need advice about LP...help!

[lizziepooh_1]

I've been googling for info on LP and came across this forum. I was hoping to get some great advice.

My husband and I have been wanting to have a dog for a long time. He decided to surprise me with an early valentine's day present with the sweetest yorkie I've ever laid eyes on (her name is Tia!). Unfortunately, she came from a pet shop rather than a breeder (my husband felt more confident buying from the store and if I had been part of the purchasing process I would not have gone to a pet shop).

I brought Tia to the vet for her first check up and found out she has LP in both knees. The vet is unable to predict whether or not she will need surgery. I found out tonight after searching your posts that there are grade sof LP. Our vet did not tell us what grade of LP Tia has.

After struggling with our hearts (we're really devastated because after only 3 days, we really became attached) and struggling with the store for compensation they said they would offer us 2 options:

1) to return Tia for a full refund (and we could use the money to search for another Yorkie...)

2) to let us keep Tia and give us a full refund which we could put towards the surgery if and when she'll need it.

This is my first time owning a dog and as much as I'm in love with her, I'm not sure if I'll be going in over my head (also financially) if we keep and and she needs surgery. Is the post-op challenging? What can I expect (again, the vet could not advice me, and said that I should speak to an orthopedic surgeon...I think I might change vets!)

We are completely in love with Tia and there are moments when we want to give her a chance (despite the expenses) and there are moments that maybe she would be better off with another family that could care for her better (better than what? I'm not sure).

WHen we asked the opinion of several friends who own dogs, their replies were split...some said to return her, you deserve a healthy dog from the get-go and you will love that next dog too. Others say to keep her because there is a chance she might not need it. We did choose her afterall.

I think what I'm also really struggling with is that if we choose to return her and purchase another dog from a more reputable place, that that dog may develop LP, and will need the surgery anyway. Well, that would just break my heart because it would mean that we could have/should have kept Tia anyway.

I'm sorry if I'm blabbing on, but I'm losing sleep over this. I even took the day off of work today...we dropped Tia off at the store where the manager will bring her to be examined by another vet (whom we will phone ourselves to hear directly what is going on in terms of a second opinion).

We don't know what to do....what should we do??

[my2boyz]

Yes, there are different levels or grades of LP, some will need surgery and some may never need it. You can give her supplements that may help strengthen her knees. I've never been through an LP surgery but I've read that it can be challenging yet worth it. I've also read that it is expensive. Would I have it done if either of my boyz needed it...you bet! If it were me and the pet shop was willing to let me keep her and give me a full refund then that's what I would do. My heart does a lot of thinking and talking for me and it does get me in trouble sometimes...so my heart wants to know this...your friends say you'll love the next dog too but then who will love Tia? That's not a fair question, I know...but you have to weigh out all options, talk it over with your husband and see what you would or could do if she needed LP surgery at some point. You could also check into health insurance for her.

[Breny]

My very 1st yorkie ever purchased I bought from a breeder for $300 with no papers Uneducated of course.

He';s 4 years old, 13 pounds and neutered. He ended up having Lp in both knees. He had to have surgery TWICE. ON BOTH KNEES! I love him to death and wouldn't change a thing.

He does fine, still runs and plays like normal.

[Breny]

I forgot to ad that I would keep Tia and give her a chance, just like you said...you could buy another Yorkie and have the same issue.

Tia may not even need surgery. We opted for Rogan to have it becasue his limping got increasingly worse.

[Amber_lv]

this is a great question I just found out that my friends yorkie has this to inbetween a grade 1 and 2. This is the dog i was going to breed Peeka to (Still not sure) so i am curious about the outcome of this thread. Is it ok to breed a dog that has a low grade like that.( Sorry i hope you don't mind me asking this in you thread)

[Melot Madness]

Welcome to YT!! I have never experienced LP but I know from experience that the attachment to these babies is unbelievable. My Melot was recently hurt and the orthopedic doctor estimated over $2300. Yet, because I have insurance and I love my dog so much, we had surgery with another doctor. So I say follow your heart, but check out insurance, and look at your financial ability because this is not an inexpenisve breed at all.

