Bad Knee? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Wigfur · 07-19-2008, 11:50 AM

Okay so I take Leo for his 3rd set of shots yesterday. He is a healthy lil man at 5.6lbs now at 14 weeks... The vet shows me he has a knee that pops in and out of place. So he tells me it will prolly go bad in the right one as well with age and he will need a 1400 operation by the time he is a year. Now I have called several vets and they all tell me that he should not really need it unless it gets worse in a year or so.. but that it could tighten up as he grows up a become strong again.. So I contacted his breeder and she has contacted the other puppies from this litter and none of them have had the issue. She has also said that is he has to have the surgery she will pay the entire thing. I was very happy about this and so forth.. So my question is any advice on if I should worry or not??

Ladymom · 07-19-2008, 05:34 PM

What he has is a called a luxated patella. It is very common in Yorkies. Did your vet grade the slippage? If it's only 1-2 he probably won't need surgery, 3-4 he probably will.

Here is some information for you:

OFA: Patellar Luxation

shelbyj1 · 07-19-2008, 05:47 PM

My pupppy is 11 months old and we never knew she had luxating patella. It may not be severe enough to need an operation now, but be very careful. Molly jumped off the couch and now she needs an operation. When they have this problem it can worsen at any time.

marcerella02 · 07-19-2008, 05:48 PM

Layla has stage 2... has for about 6-8 months but had the vet not told me.. i would have never known.. she is not bothered by it. Unless your pup starts to pull his leg up when he is running... you should be fine. You might want to look into a Glucosamine suppliement to help with his joints and make sure you take him on a lot of walks.. which will also help. Because Layla is close to being stage 3.. we are doing hydrotherapy to help strengthen the leg. If your vet is saying you NEED surgery within a year.. i'd be finding a new vet... you don't want your pup having more operations that he needs.. putting them under is dangerous.

Gracie2006 · 07-19-2008, 06:00 PM

Gracie had grade 2 in one knee and grade 3 in the other. She had both repaired. Holly has grade 1 in both knees. We will hold off on surgery for now for her. The breeder contract excluded LP. It happens in about 14% of toy breeds. You have one awesome breeder willing to reimburse you the cost of the surgery. Just keep this in mind. Dogs with LP might be in pain even though they don't necessarily show it. LP of a more advanced stage that goes untreated can end up causing degenerative joint disease later in life, creating painful golden years for your precious one. The decision to move forward with surgery should not be taken lightly, nor should the decision to not have it given the risks of pain later on.

LadyMadonna51 · 07-19-2008, 06:09 PM

My little Wiz was also diagnosed with LP and my vet said an operation might be needed by 6 months of age . Being a new yorkie person I am not sure if this is just the mini yorkies ( which he is ) or any yorkie problem . I will do what needs to be done to make him healthy & happy.

marcerella02 · 07-19-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyMadonna51

My little Wiz was also diagnosed with LP and my vet said an operation might be needed by 6 months of age . Being a new yorkie person I am not sure if this is just the mini yorkies ( which he is ) or any yorkie problem . I will do what needs to be done to make him healthy & happy.

all yorkies have this problem and there really isn't such thing as a "mini" yorkie.. a yorkie is a yorkie... even yorkies who are 20+ lbs have knee problems.

Wigfur · 07-19-2008, 06:34 PM

Thank you all for your replies... he told me he would need it in a year,but like I said I'm getting 2nd opinion... i was not overly happy with this vet..he is the second one since Leo came home in june. I'm picky about this,as I know i should be. I have a wonderful breeder adn was very pleased to hear she would be paying for the op if needed. I thought it was a wonderful testiment to her character. He has no problem now, he is a very active and playful thing so I"m not too worried but will DEF. keep a close eye on it. Thank you so much...

Mini.. Tea Cup no such thing hon,they are all different sizes.

marcerella02 · 07-19-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wigfur

Thank you all for your replies... he told me he would need it in a year,but like I said I'm getting 2nd opinion... i was not overly happy with this vet..he is the second one since Leo came home in june. I'm picky about this,as I know i should be. I have a wonderful breeder adn was very pleased to hear she would be paying for the op if needed. I thought it was a wonderful testiment to her character. He has no problem now, he is a very active and playful thing so I"m not too worried but will DEF. keep a close eye on it. Thank you so much...

