luxating Patella

[Erin]

I don't know the dosage but I got it from the vet. It says "small dog" on it and it's a small capsule about the size of a tylenol capsule. I pop open the capsule and dump the powder on his food. It was about $40 and half the bottle has lasted about 2 months.

[MaryJoC]

Hi, I saw your note about your Yorkie with Luxating Patella's and I wanted to respond. I too have a 3 year old, female Yorkie that has been diagnosed with Luxating Patella in both hind legs. They recommend surgery on both legs for her, either one at a time or both at one time. I'm not sure what to do, I hate to put her through such a big surgery, I wish she didn't have to have the surgery at all. This past week she was limping for about 4 hours and then her knee popped back into place and she hasn't limped since. Have you decided if you are going to do the surgery?

[MaryJoC]

Does your vet suggest surgery for Loki? I'm also from the Chicago area but I live in Arizona now.

[MyTyYorkie]

MaryJoC
yes I had the vet do back legs, he does well, but he still favors his legs runs great then once in a while he will lift his legs but so far he is doing well. i'm glad i had the surgery... good luck any other questions you would like to ask just email me

[1LilMuffy]

I went to the vet yesterday and the doctor just touched her back legs and said she has Medial Luxating Patella...I was shocked b/c I have always brought her to this same vet and they happen to tell me yesterday. The vet said my yorkie might have had it when she was born (genes)....She didn't even get X-rayed.

She plays a lot..jumps on the bed/couch/chairs, goes up and down the stairs, plays with kids...she looks like she has no problem at all...so i was quite shocked and sad by what she told me.

She is a grade 3....when she walks, she walks bowlegged...the doctor said she's not in pain, so she doesn't need surgery but it is recommended because of the grade 3 severity.

What should I do??. I want to get a 2nd opinion....im really scared!

Can anyone tell me how I should proceed with this.

thank you

[MaryJoC]

I still have not had surgery on my 4 year old Yorkie's back legs. I am undecided what to do and so I am not rushing into anything. I've talked with people that said wonderful things about the surgery on Luxating Patella's and I've talked with people that said their dogs were more lame after the surgery. My little girl is also bowlegged but shows no signs of discomfort, she going up stairs, takes walks everyday and runs around the pool without missing a beat.

I'm not sure it's worth ripping up their legs but then I worry as she gets older the problem will only get worse and then surgery will be harder on her. I'm with you in that it's hard to determine the right decision at this time.

Keep me posted on what decision you make. At this time I'm following my gut instinct to wait it out.

[nikkinack]

Lily had surgery done in Feb. for stage 2 lp in both legs, she is a whole new dog now.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by nikkinack

Lily had surgery done in Feb. for stage 2 lp in both legs, she is a whole new dog now.

I agree. Sam is way better off than she was before the surgery and she is barely 6 weeks out! She was 100% (in my opinion) by week 5. As of this week I gave up containing her. She runs twice as fast as she did before (and she was fast before!) It was expensive but we are so glad we did it!

[Shelby&Seymour]

Originally Posted by 1LilMuffy

I went to the vet yesterday and the doctor just touched her back legs and said she has Medial Luxating Patella...I was shocked b/c I have always brought her to this same vet and they happen to tell me yesterday. The vet said my yorkie might have had it when she was born (genes)....She didn't even get X-rayed.

She plays a lot..jumps on the bed/couch/chairs, goes up and down the stairs, plays with kids...she looks like she has no problem at all...so i was quite shocked and sad by what she told me.

She is a grade 3....when she walks, she walks bowlegged...the doctor said she's not in pain, so she doesn't need surgery but it is recommended because of the grade 3 severity.

What should I do??. I want to get a 2nd opinion....im really scared!

Can anyone tell me how I should proceed with this.

thank you

My little girl Shelby had surgery on both back legs for LP. She, too, was in no pain and walked bow-legged. We got a second opinion from another vet and then went to an orthopedic veterinarian. I recommend that this surgery be done by an ortho. Many reg vets do the surgery, but an orthopedic vet does it on a regular basis and specializes in this stuff. (ours was very thorough)

Read our threads by going to Search....... Advanced Search..... and then type in our name Shelby&Seymour (search Threads posted). You will find post surgery updates and also what had to be done for Shelby when whe got home.

Shelby is still having physical therapy (laser, electro, and also hydro treadmill exercise). You would never know that she had surgery. She runs and plays with Seymour just like she used to. The vet techs did such an awesome job when they shaved her........ they preserved as much of her coat as they could without interfering with the procedure.

Good Luck to all those facing LP surgery.

[Izzy and Zoey]

My Isabelle was diagnosed with LP last spring and we went to UT Knoxville Vet hospital and they did both of her knees in one surgery. It was very hard to leave her for 2 1/2 days but she did great! The Vet hospital did a wonderful job of keeping me informed. After the surgery, it was a challenge to keep her still and calm and we had to take her out on a leash for 8 weeks (no running or jumping) but in the end it was all worth it. It was expensive ($2,200) but she is perfect now!

Mo~
Mommy of Isabelle and Zoey

[rebeccag]

Your Yorkshire Terrier Newsletter

[msipiqn1]

Mine has it, the surgery is sooo expensive and i was told by one of the vets i use that it could have to be redone afterwards. and it is an iffy surgery..can be alot of problems with it. so i have said i am not going to deal with it right now. she has meds she is on...she isn't that active anyway. she is 4 now and is very healthy. if it did get worse i would of course consider it, hers is like one of the worst catagories to but we will see..if it becomes to bad i will of course get it done. i just hate to put her through all that and something happen or she has to go through it again. no way...anti inflammatory meds are on hand and she doesn't need them all the time so i am ok at this point. time will tell...

[msipiqn1]

shelby, i am in the same boat. i have taken penny to 4 different vets and have had all different reactions. i am just watching her she isn't that active so i dont' make her do alot of walking but i have anti inflammatories that the vet gave to her. pennys is a 3 also. one of the vets said that there are so many issues with the surgery that it could have to be redone later especially when it is that bad. i was thinking if i pay 2500 bucks by george it better be 100 percent.. that is alot of money. so since she isn't that active and loves to just be with me on the couch most of the time i am just giving her meds if i think she might be in any kind of pain and she is fine... she is only 4 so i guess time will tell.. i am just riding mine out for now. i would get another opinion too..

[Kiki Mama]

I took Kiki to the vet this morning due to pain in her back leg and they said she has intermediate lp they gave her a shot of rimadyl and 2 weeks worth of pills of.the same thing. I can't tell.that is has helped it has been 2 hours! But I'm trying to give it time. I need all the advice I can get! What are the different grades

[nikki1]

Originally Posted by msipiqn1

Mine has it, the surgery is sooo expensive and i was told by one of the vets i use that it could have to be redone afterwards. and it is an iffy surgery..can be alot of problems with it. so i have said i am not going to deal with it right now. she has meds she is on...she isn't that active anyway. she is 4 now and is very healthy. if it did get worse i would of course consider it, hers is like one of the worst catagories to but we will see..if it becomes to bad i will of course get it done. i just hate to put her through all that and something happen or she has to go through it again. no way...anti inflammatory meds are on hand and she doesn't need them all the time so i am ok at this point. time will tell...

Same here...but Buffy is 11 in January 2014....Too risky for surgery...Using anti inflammatory meds and keep them on hand.....She needs them every once in awhile...not always...When she is in pain I carry her down steps and up as well..No jumping allowed...We moved to a one floor home so it is better for her, but she is stubborn adn will jump up on a lounge chair ocassionally...So sad to see her in pain and know what you are all going through......