YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community


Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member!

Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us.

Go Back   YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community > YorkieTalk > Yorkie Health & Diet
Register Blogs FAQ Calendar JavaChat Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 03-08-2009, 06:26 PM   #1
I Love My Lil' Punkin's
Donating Member
 
stedmansmommy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Stedman and Tatum's World :)
Posts: 15,331
Blog Entries: 5
Question Luxating Patella Surgery - Do Both Knees At The Same Time? Or One?

As some of you know, I will be scheduling Tatum's LP surgery tomorrow. The actual SURGERY won't be tomorrow...but tomorrow is the day that I am going to call and schedule it. I HATE THIS and I am more nervous than I can even put into words, but I CANNOT put this off any longer. The surgery has to be done....and it has to be done ASAP.

In the beginning I was going to have only one leg done at a time. However, her legs seems to be getting worse now (I know they are) and every once in a while now she is in pain - I'd say about once a month. I will say, though, that ever since I started her on the Cosequin she has improved DRAMATICALLY!!! Cosequin has literally been a LIFESAVER for us!

Anyhow, Tatum is so "baby" like - I just can't explain her personality but I was just too scared in the beginning to have both legs done at the same time. I just thought that knowing her personality, and the way she is, that it would be too much for her. HOWEVER, now that her little knees are worse, I feel that both really DO need to be done at the same time.

Tatum's breeder recommended that I do only one at a time, however, this was a while back - when her knees weren't this bad and before she was ever in any pain. I have heard different people say different things. Some people only recommend doing one at a time, while others recommend doing both at the same time as it is only ONE surgery that they have to be put through, ONE recovery that they have to go through, one car ride there and one car ride back (this is of huge importance to me as Tatum HATES the car), etc. and actually, I am starting to think this way as well. I would just rather get it over and done with and out of the way and not have to put her through it TWICE. Plus, the longer I wait the worse her other knee is going to get. And I HOPE that arthritis has not already set in, but that could very well be...and I am just thinking that by going ahead and doing both knees at the same time maybe I can LESSEN her chances of the arthritis being worse in the other knee if I go ahead and just get it done now too. I mean I am thinking of the here and now, but I also feel that it is really important to think about long term as well. Does this make any sense?

Anyway, I am almost positive (99% sure) that I am going to go ahead and do both knees at the same time....BUT, I would like to get some of your opinions and thoughts on it first, before I go and schedule the actual surgery tomorrow. And I would especially LOVE to hear from those of you who's babies have actually gone through this surgery before. What your experience was like, how your baby handled it and got along after surgery, etc. And to those of you who's babies had both knees done at the same time, would you do it again? Or was having both knees done at the same time too hard on them? Should they ever need this surgery again (God forbid) would you opt for doing only one knee at a time, the next time around?

Thanks so much in advance!
__________________
Mommy Loves Stedman and Tatum!

They have us wrapped around their little paws!
stedmansmommy is offline   Reply With Quote
Welcome Guest!
Not Registered?

Join today and remove this ad!

Old 03-09-2009, 03:49 AM   #2
lovin my girls
Donating Member
 
Gypsy & Me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Posts: 9,342
Default

I don't really know anything about this at all but I wanted to bump your thread so hopefully someone will give you some opinions.

If I was to have an opinion though I would do both at the same time so you both only go through the process once because as well as all the things you mentioned it also means that you won't be playing it all through you mind again in the run up to the next surgrey. JMO.

I know you will make the right choice for Tatum because she is your baby and you love her and know her better than anyone else. Go with what your gut feelings are.