Mini.. Tea Cup no such thing hon,they are all different sizes.

Good for you.. stick to your guns. and change vets

I had to make two changes too and we are now on vet #3 and i LOVE her... she is so great with Layla and takes time to say hi to her and ask how we are doing... it was worth all the changing and the 30 min drive to get to her!

Ladymom · 07-19-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracie2006

Gracie had grade 2 in one knee and grade 3 in the other. She had both repaired. Holly has grade 1 in both knees. We will hold off on surgery for now for her. The breeder contract excluded LP. It happens in about 14% of toy breeds. You have one awesome breeder willing to reimburse you the cost of the surgery. Just keep this in mind. Dogs with LP might be in pain even though they don't necessarily show it. LP of a more advanced stage that goes untreated can end up causing degenerative joint disease later in life, creating painful golden years for your precious one. The decision to move forward with surgery should not be taken lightly, nor should the decision to not have it given the risks of pain later on.

I agree 100%. Postponing surgery will only make it more complicated, more expensive and if arthritis starts, less successful. If you wait too long sometimes it's too late to do surgery because the joint has degenerated too much. I'd get a second opinion from an orthopedic specialist.

How lucky you are that your breeder will honor her health guarantee!

majic50 · 07-20-2008, 09:08 AM

Lucy he hade grade 4 in both knees. She was only about 4 months old when she had the surgery. The surgeon wanted it done before her bones hardened.

Wigfur · 07-20-2008, 09:30 AM

Thank you ladies for all th advice. I am driving to OKC weds to meet with the vet of a family friend who said they were wonderufl with their pets. I am hoping he will give us some answers and get us taken care of. I do not want anything to happen to my sweet lil man.

LadyMadonna51 · 07-20-2008, 02:54 PM

I am well aware that a yorkie is a yorkie is a yorkie despite size . What I am not aware of is that "all Yorkies " have this !! According to my vet , it is in the breeding of smaller and smaller puppies that develops this problem . Yes or no? If I have known this before hand , I might have had second thoughts on the purchase of this tiny dog for my friend .

Ladymom · 07-20-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyMadonna51

I am well aware that a yorkie is a yorkie is a yorkie despite size . What I am not aware of is that "all Yorkies " have this !! According to my vet , it is in the breeding of smaller and smaller puppies that develops this problem . Yes or no? If I have known this before hand , I might have had second thoughts on the purchase of this tiny dog for my friend .

Your vet is wrong. Luxating patellas are genetic in Yorkies of all sizes.

The Orthopedic Foundation of America ranks Yorkies #4 in cases of luxating patellas.

OFA: Patellar Luxation Statistics

marcerella02 · 07-20-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyMadonna51

I am well aware that a yorkie is a yorkie is a yorkie despite size . What I am not aware of is that "all Yorkies " have this !! According to my vet , it is in the breeding of smaller and smaller puppies that develops this problem . Yes or no? If I have known this before hand , I might have had second thoughts on the purchase of this tiny dog for my friend .

Layla isn't teeny tiny and she has LP. if you search LP on here you will see yorkies of all shapes and sizes have it.

07-19-2008, 11:50 AM	#1
Wigfur Favre Fan ALWAYS! Donating Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 708	Bad Knee? Okay so I take Leo for his 3rd set of shots yesterday. He is a healthy lil man at 5.6lbs now at 14 weeks... The vet shows me he has a knee that pops in and out of place. So he tells me it will prolly go bad in the right one as well with age and he will need a 1400 operation by the time he is a year. Now I have called several vets and they all tell me that he should not really need it unless it gets worse in a year or so.. but that it could tighten up as he grows up a become strong again.. So I contacted his breeder and she has contacted the other puppies from this litter and none of them have had the issue. She has also said that is he has to have the surgery she will pay the entire thing. I was very happy about this and so forth.. So my question is any advice on if I should worry or not?? __________________ Proud Mommy Cyan Korbin Leonidas Athena

