A luxating patella is a common problem with Yorkies and many other breeds.
A lot of people here have had that surgery with their pets.
A luxating patella is something that is graded - as to its severity.
A dog can get by with a mild luxating patella indefinitely without surgery. Often it progresses and eventually requires surgery, and other cases are severe and require surgery even at a young age.
Sorry you have had to experience this problem. Check with the breeders, but I believe that a Yorkie with this problem should not be bred.
My vet said that this problem is a lot more prevelant with puppy mill pups and uneducated breeders. It's the first thing he checked on my new little 8-week old pup, and thankfully his knees were problem free.
---- Tell me about trying to keep a puppy (or dog) down and quiet. My Bichon had two torn cruciate ligaments - and I couldn't keep him down and quiet either time. His painful, weak, little knees did help keep him a little quieter than usual for a while --but not as quiet as he should have been.
Good luck!
PS -- Run a search on "luxating patellas" here on YT - there have been some very detailed and informative posts - that you will learn a lot from.
Carol Jean |