__________________
Vicky - Gypsy, Kayla & Amelia Grace's Mummy
Follow Yodi's Adventure! Where In The World Is Yodi?
Petitioning For ERFW
Gypsy & Me is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 04:18 AM   #3
Owned by Tumi & Gracie
Donating Member
 
tumismom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,321
Default

aww..my poor Tate! And i dont have any advice but I am praying for both you and Tate!! We love her so much and we hope she gets recover from it very soon after her surgery!
__________________
PROUD MOMMY OF MS.TUMI,MS.TSUBI AND MS.GRACIE! I LOVE MY BABY GIRLS!!
PROUD MEMBER OF THE CRAZY CLUB!
tumismom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 04:42 AM   #4
Lil' CoCo, Lotta Coffee.
Donating Member
 
saphire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South Africa
Posts: 3,115
Default

Brooke, I know how worried and scared you must be! When I found out CoCo had to have hers done, I was devastated. We did both knees at the same time, the vet recommended this, for all the reasons you have stated. One op, one recovery time etc.

I tell you what, if we hadn't had them both done together, I may not have had the second one done! It was not easy for her, but I think it was worse for me, I spent weeks in tears. I was so very pleased we did them at the same time!

Another reason to have them done at once is that when they are recovering from one op, they would be putting more pressure on the other bad leg. At least when you do them together, they have to rest both legs together.

Make sure you get a good supply of pain meds, it's vital they don't feel too much pain while recovering.

Is her hair short at the moment? If not, cut it short. They will shave her completely neked from about the waist down, and I was very silly and didn't get her cut before.. it really looked ugly with half neked and half long, and of course you can't do much once they've had the op, well not for a while anyway.

If you need any more help or tips, please just ask, I will help you in any way I can.
__________________
Sheilagh

CoffeeAbigail-Ceana. CoCoMurfee & Winston
saphire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 07:33 AM   #5
And Rylee Finnegan
Donating Member
 
Ellie May's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
Default

I actually think this is something that the surgeon should decide unless they have no preference. Reason being, they have to make sure that the anesthetic episode goes safety and increased time under anesethesia can be a concern.

I like the idea of doing both knees at once for the reasons you gave (mostly one recovery) but I would ask the surgeon to decide... They have seen this so many times and should know what works for them by now.
__________________
Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶
Ellie May is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2009, 06:25 AM   #6
YT Addict
 
ReesiesDad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Armada, Michigan
Posts: 387
Default Luxating patellas

I'm new here, and have inherited my daughter's Reesie while nursing school takes all her time.

We faced this about two weeks ago and so far we're getting through it. The little peanut has good days and some not so good, but we're doing our best to help her through. She had both knees done at the same time, and this was something that was left to our decision. What you need to think about is the psychological trauma that the poor little thing will go through. We thought that once was enough, do them both and get it over with. She is scared to vibrating now as we go through the checkup visits. There's no way I would have put her through this twice.

As she recovers, we find that keeping her warm is a challenge as she was shaved right down below her rib cage. She shakes either with fear, cold, or maybe occasional pain. We make sure she gets her pain meds, but here we are two weeks after surgery and she's doing pretty good. The vet said on Sunday that she is doing remarkably well for this being such a short time after surgery. We keep her crated when we can't keep a constant eye on her and she doesn't seem to mind. For her it's a safe haven.

There will be days that you'll worry and the tears will flow, but it gets better.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...surgery002.jpg
ReesiesDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2009, 09:54 AM   #7
Lil' CoCo, Lotta Coffee.
Donating Member
 
saphire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South Africa
Posts: 3,115
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ReesiesDad View Post
I'm new here, and have inherited my daughter's Reesie while nursing school takes all her time.

We faced this about two weeks ago and so far we're getting through it. The little peanut has good days and some not so good, but we're doing our best to help her through. She had both knees done at the same time, and this was something that was left to our decision. What you need to think about is the psychological trauma that the poor little thing will go through. We thought that once was enough, do them both and get it over with. She is scared to vibrating now as we go through the checkup visits. There's no way I would have put her through this twice.

As she recovers, we find that keeping her warm is a challenge as she was shaved right down below her rib cage. She shakes either with fear, cold, or maybe occasional pain. We make sure she gets her pain meds, but here we are two weeks after surgery and she's doing pretty good. The vet said on Sunday that she is doing remarkably well for this being such a short time after surgery. We keep her crated when we can't keep a constant eye on her and she doesn't seem to mind. For her it's a safe haven.

