's about Patellas - YorkieTalk.com Forums

diggy4 · 01-30-2008, 08:39 AM

My sisters Yorkie Ada is almost 2. At the age of 1 she was told her patellas move to much and to be watched. She thinks at the age of a little over a year it popped out completely and Ada yelped and wouldnt walk on it for a lil bite but eventually went back to her normal spazzer self. SHe is very active runs, jumps, is walked, and keeps up with Diggy quite well.

What should she watch for?

Are there tests she can have ran to find out exactly if she has them and how bad, if so what are they called.

I have read supplements can slow down the rate at which the Patellas get worse, is this true, if yes, what supplements?

oh and Ada is Bella and Diggys full sister, the vet said theirs do not move and felt fine....should i have them tested yearly if there are tests available? Should I trust the vet just "feeling" them?

Thanks in advance for all replies and help!

She avoids letting her jump as much as possible, but as you all now....theres not much slowin a yorkie down!!!!

diggy4 · 01-31-2008, 07:02 AM

anyone???

Izzy Princess · 01-31-2008, 07:20 AM

I want to hear some answers too since the issue with Tatum (Brooke)...all of a sudden this topic has been coming up and since Izzy is tiny as well..now when we go to the vet in June we'll have all this checked out.

Oh poor Ada...hope all gets well with her....I only know that it costs a small fortune for the surgery to take care of it.

TLC · 01-31-2008, 07:24 AM

LP should be checked for all the time - as it's very common.

Do a search here for Luxating Patella and you'll find lots of stuff.

LP doesn't fix itself, it doesn't get better over time. Sure there are supplements to take, but nothing is proven to be a 'sure fix' - it may aide it, or at least we hope it does.

The problem with leaving LP alone is that every time the patella (knee cap) luxates (slides in and out of it's groove spot) - the cartilage is slowly being worn away. This cartilage can never be replaced, so at some point there may be bone rubbing on bone - now that's gotta be painful.

Now even though they don't act like they are in pain, they very well may be, b/c honestly we would never really know. They can't tell us it hurts just a tiny bit, they just deal with it right?

After Roxy had her LP surgery, boy oh boy, she was a brand new girl! That's how we knew she must have been in pain or at the very least very uncomfortable

I hope that help you.

Zanders' mom · 02-04-2008, 03:06 PM

Hi, Jazzie has a level 4 LP on both legs, the ortho vet told me this same thing quoted here ... "LP doesn't fix itself, it doesn't get better over time.
The problem with leaving LP alone is that every time the patella (knee cap) luxates (slides in and out of it's groove spot) - the cartilage is slowly being worn away. This cartilage can never be replaced, so at some point there may be bone rubbing on bone.
In Jazzies case her patella stays to one side, the majority of the time so it was recommended that she have surgery in her 11th month. If more damage is done to the patella, cartilage than the cost of surgery is more and there may be more needs for pins and things. Go see an ortho specialist if you suspect your baby has a level 4 or 5 of lp. The vet can tell by a physical exam to the legs, or in some cases I have heard xrays are done.

Yorkiesgotaluvm · 02-04-2008, 03:53 PM

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried or found a Chiropractic Vet to help with this problem? To me it seems a Chiro vet would be helpful.
Neither of my Yorkies experienced patellas. but if they did i think i would try to find a Chiroprator for pets and ask them.

I'm curious. guess I'll search for a chiropractic vet.

Zanders' mom · 02-05-2008, 01:05 PM

Hi, I don't think a chiro would help. See the purpose for the surgery is to stabilize the knee and allow a normal return to function. A lateral incision is made over the knee joint of the affected leg. The joint is then examined for health of the cartilage, ligament stability, and presence of infection or osteophytes (bone spurs). Trochlear wedge resection involves deepening the groove that the patellar ligament rides in. The joint capsule is imbricated (some of the joint capsule is removed to tighten it) on the side opposite of the luxation to help pull the patella over. If the distal end of the patellar ligament is attached medially and not centrally, then the tibial tubercle (the point of attachment) is transpositioned so that it is centered on the tibia and then stabilized with pins and a tension band wire. After surgery a support bandage is placed around the leg to help with post-operative swelling and support.

