YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Luxating Patellas AND Medial Shoulder Instability

sportschick · 03-26-2023, 03:20 PM

Hello all, it has been years since I posted her. My Beanie, the love of my life, my first dog is now almost 12 years old. I cannot believe it! When I first got her, I got so much help here, coping with this little creature. She was, and still is, a total handful, but now I understand her and me dealing with her, more.

I am hoping to get some advice, insight into what I am now struggling with. Beanie has luxating patella, supposedly Grade 4 in the right leg and Grade 3 in the left leg. She also had/has a medial shoulder instability injury on her left right front leg. I was told by my vet that she needed surgery for this, but I opted not to and rehabbed her using aquatic therapy, physical therapy and laser therapy. It took almost 7 months, but she got better and we were back to our walking.

I have had multiple physical problems, including hip replacement last January and comminuted, displaced fracture of my left patella, this January. That happened walking Beanie! I feel, and well smashed my knee up. Couldn't walk for 2 months, which meant she didn't walk much either.

Have started walking again, but she is limping in various degrees. I can't even figure out which leg is making her limp. My vet has told me multiple times that she needs her Grade 4 luxating patella fixed over the years, but I have resisted and, again used non invasive treatments like swimming, etc. She has been fine with all of the above until now.

All her x-rays show minimal arthritis, so that is good. But, well, she is limping. She is also holding up her left leg more, so I know that the medial shoulder instability is rearing it's head again. I went to a wonderful surgeon 2 years ago, who said to keep doing the conservative treatment, swimming, etc., which I did and as I said, she got better. That surgeon has moved to Texas. Noooooooo. LOL.

I did try underwater treadmill last year for the luxating patellas (before I fell), but I don't think it really helped her like the actual swimming did (that was a different therapist). NOW, she is exhibiting problems with the patellas and the shoulder. She is fine in the house, no limping, running around playing, but when we go out to walk, everything manifests.

Sorry for this long post! I am struggling with guilt in that maybe I should have done the patella surgery years ago, but she was fine and we walked for hours. I don't know if I should consider the patella surgery and/or the medial shoulder instability surgery. My inclination is to try the swimming again and maybe acupuncture and chiropractic. I just want to do the right thing and I don't know what that is!!!

Anyway, any advice, help, your own experiences with any of this would be really appreciated and helpful.

03-26-2023, 03:20 PM	#1
sportschick Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Reading, MA Posts: 261	Luxating Patellas AND Medial Shoulder Instability Hello all, it has been years since I posted her. My Beanie, the love of my life, my first dog is now almost 12 years old. I cannot believe it! When I first got her, I got so much help here, coping with this little creature. She was, and still is, a total handful, but now I understand her and me dealing with her, more. I am hoping to get some advice, insight into what I am now struggling with. Beanie has luxating patella, supposedly Grade 4 in the right leg and Grade 3 in the left leg. She also had/has a medial shoulder instability injury on her left right front leg. I was told by my vet that she needed surgery for this, but I opted not to and rehabbed her using aquatic therapy, physical therapy and laser therapy. It took almost 7 months, but she got better and we were back to our walking. I have had multiple physical problems, including hip replacement last January and comminuted, displaced fracture of my left patella, this January. That happened walking Beanie! I feel, and well smashed my knee up. Couldn't walk for 2 months, which meant she didn't walk much either. Have started walking again, but she is limping in various degrees. I can't even figure out which leg is making her limp. My vet has told me multiple times that she needs her Grade 4 luxating patella fixed over the years, but I have resisted and, again used non invasive treatments like swimming, etc. She has been fine with all of the above until now. All her x-rays show minimal arthritis, so that is good. But, well, she is limping. She is also holding up her left leg more, so I know that the medial shoulder instability is rearing it's head again. I went to a wonderful surgeon 2 years ago, who said to keep doing the conservative treatment, swimming, etc., which I did and as I said, she got better. That surgeon has moved to Texas. Noooooooo. LOL. I did try underwater treadmill last year for the luxating patellas (before I fell), but I don't think it really helped her like the actual swimming did (that was a different therapist). NOW, she is exhibiting problems with the patellas and the shoulder. She is fine in the house, no limping, running around playing, but when we go out to walk, everything manifests. Sorry for this long post! I am struggling with guilt in that maybe I should have done the patella surgery years ago, but she was fine and we walked for hours. I don't know if I should consider the patella surgery and/or the medial shoulder instability surgery. My inclination is to try the swimming again and maybe acupuncture and chiropractic. I just want to do the right thing and I don't know what that is!!! Anyway, any advice, help, your own experiences with any of this would be really appreciated and helpful.