There will be days that you'll worry and the tears will flow, but it gets better.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...surgery002.jpg
Sounds like you're going through what we went through!

I wish you and your baby well with her recovery.



Something else I thought of.. do you have a stroller? Our two sleep on our bed, but I was worried she would fall off, so I put her to sleep in the stroller for 4 months after her surgery. She was safe, warm and comfortable in there.
She occasionally still asks to be put in the stroller at night. It is too cute!
__________________
Sheilagh

CoffeeAbigail-Ceana. CoCoMurfee & Winston
saphire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2009, 10:11 AM   #8
TLC
Slave to My Rug-Rats
Donating Member
 
TLC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
Default

Been there....

Both at the same for all the reasons posted above.

You will NOT want to put her thru it again, trust me, as I had to and it sucks. Small dogs can recover ok from both at the same time It WILL be rough, no doubt about it, BUT so worth it in the end
__________________
Adopt Donate Foster
www.yorkie911rescue.com
TLC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2009, 11:04 AM   #9
Loved by Layla
Donating Member
 
marcerella02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 11,257
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ReesiesDad View Post
I'm new here, and have inherited my daughter's Reesie while nursing school takes all her time.

We faced this about two weeks ago and so far we're getting through it. The little peanut has good days and some not so good, but we're doing our best to help her through. She had both knees done at the same time, and this was something that was left to our decision. What you need to think about is the psychological trauma that the poor little thing will go through. We thought that once was enough, do them both and get it over with. She is scared to vibrating now as we go through the checkup visits. There's no way I would have put her through this twice.

As she recovers, we find that keeping her warm is a challenge as she was shaved right down below her rib cage. She shakes either with fear, cold, or maybe occasional pain. We make sure she gets her pain meds, but here we are two weeks after surgery and she's doing pretty good. The vet said on Sunday that she is doing remarkably well for this being such a short time after surgery. We keep her crated when we can't keep a constant eye on her and she doesn't seem to mind. For her it's a safe haven.

There will be days that you'll worry and the tears will flow, but it gets better.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...surgery002.jpg
oh what a face- but that picture makes me hope we never have to go through that.

Brooke- I would do it both at the same time as long as the surgeon says that is fine. Getting through it once is all you should have to do- i can't imagine doing it once and then having to bring her back in and go through all that pain again.
__________________
Layla 's Simon
marcerella02 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2009, 01:08 PM   #10
Senior Yorkie Talker
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: so cali
Posts: 223
Default

i would do both at the same time as long as the vet/surgeon gives the okay.. thats one less time you have to put tate under and the recovery time she'd only have to go through it once. one of my girl friends had to get this done on her yorkie and she had to carry her in a sling for a while.. also she did some kind of hydro therapy thing where her dog would swim in the bathtub to help strengthen the legs again? dont know what thats all about though. good luck!!
__________________
Mooselove <3
wishies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2009, 01:21 PM   #11
Loved by Layla
Donating Member
 
marcerella02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 11,257
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by wishies View Post
i would do both at the same time as long as the vet/surgeon gives the okay.. thats one less time you have to put tate under and the recovery time she'd only have to go through it once. one of my girl friends had to get this done on her yorkie and she had to carry her in a sling for a while.. also she did some kind of hydro therapy thing where her dog would swim in the bathtub to help strengthen the legs again? dont know what thats all about though. good luck!!
hydro therapy is GREAT!! I use it for Layla's LP in her back legs- it helps strengthen the muscles around her knee cap- i'm doing what we can to prevent the surgery but that would be GREAT therapy for after the surgery- low impact!
__________________
Layla 's Simon
marcerella02 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2009, 04:06 PM   #12
Donating Yorkie Yakker
 
bellaismybaby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: California
Posts: 829
Default