07-19-2008, 05:34 PM	#2
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,880	What he has is a called a luxated patella. It is very common in Yorkies. Did your vet grade the slippage? If it's only 1-2 he probably won't need surgery, 3-4 he probably will. Here is some information for you: OFA: Patellar Luxation __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ High Quality Handmade Bows for the Pampered Pooch

07-19-2008, 06:00 PM	#5
Gracie2006 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 4,045	Gracie had grade 2 in one knee and grade 3 in the other. She had both repaired. Holly has grade 1 in both knees. We will hold off on surgery for now for her. The breeder contract excluded LP. It happens in about 14% of toy breeds. You have one awesome breeder willing to reimburse you the cost of the surgery. Just keep this in mind. Dogs with LP might be in pain even though they don't necessarily show it. LP of a more advanced stage that goes untreated can end up causing degenerative joint disease later in life, creating painful golden years for your precious one. The decision to move forward with surgery should not be taken lightly, nor should the decision to not have it given the risks of pain later on. __________________ I love my precious girly girls Gracie Mae and Holly Rose! Holly wuvs Tucker! Gracie Wuvs Bailey! Proud member of the YT Gracie Girls!:

07-19-2008, 06:34 PM	#8
Wigfur Favre Fan ALWAYS! Donating Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 708	Thank you all for your replies... he told me he would need it in a year,but like I said I'm getting 2nd opinion... i was not overly happy with this vet..he is the second one since Leo came home in june. I'm picky about this,as I know i should be. I have a wonderful breeder adn was very pleased to hear she would be paying for the op if needed. I thought it was a wonderful testiment to her character. He has no problem now, he is a very active and playful thing so I"m not too worried but will DEF. keep a close eye on it. Thank you so much... Mini.. Tea Cup no such thing hon,they are all different sizes. __________________ Proud Mommy Cyan Korbin Leonidas Athena

07-20-2008, 09:30 AM	#12
Wigfur Favre Fan ALWAYS! Donating Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 708	Thank you ladies for all th advice. I am driving to OKC weds to meet with the vet of a family friend who said they were wonderufl with their pets. I am hoping he will give us some answers and get us taken care of. I do not want anything to happen to my sweet lil man. __________________ Proud Mommy Cyan Korbin Leonidas Athena

07-19-2008, 05:47 PM	#3
shelbyj1 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Red Lion, Pa Posts: 7	My pupppy is 11 months old and we never knew she had luxating patella. It may not be severe enough to need an operation now, but be very careful. Molly jumped off the couch and now she needs an operation. When they have this problem it can worsen at any time.

07-19-2008, 05:48 PM	#4
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario Canada...not California :( Posts: 8,414	Layla has stage 2... has for about 6-8 months but had the vet not told me.. i would have never known.. she is not bothered by it. Unless your pup starts to pull his leg up when he is running... you should be fine. You might want to look into a Glucosamine suppliement to help with his joints and make sure you take him on a lot of walks.. which will also help. Because Layla is close to being stage 3.. we are doing hydrotherapy to help strengthen the leg. If your vet is saying you NEED surgery within a year.. i'd be finding a new vet... you don't want your pup having more operations that he needs.. putting them under is dangerous. __________________ Layla 's Simon http://misscanam.blogspot.com/

07-19-2008, 06:09 PM	#6
LadyMadonna51 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 122	My little Wiz was also diagnosed with LP and my vet said an operation might be needed by 6 months of age . Being a new yorkie person I am not sure if this is just the mini yorkies ( which he is ) or any yorkie problem . I will do what needs to be done to make him healthy & happy.

07-20-2008, 09:08 AM	#11
majic50 YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 267	Lucy he hade grade 4 in both knees. She was only about 4 months old when she had the surgery. The surgeon wanted it done before her bones hardened.

07-20-2008, 02:54 PM	#13
LadyMadonna51 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 122	I am well aware that a yorkie is a yorkie is a yorkie despite size . What I am not aware of is that "all Yorkies " have this !! According to my vet , it is in the breeding of smaller and smaller puppies that develops this problem . Yes or no? If I have known this before hand , I might have had second thoughts on the purchase of this tiny dog for my friend .