Luxating Patella, again?

[Sophie2010]

Hi Everyone,

My Sophie had surgery for her luxating patella on her right hind leg back in May (she was 7 months old). She seemed to do great after the surgery and no longer "skipped" when she walked.

However, over the past three days I've noticed she started "skipping" again when we walk and today I felt her knee and I feel like I can move a little piece. I have a call into the vet to see if we need to come in to get her checked.

We didn't go for a walk for about two weeks because it was so hot here, heat index around 115, so I'm not sure if she's just not used to walking again (after surgery she still skipped for about a week or so once we could go walking) or her muscle got weak and that's what's causing it.

At her post-op check-up (3 weeks after surgery) her doctor said she was healing well and everything checked out okay, structurally.

So, my question is has anyone had to get the surgery again on the same leg. And would it happen so quickly?

I really hope we don't have to go through the surgery again and am sick thinking about it.

Any info on your experiences would be greatly appreciated!!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Sorry your baby had to go thru the surgery. Hot Rod had lp surgery and still skips. I've been told by 3 different vets (surgeon included) that his knee is great. I was also told that it could be phantom pain. One vet told me that it could be up to a year before they are really healed after a surgery.

However, having said all of that, my one vet is wanting me to try a pain killer for Hot Rod to see if he is in fact having a leg/hip issue. Its been a couple of years since surgery and he will skp every once in a while and walk with his leg up. There is not rhyme or reason. And when he wants to run, look out, off he goes. lol

But since your babies surgery was not long ago, I would give it some more time. We had to crate rest for 6 weeks, I'm surprised that you didn't have to.

[Sophie2010]

Thanks for your reply!

She had her surgery in early May and she was on limited activity for 2 weeks (no running, jumping, doing stairs, etc). Then we were allowed to slowly start walking her, which she loves.

All June and up until the other day she didn't skip at all. She just started doing it Monday. However, on Sunday we took her for a long walk, which we hadn't done in a couple of weeks because of the heat, so maybe it just tweaked it a little bit. I'm trying to keep her calm today, no running, playing catch, etc.

The vet said she could potentially need surgery again if her bones curve as they grow (she's only 10 months) and he said their bones don't fully stop growing until age 2. So I couldn't imagine this happening so soon!!

She runs like crazy and loves to jump, it's only when she' been walking fast. Still waiting to hear back from the vet to see if we need to bring her in to get checked, even if it's just for my own peace of mind!!

[mama2yorkies]

Our surgeon said something about avoiding LP surgery on pups that are too young because they are still growing. Our pups were 11 months old when they had their surgery and the surgeon said that was about as young as he would do it.

It also took several months (maybe 6) of healing and also physical therapy before they could resume full normal activity. If your baby just had surgery in May, it seems a bit soon to expect complete recovery or to be able to go for long walks.

I would consult with your surgeon asap to see what's going on. Have you done physical therapy to help strengthen the leg muscles after the surgery?

I sure hope another surgery is not needed!!

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by Sophie2010

Hi Everyone,

My Sophie had surgery for her luxating patella on her right hind leg back in May (she was 7 months old). She seemed to do great after the surgery and no longer "skipped" when she walked.

However, over the past three days I've noticed she started "skipping" again when we walk and today I felt her knee and I feel like I can move a little piece. I have a call into the vet to see if we need to come in to get her checked.

We didn't go for a walk for about two weeks because it was so hot here, heat index around 115, so I'm not sure if she's just not used to walking again (after surgery she still skipped for about a week or so once we could go walking) or her muscle got weak and that's what's causing it.

At her post-op check-up (3 weeks after surgery) her doctor said she was healing well and everything checked out okay, structurally.

So, my question is has anyone had to get the surgery again on the same leg. And would it happen so quickly?

I really hope we don't have to go through the surgery again and am sick thinking about it.

Any info on your experiences would be greatly appreciated!!

My Zada had both knees done at the same time and months later she started limping on her right leg. The Vet. who did the surgery had retired and move to Utah, so I took her here Kenneth Bruecker | Veterinary Medical And Surgical Group (VMSG) After her surgery the Dr. told me that the bone the knee cap sits on was not deepened. I was so upset because the Vet. said that would be one of the things he would be doing. Anyway maybe this was the case with your baby. Major difference between a regular Vet. and a orthopedic Dr.

