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03-26-2023, 03:20 PM | #1 |
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. |
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03-27-2023, 01:00 PM | #2 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,450
| Only a boarded ortho surgeon could really advise you; but, that said, I will tell you that is she were mine I would have done the shoulder. That is something that to my knowledge can only be surgically repaired. I had a pup who had it and had surgery. As for LP I have never had an adult pup have surgery for that. Only for a torn CCL. At this age, her CCL is already worn and you could repair the LP to end up having a torn ligament later on. More money for you and surgery for her..not fun. Good luck!
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03-27-2023, 01:03 PM | #3 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,450
| BTW, I don't know what vet told you over the years to repair LP. That really is not commonly done on adult dogs....or recommended.
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03-27-2023, 01:10 PM | #4 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,450
| Perhaps this article will be of interest to you. https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/...5&objTypeID=17
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03-27-2023, 03:19 PM | #5 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Reading, MA
Posts: 261
| Quote:
I am going to do some research and see if I can find another ortho surgeon. Thanks again for your help. | |
03-28-2023, 07:10 AM | #6 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,450
| Quote:
Please update as you know more!
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03-28-2023, 08:56 AM | #7 | |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Quote:
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! | |
03-29-2023, 09:15 AM | #8 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Reading, MA
Posts: 261
| Quote:
I am going to go with Karen F. Pastor, DVM, DACVS, she is an orthopedic/soft tissue surgeon and she finished her schooling, internship, etc. in 1996 so she has a lot of experience. Unless my own vet has another recommendation (aside from the woman who moved to Texas), I will schedule an apt. with Dr. Pastor and see what she has to say. To anyone who is reading this thread: GET PET INSURANCE!! It is totally worth the money and I don't know what I would have done all these years if I didn't have it. | |
03-29-2023, 09:16 AM | #9 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Reading, MA
Posts: 261
| Thank you for your input, I certainly don't want to go through what you had to!! |
03-29-2023, 10:47 AM | #10 |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| I was stubborn and hard headed like my mama lol. Callie was who went through all that and she taught me pet insurance is a must. My mom referred to Callie as the dog of gold, she went through so much and that’s what made me so angry and outspoken on bad breeding/ puppy mills because they are the reason she had so many gentian issues. I have 2 out of my four now with LP both my two youngest Ollie’s is not bad at all but he is so active I fear he might tear his CCL one day and then Dixie and hers is horrible but it doesn’t seem to bother her at all and my Vet has seen many live perfectly fine lives without issues so we are hopping for that but do have the pet insurance if it doesn’t happen.
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! |
03-29-2023, 04:50 PM | #11 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,450
| Quote:
As to your last paragraph AMEN. I spent SO much money on my pups over the years. I finally got smart and the pups I have now are all insured! Best thing I ever did!
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03-30-2023, 10:55 AM | #12 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Reading, MA
Posts: 261
| Quote:
I am trying to ease us back into walking, doing very short walks as I am still healing. But I can see how much she is laboring and I am pretty sure it is the shoulder that is doing it because she is holding the paw up more and more when we get home. I am going to take her back to my vet next week and get a referral to the ortho surgeon that I decided on. I just want her to be totally honest with me about prognosis of surgery and how that will affect her other legs while she would be recovering. The bottom line is, I don't have enough information to make any decisions and I really appreciate hearing from people her who have gone through these types of situations. | |
04-10-2023, 04:09 AM | #13 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado
Posts: 49
| I have no direct experience with the surgery but have gotten lots of former mill dogs with all kinds of joint issues ... My vet advised to allows absolutely no jumping or stairs for small breeds- we installed ramps everywhere ... and I have put those seniors that are not good candidates for surgery in joint support wraps ( available online for the knees - they help stabilize the knees and ease the pain just like in humans ) - a harness that can help lift the dog over obstacles or get weight off the joints is also nice. |
04-10-2023, 05:23 AM | #14 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,450
| Quote:
With any issue like that, I always recommend having a boarded surgeon take a look. Some seniors can be candidates for surgical repairs for torn ligaments, some not. Ramps are awesome IF they will use them. LOL these little terriers can often have minds of their own.
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04-10-2023, 08:07 AM | #15 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Reading, MA
Posts: 261
| Quote:
I have apt. with ortho surgeon on 6/6 but I may be able to get a much sooner one with the ortho surgeon at the place where she does the aquatic therapy. Beanie's PT person is going to talk to this doctor to see if she will do the PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections to her. This doctor has done that with other dogs with great results. So, at least I feel like I do have some kind of plan now to get as much information as possible to try and help her. Some days she is actually really good and doesn't limp at all, but other days she limps more. SO frustrating!! | |
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