If the surgery is performed before arthritis occurs, the prognosis is excellent and your pet should retain full use of his leg. However, if arthritis has already occurred, the joint will still be somewhat painful. Some arthritis can occur even post surgery. However, the amount of arthritis will be lessened with surgery.

Yorkiesgotaluvm · 02-05-2008, 03:08 PM

That sounds like what they do on human knee's and I know Chiropractic can help with human knees so they don't have to have surgery.

I just think I would check into Chiropractic if it was one of my dogs before I went the surgery route.

MyFairLacy · 02-05-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiesgotaluvm

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried or found a Chiropractic Vet to help with this problem? To me it seems a Chiro vet would be helpful.
Neither of my Yorkies experienced patellas. but if they did i think i would try to find a Chiroprator for pets and ask them.

I'm curious. guess I'll search for a chiropractic vet.

I have never heard of that, and I don't think it would help. The problem with LP is that it is a orthopedic problem...the joint is incongruent. The groove that the patella sits in is too shallow and the patella pops out of place.

If it was just a pain problem due to nerves or muscles, I could possibly see a chiropracter helping, but the problem has nothing to do with nerves...it's a bone problem.

Yorkiesgotaluvm · 02-06-2008, 02:15 PM

So Noone has tried Chiropractic before turning to Surgery?

I do know the right Chiropractor can make all the difference in humans, move bones, ect.

I was just wondering if anyone has actually tried it, since LP has shown up alot on the YT board lately.

Sorry Diggy4. I don't want to take over your thread, I know your looking for answers and I have no answers just more questions.

I hope someone can help you.

I also hope Ada is doing better.

01-30-2008, 08:39 AM	#1
diggy4 Bella Boo & Diggy Too! Donating GS Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 6,156 Blog Entries: 5	's about Patellas My sisters Yorkie Ada is almost 2. At the age of 1 she was told her patellas move to much and to be watched. She thinks at the age of a little over a year it popped out completely and Ada yelped and wouldnt walk on it for a lil bite but eventually went back to her normal spazzer self. SHe is very active runs, jumps, is walked, and keeps up with Diggy quite well. What should she watch for? Are there tests she can have ran to find out exactly if she has them and how bad, if so what are they called. I have read supplements can slow down the rate at which the Patellas get worse, is this true, if yes, what supplements? oh and Ada is Bella and Diggys full sister, the vet said theirs do not move and felt fine....should i have them tested yearly if there are tests available? Should I trust the vet just "feeling" them? Thanks in advance for all replies and help! She avoids letting her jump as much as possible, but as you all now....theres not much slowin a yorkie down!!!! __________________ ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN

01-31-2008, 07:02 AM	#2
diggy4 Bella Boo & Diggy Too! Donating GS Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 6,156 Blog Entries: 5	anyone??? __________________ ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN

01-31-2008, 07:20 AM	#3
Izzy Princess Therapy Dog Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,635 Blog Entries: 1	I want to hear some answers too since the issue with Tatum (Brooke)...all of a sudden this topic has been coming up and since Izzy is tiny as well..now when we go to the vet in June we'll have all this checked out. Oh poor Ada...hope all gets well with her....I only know that it costs a small fortune for the surgery to take care of it. __________________ Cynd, Izzy (Yorkie) & Cosmo (Biewer)(Secwetary & Charter Membwer of the Dirty FurKids Cwub)-Jusz say NO ta bein' cwean!)proud member of the *CrAzYcLu*B! ~The PINK club~SRC

