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Old 04-09-2012, 05:30 AM   #1
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Angry First vet visit

Hi guys. Now that I have calmed down, I can ask for advice. I took my dog to her first vet visit with a vet in this area. I did a lot of research trying to find a vet that I thought I would like. I thought I was just going in for her to be tested for heartworm and then to start her on the heartworm medication. I had gotten a clean bill of health from the vet that the breeder uses plus I had talked to the breeder about her knees and was told they were fine and that she was a really healthy dog. She said that her own vet had asked her why she was even selling the dog because she was such a hearty dog that she would make a good breed dog. But she had promised her to me, so she couldn't keep her.

Anyway, the new vet listens to her heart and tells me her heart sounds "funny". I was like WHAT?? Then she says, well maybe it is just because she is anxious. Then she tells me that one of her baby teeth didn't fall out and is going to have to be pulled out under anesthesia. THEN she tells me that she has a grade 2 luxating patella in one leg and a grade 3 in the other leg and would have to have surgery! I was in shock. She bascially said the breeder was a liar that the dog isn't healthy and that I should make the breeder pay for half the surgery. And she sold me Cosequin and said I had to put her on that. I was like, you are telling me that I have to have my 8 month old puppy have surgery on both her legs??? I told her that I had a clean bill of health from another vet and that the breeder assured me her legs were fine when I got her. I asked the vet if her knees could have gotten bad for jumping like a nut on the pen for 6 weeks when I had the door closed. I have since then given her the run of the kitchen and she doesn't jump like that anymore. The new vet said no, absolutely not that has nothing to do with it. Needless to say, I was really freaked out.

I called the breeder and she was so mad that she wanted to call the new vet. She said that when the dog was spayed she was under anesthesia and on a heart monitier and if there were any problems, they would have showed up and that her legs WERE fine. She said her vet is very meticulous about documenting anything wrong with the dogs and he would have told her about anything wrong. She also said that yes, jumping for 6 weeks on her hind legs could have affected her knees. She also told me not to give her the Cosequin that she was too young to take it, and that absolutely do not even THINK about surgery for her knees. She also told me to find another vet. I don't believe the breeder lied to me about the dog, she has a very good reputation and sells her dogs to very wealthy people. She did tell me that one of my dogs litter mates had bad knees and that she told anyone who was interested in THAT dog about the dogs knees so that any potential buyer could make an informed decision.

My dog runs around like a nut, I mean she runs and chases balls and we even jog when I take her for her walks. She exhibits NO symptoms of leg pain or problems. I am so beside myself about this. I just can't believe that I was basically smacked over the head by this vet. I felt like she was totally judgemental about my actually "buying" a dog rather than adopting one and her attitude was bascially, well you bought a small breed dog what did you expect??

I am sure a lot of you may have had luxating patella issues with your Yorkies so I am really hoping for some advice other than the fact that my little doggie should have surgery when she appears to be perfectly fine.

Thanks guys.
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Old 04-09-2012, 06:26 AM   #2
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I'm so sorry that you have gotten conflicting health reports from two vets. The obvious answer is to go to a third vet for another opinion for a) heart sounds and b) the grade of LP.

Unfortunately as you have had her for six weeks, it is a lot late to know if she came from the breeder with LP at what-ever grade. Usually for the buyer's protection you take the new dog to your vet within 48 hrs of purchase.

In terms of the jumping up and down like a maniac; there are conflicting views about whether this will cause or not LP in an otherwise healthy knee. Certainly that kind of activity will for sure worsen what-ever weakness;abnormality that is present in the knee. I'm surprised your breeder didn't mention this to you. Limit jumping off of furniture and the repetitive type of jumping you described.

Now in terms of will these knees if they are indeed a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 require surgery; the liklihood over time is that the more severe the LP (ie Grade 3 is quite a serious grade of LP) surgery is often required.

I would recommend an orthopaedic surgical consult to get the grading assessed by an expert. Surgery should be an option of last resort. Some ortho's do refer you to physio treatments. A good physio should be able to give you exercises to strengthen the kneecaps.

For now until you know more; I would not be running/jogging with her any distance. If you must do something like this; jogging in the water is the best form of exercise for animal or human with joint problems. If you have an indoor doggy pool take her swimming.

In terms of jumping; curtail this right now. No jumping off furniture. No jumping off the bed etc.

If you do a search here on YT for Luxating Patella there are multiple threads that talk about this disease and various techniques our members have shared.
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Old 04-09-2012, 06:30 AM   #3
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Sounds like you found a Yorkie-hating vet.... Scratch that appointment and find a better vet....
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Old 04-09-2012, 06:34 AM   #4
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I think the heart should be taken seriously. It might be nothing, but the other vet easily could have missed it.

No need to rush to surgery in an asymptotic dog, but if she knew enough to grade them, I'd take that seriously too.

