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Originally Posted by gemy  First there is nothing wrong with seeing an ortho. Listen well - and then make the surgery call or not as the case might be. Usually non symptomatic Yorkies recommendation is to hold off on surgery.
Then your breeder should know this diagnosis and you ask how she is willing to help.
Surgery or not your call - but I highly recommend you do a few things starting right now. No playing fetch on wet or damp grass. No jumping off furniture. Swimming and underwater treadmill are wonderfull to keep those leg muscles strong.
Let me talk a little more about water work. If you have access to beaches and or lakes - it is wonderfull summertime enjoyment to start off walking your pup in the lake Shallow water and if you have a pebbly bottom all the better to strengthen up those ankles and also all the little intrinsic muscles of the foot.
You can use fetch and retrieve in the water to help build up cardio and it is very low impact.
To strengthen the postural leg muscles - ramp work place your dog uphill on the ramp then gently push on his upper thigh so that he has to stabilize the other side - and then reverse which thigh you press on. Only enough pressure to take the weight off the one leg and onto the other. You can use a plank a set of stairs and a yoga mat for non slip.
Use a deflated somewhat - physio ball to make your dog balance on it. Have your hands to either side of the dog - to help out with stabilization if necessary.
Stack your dog in a stand position - try to work up to a 3minute still hold or stay. Believe it or not standing properly really builds up all the postural muscles. The hind toes are underneath his rear end and the front feet drop straight down just a little in advance of the shoulder. So that when you look from the side the front legs stand straight up and down with the toes pointing straight ahead.
These are a few of the things you can do. Also talk with your vet about supplements Dasuquin has a very good reputation. |
Wow, thank you for all of these awesome recommendations. I will definitely try them with her. We usually just play fetch in the house on carpet so hopefully that's okay. The ramp work sounds awesome. I will define toy try everything.
The contract I got from the breeder does not cover anything non life threatening. I don't think luxating patelas will kill a little one. I certainly hope not. I will see an orthopedic specialist soon when I can get a weekday off from work and see what their opinion is regarding surgery.
Thank you so much for the amazing advice.