01-31-2008, 07:24 AM	#4
TLC Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 7,247	LP should be checked for all the time - as it's very common. Do a search here for Luxating Patella and you'll find lots of stuff. LP doesn't fix itself, it doesn't get better over time. Sure there are supplements to take, but nothing is proven to be a 'sure fix' - it may aide it, or at least we hope it does. The problem with leaving LP alone is that every time the patella (knee cap) luxates (slides in and out of it's groove spot) - the cartilage is slowly being worn away. This cartilage can never be replaced, so at some point there may be bone rubbing on bone - now that's gotta be painful. Now even though they don't act like they are in pain, they very well may be, b/c honestly we would never really know. They can't tell us it hurts just a tiny bit, they just deal with it right? After Roxy had her LP surgery, boy oh boy, she was a brand new girl! That's how we knew she must have been in pain or at the very least very uncomfortable I hope that help you. __________________ Adopt Donate Foster www.yorkie911rescue.com Last edited by TLC; 01-31-2008 at 07:25 AM.

02-04-2008, 03:06 PM	#5
Zanders' mom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,351	Hi, Jazzie has a level 4 LP on both legs, the ortho vet told me this same thing quoted here ... "LP doesn't fix itself, it doesn't get better over time. The problem with leaving LP alone is that every time the patella (knee cap) luxates (slides in and out of it's groove spot) - the cartilage is slowly being worn away. This cartilage can never be replaced, so at some point there may be bone rubbing on bone. In Jazzies case her patella stays to one side, the majority of the time so it was recommended that she have surgery in her 11th month. If more damage is done to the patella, cartilage than the cost of surgery is more and there may be more needs for pins and things. Go see an ortho specialist if you suspect your baby has a level 4 or 5 of lp. The vet can tell by a physical exam to the legs, or in some cases I have heard xrays are done. __________________ With GOD .... All things ARE possible! Last edited by Zanders' mom; 02-04-2008 at 03:09 PM.

02-04-2008, 03:53 PM	#6
Yorkiesgotaluvm Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 17	Just wondering if anyone has ever tried or found a Chiropractic Vet to help with this problem? To me it seems a Chiro vet would be helpful. Neither of my Yorkies experienced patellas. but if they did i think i would try to find a Chiroprator for pets and ask them. I'm curious. guess I'll search for a chiropractic vet.

02-05-2008, 01:05 PM	#7
Zanders' mom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,351	Hi, I don't think a chiro would help. See the purpose for the surgery is to stabilize the knee and allow a normal return to function. A lateral incision is made over the knee joint of the affected leg. The joint is then examined for health of the cartilage, ligament stability, and presence of infection or osteophytes (bone spurs). Trochlear wedge resection involves deepening the groove that the patellar ligament rides in. The joint capsule is imbricated (some of the joint capsule is removed to tighten it) on the side opposite of the luxation to help pull the patella over. If the distal end of the patellar ligament is attached medially and not centrally, then the tibial tubercle (the point of attachment) is transpositioned so that it is centered on the tibia and then stabilized with pins and a tension band wire. After surgery a support bandage is placed around the leg to help with post-operative swelling and support. If the surgery is performed before arthritis occurs, the prognosis is excellent and your pet should retain full use of his leg. However, if arthritis has already occurred, the joint will still be somewhat painful. Some arthritis can occur even post surgery. However, the amount of arthritis will be lessened with surgery. __________________ With GOD .... All things ARE possible!

02-05-2008, 03:08 PM	#8
Yorkiesgotaluvm Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 17	That sounds like what they do on human knee's and I know Chiropractic can help with human knees so they don't have to have surgery. I just think I would check into Chiropractic if it was one of my dogs before I went the surgery route.

02-06-2008, 02:15 PM	#10
Yorkiesgotaluvm Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 17	So Noone has tried Chiropractic before turning to Surgery? I do know the right Chiropractor can make all the difference in humans, move bones, ect. I was just wondering if anyone has actually tried it, since LP has shown up alot on the YT board lately. Sorry Diggy4. I don't want to take over your thread, I know your looking for answers and I have no answers just more questions. I hope someone can help you. I also hope Ada is doing better.