Hello, I am new here!

[Rockdiva]

I was doing research online about luxating patellas in Yorkies and found this great community so I had to join! I have an almost 3 year old Yorkie named Wookie. I will admit (and I hope no one blasts me for this) that he came from a puppy mill, but it was at a time when I knew nothing about them. I am completely informed now, totally against them and would never do it again! I apologize to the dog world for that, but I adore my baby more than anything in the world and do not regret getting him. He has changed my life!
Now I would like to tell you a little about what I have gone through the past couple weeks. (This is going to be long, please bare with me, I have had a really rough time with my baby lately, I need to vent!) Wookie got very sick the weekend before last, high fever, severe abdominal pain, etc. To make a long story short, it ended up with them recommending exploratory surgery of his abdomin. I was told that there was a good chance there was some foreign object in there that was not showing up on xrays, and that if we just waited for it to pass and it perforated, we would lose him fast. And on the other hand if there was something in there and they had to remove part of his intestines, we could lose him post op. There was also a chance they would find nothing, which is what happened. They took biopsies to rule out any diseases, and everything came back fine. He is doing very well, has healed up great, is very active and it back on normal eating, drinking and bathroom schedule. BUT, since he has gotten home, he is having issues with this back right leg. He will be just fine then all of a sudden will raise it up and not walk on it for a few seconds then put it back down and be fine again. I am afraid it is the luxating patella (I was told he had a very mild case of it last year, but that it was nothing to worry about. Vet could not manipulate it to do it) I think it is just weird that he has never done this before the surgery. Am wondering if something happened to him in the hospital to aggrevate it? Perhaps he jumped wrong or something trying to get away from the techs? (He was very jumpy in there) So I am just horrified now. He has an appt today at 4 for his follow up to the surgery and to have his leg checked out. This is a new vet (the surgery was done at emergency care) because I have not been happy with my regular vet lately. Which I am also nervous about because I am having a terribly hard time finding a vet who agrees with my decision to do titer testing in place of yearly vaccines. I get blasted by vets whenever I mention that to them, and they just bully me, saying it just needs to be done every year. I am afraid that if I don't go along with their views on it, they will refuse to care for Wookie! So I have been really stressed. Wookie is my baby, my best friend and I am trying so hard to do what is right for him. There are so many conflicting views on everything from diet, to vaccines, to surgeries, to the luxating patella.....I am overwhelmed by it all. I just want to make all the right decisions but seems there is always someone saying I am making the wrong ones. Can anyone relate??????

PS Sorry to be such a downer on my first post and to be so long...I am just at my wits end!!!

[Lexi Rae]

hi sweetie,, i first want to say welcome to yorkie talk.. you came to the right place and im so glad you found us....im so sorry for what you and wookie
are going through, but im sorry again as for i cannot help you with your
situation. i will bump up this thread so some other yorkie talkers will see it and perhaps be of some help.. i will send prayers out to the both of you.
hope all works out .. feel better little wookie

[grandmatoall]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. I am sorry to read of your problems with Vets for Wookie. I am not an expert, by any means.. but you know what is right for your baby. If the vet wants to give you a hard time, find another one. There are people here that can suggest Vets to see in your area. Even if you had to drive a little farther, it would be worth it.

You seem to be doing what is best for Wookie. You are in the right place. There are some very knowledgeable people on here that can help you through this.

[xmasbaby75]

Welcome to YT! You just have to remember, the vet works for you -- They cannot force anything upon you, or refuse you if you ask for testing, etc. If they do, or try to "bully" you in any way, I would switch vets ASAP. It's hard to find a really good one - but once you do, you'll know!!!

[Rockdiva]

Thank you so much! I appreciate that!

[Rockdiva]

There is a great vet that I have seen that is over an hour from me, some of you may have heard of him Dr Messonnier. He wrote the Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats, he is WONDERFUL! Is the perfect combination of hollistic and conventional treatments. But even he recommended me keeping a local vet for emergencies and for when I can't get to him. He will do my annual titer testing for me, but I am concerned about whichever vet I choose locally not accepting that and refusing to treat my baby because he isn't 'up to date' on his vaccines. We will see what the new vet today says, but I just have a feeling they are really big on doing annuals no matter what. Sigh.....

Thanks so much for the wonderful replies and well wishes! I love it in here already!!!

[Yorkiedaze]

Welcome to the Yorkie family here at YT. You came to a good place to get good opinions and help.
My personal opoinion...........call all the local Vets. first to ask these questions. This way you should find one who will work with you.
Next, I would most definately drop the Vet. who did the surgery. Something just doesn't seem right there.
Have Wookie's knee checked to see if it is LP and what grade. Usually surgery isn't needed if it's a grade 1 or 2, but is needed if it's a grade 3. Would love it if you could keep us up on everything.

[Rockdiva]

Thanks for that advice. The vet who did the surgery is not the regular vet he had been going to. She was just the one at the emergency hospital, there were actually 3 of them on staff that weekend that went over everything. I didn't post all the details of everything that he went through, so that is probably why things don't make a lot of sense while reading it. (I figured I had already made my post too long!) I will let you all know what they say today. They are doing a check up on his incisions and all and checking out the knee as well. I am hoping it is just aggravated. Also hoping this will finally be the vet to work with me on things! Thank you so much!!!!

[cj125]

Welcome to YT! I hope everything turns out well for you and Wookie (love his name). You are so lucky... you live in the Yorkie Heartland There are ALOT of members, good breeders and shows in TX! If you're still not happy with your new Vet - just come back and post for members in TX they'll be able to direct you to some. Good Luck!

[luvfla]

We have a little guy with a LP & the best thing we have done for him is to keep his weight down & keep him from jumping. Also anywhere he might lose his footing (steps) I have put rugs with rubber backs on them..oh yeah, HE thinks that they are pee pads. At 12 years old, I don't have the heart to tell him he wrong.

[Wabbit]

Hi and welcome to YT!!! You've gotten some great advice already...and it sounds like you are doing your best for Wookie....and in caring for all his needs!! Your a wonderful parent....he's lucky to have you...Sometimes the best Vets come through recommendations...do you have a dog park near you or friends that have dogs....ask them who they go to....good luck......and look forward to hearing from you and seeing pics of your Wookie!

[Lucia]

Welcome to YT! I cant give u any better advice than has already been given....but I wish Wookie well. Big hugs to u both xxx xx