I'm considering doing both of Bella's at the same time too. I've been putting it off and need to get it done. How much time do you think I would need to take off of work? I'm thinking two weeks. My mom watches them while I work, but I want to be there for the first days.
Did you all go to a specialist or have your vet do the surgery? I'm debating. My vet has done several with good results. There are so many factors.
__________________
Bella Izzie Julie
bellaismybaby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2009, 04:07 PM   #13
Loved by Layla
Donating Member
 
marcerella02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 11,257
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bellaismybaby View Post
I'm considering doing both of Bella's at the same time too. I've been putting it off and need to get it done. How much time do you think I would need to take off of work? I'm thinking two weeks. My mom watches them while I work, but I want to be there for the first days.
Did you all go to a specialist or have your vet do the surgery? I'm debating. My vet has done several with good results. There are so many factors.
I think they need to be off their feet for 10 week? i could be wrong- i remmeber it being an absurd amount of time to try and keep a hyper yorkie calm i'm sure if you take the first 2 weeks that will be long enough for the intense pain to subside but she will be in casts longer than that- you are lucky that she had a grandma to watch her during the day
__________________
Layla 's Simon
marcerella02 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2009, 04:24 PM   #14
Phantom Queen Morrigan
Donating Member
 
kalina82's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: with my yorkie baby
Posts: 10,141
Blog Entries: 1
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by marcerella02 View Post
I think they need to be off their feet for 10 week? i could be wrong- i remmeber it being an absurd amount of time to try and keep a hyper yorkie calm i'm sure if you take the first 2 weeks that will be long enough for the intense pain to subside but she will be in casts longer than that- you are lucky that she had a grandma to watch her during the day
Hey Brooke, i've already told you my opinion about her LP surgery i believe. Both at the same time. Makes it easier. Believe me. lol the little guys take to it much better and the recovery is quicker.

I just wanted to comment about what Marcerella said. They should not be "off their feet" for recovery. Walking is a huge part of rehab and she should be walking the very first day she comes home. Yes you do have to keep her calm tho. no running, jumping, playing, beds, furniture, stairs, etc. as for the casts, i hate when vets use them. it is very old school and research as shown that it is better NOT to restrict the joints from moving. Patients after knee surgery should start their rehab the very next day by using their legs and walking 3 times a day for 10 minutes each time. also there are range of motion exercises that should be starts a few days after surgery to flex and extend all the joints in the leg to keep them moving and build up muscle. her back legs are pretty atrophied i'm sure from her not using them properly. Ask YorkieMalt about her guys recoverys.
__________________
Kellie and Morgan
kalina82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2009, 04:29 PM   #15
"& Seeger, too"
Donating Member
 
Shelby&Seymour's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 5,169
Default

Shelby had both done at the same time....... and I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was a BIG surgery for her to take on, but I think it was easier on her. Only 1 recovery, and also 1 time under anesthesia. OF course with 2 legs bandaged, she relied on me for ALOT. We carried her to and from her pee pad, to her food bowl, too see out the window, etc.... you get the idea. I also made susre that she only laid in the same place for a limited amount of time so she wouldn't get tired, depressed or bored. We always went on our "walk" thru the house looking out windows and checking out different rooms. She liked being carried around for these adventures. ANd Yes, they are able to walk and need to get some exercise, but they also have went thru a major surgery... and just like people, they NEED to rest and have recovery time. Shelby was a tired and sore little gal for awhile. (but it is true.... kinda like how they get you outta bed in the hospital after surgery to walk around, you need to have some "mobile" time..... but it can be overdone)

Our surgeon was great, as were the gals that prepped her for surgery. She was not shaved drastically...... matter of fact, they preserved her coat very well. I was glad about that..... plus it was cold last year in Febuary!

We used saranwrap on her bandages at "pee pee" time to keep them from getting wet. It worked wonderfully!!!! Keep that in mind.
I am sure you have done your homework on this surgery.... don't be afraid to ask the surgeon questions!!

Here is a pic of Shelby after surgery...

001.jpg
__________________
Happy Fall Y'all! 🎃

Last edited by Shelby&Seymour; 03-12-2009 at 04:33 PM.
Shelby&Seymour is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks



Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




Google
 

SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167