How about a second opinion?
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Old 04-09-2012, 07:13 AM   #5
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i agree/ i would get another opinion
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Old 04-09-2012, 08:03 AM   #6
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Just because a breeder sells to wealthy people doesn't make her great now I am not saying your breeder is bad or a liar but it does happen all the time. I am guessing if one of the puppies in the litter had bad knees the others could as well. I would possibly get a second opinion but remember vets are human so the breeders vet could have made a mistake or missed something. I would never let a regular vet do surgery on my dogs knees I would go to an orthopedic surgeon and see what they say but if there is no signs of pain then surgery isn't necessary at this time.
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Old 04-09-2012, 08:24 AM   #7
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I would get a 2nd opinion, however the breeder has already told you about another of her pups with LP & this tells me that it is very possible that your baby could also have LP. If this breeder has any clue as to what she is doing, she would spay/neuter her breeding pair as LP is hereditary & not something any reputable breeder would want passed on to the pups & is why a reputable breeder would spay/neuter the parents . As for the heart, I would go to a cardiologist ASAP as they will diagnose any heart condition & IF your pup has something wrong with the heart, well the breeder definitely needs to stop breeding the parents. I will be Praying that your baby will be Ok.
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Old 04-09-2012, 08:35 AM   #8
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It sounds like the vet is money hungry however I would have the heart and knees checked with another vet
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Old 04-09-2012, 10:56 AM   #9
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Neither of these conditions should be ignored if indeed she has them. I would definitely seek a second opinion. Even if her knees are asymptomatic, it does not mean they don't need to be repaired. Puppies especially can be very affected by LP...it can cause their bones to not grow correctly.

Here is an article about LP that was written by a board certified surgeon that YHR uses:

http://www.yorkiehavenrescue.com/patellarluxation.html
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Old 04-09-2012, 11:06 AM   #10
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Please don't be upset, try to get a 2nd opinion, before you make any kind of decision.

Praying all goes well
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Old 04-09-2012, 11:31 AM   #11
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I bought PetPlan insurance and they do cover the patella BUT there is a 6 month waiting period. Now that I have gone to a vet who diagnosed her, they won't cover anything that has to do with her patellas. Unless I can wait until September and go to a different vet and not say that I went to one already.

I just feel like surgery should not be pushed on a dog just like it shouldn't be pushed on a human ESPECIALLY if there are no symptoms at all. I have been researching the surgery and sometimes the dogs have more problems after it. Just like people have problems after surgery. Any kind of cutting open of the body should only be done as a last resort. I just don't believe in going through surgery unless it is absolutely necessary because it can cause other problems like adhesions, arthritis, etc. It is almost like you are damned if you do and damned if you don't with this problem!!

As far as the heart thing, the vet didn't even talk about it after she initially said something.

Plus, if her baby tooth doesn't fall out, she will have to be put under anesthesia and have it pulled. If I have to do that then I will take her to the vet in New York that the breeder uses for her dogs. He has a lot of experience dealing with little dogs. I would rather drive 7 hours and have it done by this guy.

The whole experience just sucked and was expensive.
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Old 04-09-2012, 11:50 AM   #12
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I would still get a 2nd opinon especially on the heart. If anything with the heart is not normal you need to know it
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Old 04-09-2012, 02:24 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sportschick View Post
I bought PetPlan insurance and they do cover the patella BUT there is a 6 month waiting period. Now that I have gone to a vet who diagnosed her, they won't cover anything that has to do with her patellas. Unless I can wait until September and go to a different vet and not say that I went to one already.

I just feel like surgery should not be pushed on a dog just like it shouldn't be pushed on a human ESPECIALLY if there are no symptoms at all. I have been researching the surgery and sometimes the dogs have more problems after it. Just like people have problems after surgery. Any kind of cutting open of the body should only be done as a last resort. I just don't believe in going through surgery unless it is absolutely necessary because it can cause other problems like adhesions, arthritis, etc. It is almost like you are damned if you do and damned if you don't with this problem!!

As far as the heart thing, the vet didn't even talk about it after she initially said something.

Plus, if her baby tooth doesn't fall out, she will have to be put under anesthesia and have it pulled. If I have to do that then I will take her to the vet in New York that the breeder uses for her dogs. He has a lot of experience dealing with little dogs. I would rather drive 7 hours and have it done by this guy.

The whole experience just sucked and was expensive.
I know that surgery does not work 100% but I have only heard good results on here. They say when done soon enough it prevents arthritis. There is no other thing that can be done for LP especially if they are in pain because if you keep them on pain meds for an extremely long time that will take its toll on them as well. I would not let a heart problem just sit and wait I would not be able to sleep or even think right if I thought something was wrong with Callie's heat I would have to get a second opinion. I personally would not go to the vet the breeder used because you never know if there could be some under the table dealings.
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Old 04-09-2012, 06:11 PM   #14
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I would definitely recomend the additional opinion.
People do this all the time when it comes to their health.

Praying that all is well.
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