4-6 month old dog with slight cranial drawer

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I have a young client with a 4-6 week old Australian cattle dog mix who recently had a traumatic injury (ran into something) and was very painful in her right stifle. When we had her under anesthesia we tested her for cranial drawer - she has a 2-3 mm in her right stifle but the end feel is still abrupt and firm (I am guessing a partial tear). No swelling but thickening of the joint capsule that tells me that although the trauma occurred a few days ago, this is not "acute." She has a very small amount of tibial thrust in the right leg as well.Muddying the waters - she has a small amount of laxity/drawer in her left leg as well - definitely less but it makes we wonder about her age and if this is normal at all for a dog who has not finished growing. Also, the client is young

and doesn't have a ton of money - and the dog is bonkers (energy level-wise). I want to give her the best advise for how to proceed. I would assume that no surgeon would do a TPLO on a growing dog and I am not sure whether she could afford such a procedure now or in the near future. My concern is that if she does not address the partial tear in a timely matter that the dog will end up fully tearing it some day and then will already have a stifle full of degenerative changes. I have thought about telling her to rest the dog, and have her daily exercise be on leash only (or controlled exercises with her mom). I could get her on glucosamine supplements and wondered if adequan injections might help. I also considered giving her quad strengthening (and general rear leg strengthening) exercises.Does anyone have experience with this type of injury in a dog so young - or any

suggestions?Thanks.Dr. Hutchison