[OwnedByJezebel]

With all my toy dogs (most of which had LP to some degree), I only have had one that had to have surgery, and that was because she tore a ligament as well. Otherwise, if it isn't bothering, you don't need surgery. Just try to prevent jumping.

Also, with the ones that were diagnosed with LP, it was done by manually manipulating the knee -- not by xray. I have no idea why your vet declared LP on the basis of an xray. All they had to do was a simple manipulation to see if the patella would move over and pop back into place.

Even with my Jezebel that tore her ligament this past spring and had to have surgery, the ortho did a manipulation on both patellas and graded the LP @ grade II. Then he did a different manipulation on the injured knee joint to see if it moved a certain way to indicate a torn ligament. After that, the xray, which still won't show the torn ligament, but it did show that the bones below the joint were shifted over, and not lined up correctly, which did indicate -- along with the way that the knee moved when he manipulated it -- that the ligament was torn.

I can't imagine that an xray would show LP unless is was of a high grade and the patella was not able to pop back into place? And in that case, the dog wouldn't be able to walk? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I think you are SO right to get a second opinion from an ortho specialist.