[bhanish]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share my sadness with the forum. Saturday I took Whimsy to the vet for his one year annual, and the vet diagnosed him with stage 3 luxating patella on his left leg. I've never had a dog before, so I didn't realize that the way he was walking wasn't normal. But I did notice that he didn't love walks like other dogs do, that he'd lean to his right side, and that he hated steps. Now I know why. I'm pretty heart broken.

I know it's not life threatening but it's definitely life altering. I decided to go to a breeder instead of adopting because I knew I couldn't afford a sick dog. Now Whimsy is sick, and I don't care about the money. I just feel so sad that he has to go through all of this, especially since he loves to play.

I asked my vet if there were any permanent solutions, and she said that she wouldn't recommend surgery unless Whimsy was in visible pain. She explained that getting a surgery brings about a ton of complications including increasing Whimsy's chances of getting arthritis. She referred Whimsy to a chiropractor. She explained that physical therapy could prevent Whimsy's knee from getting worse, and there's a chance that he might get better. When I asked if going to the chiropractor would be a one time thing, she answered that Whimsy is going to need chiropractic care for the rest of his life. :,(

I'm seeing the chiropractor on Saturday. I spoke to her over the phone, and she said we're going to do sessions once a week for 4-6 weeks so that she can teach me all the exercises and stretches. After that, she said I only need to go to the chiropractor 2-3 times a year. When she heard the worry in my voice, she reassured me that puppies are quick to pick up on the physical therapy.

I know there are options out there for Whimsy, but I can't explain why I'm so sad. To think my poor baby was in pain for so long and I didn't even notice. And Whimsy is not one to cry or whine. Once when he was 5 months, I accidentally cut his skin when he moved as I was cutting his hair. He didn't make a peep even though he was bleeding and we had to take him to the ER. (Yes, I failed him then but after lots of laser treatment, he's all healed). Long story short, it's hard to know when he's in pain.

Anyway, I thought I'd share this with all the other yorkie owners out there.

Here's a photo of Whimsy from last night. You can see how he's avoiding putting pressure on his left leg.