Ok, so here goes a very controversial post...
My husky dog Star tore a ligament in his knee when he was 10 years old. Surgery would cost $1500 for one leg, and the other leg would have to be done as well. Sadly, my family couldn't afford to pay that for a dog at the end of his lifespan. He isa rambunctious animal, who runs about 20 km on a daily basis. He does not lie still, which would be necessary to have the leg heal post surgery. He jumps whenever he sees anything, right up on his hind legs (which were damaged).
My parents chose not to have the surgery, and rather keep an eye on him until he started to vocalize his pain, or was unable to move without pain. We took it a bit easier on him, going for light walks instead of runs. Over the long winter, the leg healed itself without our involvement.
He is still alive, 5r years later, and running the backroads at high speed, age 15. Were we lucky? Yes, possibly. He was (and still is) in good physical shape, and the injury happened while he was playing in the bush. Likely stepped into a hole and twisted his knee.
If your family has the money to spare, I guess that is your choice. We did not have $3000 to put into Star, and we wouldn't be able to ensure successful post op treatment. I would go with aggressive weight management, and leave it until February. Youshould follow tips for gentle massage and pain management, but it is likely possible for this to heal by itself.
I'm not a vet. This was just my experience
