Quote:
Originally Posted by TLC  Hi there.
Luxating Patella is very common in Yorkies, b/c this is a genetic defect and they are just being breed and breed, so this issue will never go away.
Please know that there are ONLY 4 Grades of LP - Grade 4 being the worst grade.
Please go see an Ortho Specialist for a 2nd opinion.
IMO Grade 3 and Grade 4 most definitely require surgery.
Please know that damage is being done daily from the patella (knee cap) luxating (sliding back and forth) - the cartilage in that area is being worn down and once it is gone, that can not be replaced, also, once that is worn down, you will start to have bone rubbing on bone - and YES that is VERY painful.
You don't want it to get to that point, and unfortunately, it is inevitable. LP doesn't get better on it's own, it continues to get worse and Grade 4 is the worst.
I have 2 Yorkies with LP in both rear legs - Roxy had surgery to stabilize the luxation and boy oh boy - what a BRAND NEW GIRL she is.
Do a search here on YT for: Luxating Patella
You'll find soooooooo much information
Best Wishes! |
I agree 100%. If he has a grade 3 and 4, surgery is necessary. To wait will only make things worse and the surgery will be more expensive and his recovery longer.
We just had a gal on another forum I belong to with a six year old with luxating patellas. She was told when he was a year old that he needed surgery, but since he wasn't in pain, she waited five years. She had kids in college and finances were an issue.
When she finally took him in she found out that his knees had gotten so much worse that her regular vet could no longer do the surgery. She had to take him to a specialist six hours away and it cost her three times as much as the original estimate.
Sadly, I know of a few cases of dogs who have come into rescue whose knees were so bad it was too late to operate.
Please do get a second opinion from an orthopedic vet and if he agrees your baby needs surgery, get it done asap.