[Sophie2010]

Thanks for the reponses!!

She was treated by an ortho specialist and the only thing they had to do was deepen her groove, which he said he did!

At her post-op check-up she had symetrical muscle mass and was bearing full weight on the operated knee.

Her age was something we did consider, but her knee cap was always out and would not go back in (Grade 4, I think) and she barely used her right knee, so it was weighing the possiblity that she may grow and need surgery again against the fact that if we let her go like this too long she might have had permanent damage that even surgery wouldn't fix. However, I didn't think it would be "undone" so soon.

But, tonight we were at her obedience class and she was perfectly fine on the rubber floor we were briskly walking on, which is the speed her skip usually starts. Yet, as soon as we went outside on the concrete she started skipping again. So, she doesn't seem to skip on grass or in the house, just on the sidewalk the past couple of days. Not sure what that is all about.

I have a call in to the vet and we'll see where we go from here.

Thanks for the info!!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

I would be curious as to what the vet says. It could be that the concrete is too hard and not giving any type of cushioning as grass would. We were the opposite as we really noticed Hot Rod picking his leg up when he walked on the uneven grass level. He would walk along the front of the lawn which goes down into a culvert (Sp) then evens out. We thought that it was because he was walking on an angle and didn't have even footing since it was on the side of the leg that was operated on.

Good luck at the vets.

[Sophie2010]

Our surgeon is out till Monday, so we're bringing her in then. However, our regular vet suspects it's just inflammation, given her symptoms and the fact that she was structurally sound at her post-op check-up. She said you can't "undo" this surgery and it would be very soon for her to have grown so much to make changes.

Her skip is better today, we've been limiting her running and jumping and haven't taken her on any walks. Hopefully it's just a little inflammation and we can get her on the mend soon!!

[babycooper]

My little guy has a LP and I was told the same thing...try to avoid the surgery if at all possible especially when they are young. Maybe your little Sophie had a worse case. How is she feeling now?
Meg & Cooper

[Sophie2010]

Thanks for your reply! She already had the surgery so can't really avoid it now. She had the highest grade, her knee cap was constantly out and couldn't even be manipulated back in. It was a tough decision but if we didn't do it she could have become chronically lame and later surgery would not have even helped.

Her skip is getting better, but we'll take her to the vet Monday to have him check everything out.

Thanks!

[mama2yorkies]

I'll be waiting for an update from the vet visit on Monday hoping for good news.

Inflammation makes sense. Our girl had bad inflammation on one of her knees after the surgery (she had both done at the same time). That was part of why it took so long for her to recover and also why the physical therapy was so important for her. The surgeon had to keep a bandage on her knee for the better part of almost two weeks after the surgery because of the inflammation. That is why the muscle atrophy was so bad. She really needed the physical therapy to help build back her leg muscles after wearing that bandage and resting her legs for so long. We didn't start the physical therapy right away. It was maybe three months or so later when they were more recovered. It really helped her though.

[Sophie2010]

Took Sophie to the vet today. First, things are biomechanicially fine with her knee! In other words, no damage to the knee and it's still looking good.

However, she does have a lot of inflammation and some small bumps around the knee cap. The surgeon thinks she is having an allergic reaction to the stitches he used. In rare cases dogs have a reaction to the dye in the stitches. She has been having GI issues for about a month now that we've been working to get resolved and they think that is tied to her knee reaction.

So, she's going to get started on some meds tomorrow and we check back with the doctor in two weeks.

I am soooo relieved it is not something structural!! Hopefully this little sensitive girl of mine can get fixed up quick!! But, not like you could tell anything is wrong with her because she's still crazy as ever

Thanks for you support!!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Glad they were able to diagnose what might be going on. I'll be keeping your baby in my thoughts and prayers that this will be just what your little girl needs.

[Patti]

I am glad her knee is structurally sound. Hopefully the medicine will get her back 100%.

[mama2yorkies]

Glad to hear that the knee is healing well. I hope the meds help her feel better soon.