :) He's turning 9. Yes, he's getting older but I still think we have a good 3 years out of him pending major issues. I can't believe its gone past so quickly.