God Bless

[Lola'sMom]

Keep her. At least you know what you may be in for... I wouldn't risk exchanging her for another. You don't know what you may end up with (liver shunt which we thought our little girl had when she was 14 weeks old). After only having her for 2 weeks, we were ready to go the distance because there is a reason this little girl found us or we were brought to her.

[Yorkiedaze]

Please find a better Vet. to begin with, and one who has done this type of surgery many, many times. Find out if the patella is a grade 3 or 4. 4 is the worst. If let go too long the operation wont do any good. If you opt for another dog, I'd advise placing the one you have with the Yorkie Rescue. They take care of the medical and find excellent homes. If you decide to keep her she may keep having more and more health related problems as most of the puppy mill dogs do. The recovery time after knee surgery is roughly 6 to 8 weeks, and they can't run around. You would need a puppy fence and crate. Hook the fence to the front of the crate, drape a blanket over the crate for more warmth and security. Attach a water feeder on the fence, put some toys and chews and a wee-wee pad. It will take up all your time taking care of this baby, so be prepared.

[I Love Bailey]

I don't have any experience with LP, but if the pet store owner is willing to give you a refund and you get to keep her. I would keep her. I am a firm believer in things happening for a reason. You never know when you get a pet, what will happen just as you don't know for sure what will happen tommorow.
Good Luck...Blessings to your family and Tia

[Syl-]

If the store is willing to let you keep Tia and give you a full refund and a paper stating their knowledge of this and Tia does need surgery go to your vet with that info and money and he may just do this for you. I know my vet. would. Talk to your vet, if he is worth his salt he will work with you. They arent all out for money. And you dont even know if she would need surgery. Keep Tia and love her and keep her safe.

[joy and bella]

i would take the refund from the pet store and keep her!!!! put the money away in an account and let that be tia's lp fund....hehe....i think everyone has given very very good advice......but the thing that i coudnt forget is who will love tia???? what if you give her back and she doesnt find a home bc she has lp?? or what if the home she ends up in isnt as loving as yours??? just some things you and your hubby should talk about......good luck!

[Dina_Nichole]

Hi there and welcome to YT!! My one yorkie has LP. She was my first yorkie and I knew nothing of LP. The day before the breeder was shipping her she called and told me that Trixie had LP. I was very clueless and she acted like it wasn't a big deal. She even told me it was something that she would more then likely grow out of. What a BIG lie!!! Anyways, I trusted this lady and then discovered LP was a big deal and definately not something they grow out of. When I first took Trixie to the vet she told me more of the LP but suggested that I wait until Trixie was older to decide on the sugery. I'm sure vet's have many different opinions. Trixie has never showed any signs of pain and has never limped. She scares me to death because she's a jumper and refuses to use the puppy steps. She even jumped off a 12 ft. deck when I turned my head for a sec. I thought for sure that would have done her in but not my Trixie. She's now over a year old and I have NOOOOOOOOOO regrets about getting her. She is the most lovable little girl and I couldn't imagine my life without her. So if I were you, I'd keep your baby and also take that refund incase surgery is needed

[111puppylove111]

Hello And welcome to YT. Congratulations on your new little one. I just wanted to say I know how you are feeling right now. When I picked up my Sapphire I took her to the vet same day. I found out she had LP. I cried as I stood there because I wanted her so bad. My mom was with me and she didnt know what I should do either. Our vet said she could never need the surgery, but wasn't exactly sure. Our vet tech came in and she talked me into keeping her. She has Yorkies at home also (4 of them) and 2 have LP. She said she wouldn't get rid of them for that reason. There is no way of knowing for sure if they will ever need the surgery. So I kept Sapphire. I now have Gwen, who also has LP, and they keep telling me as long as my girls don't get too heavy they will be fine.

Please keep Tia. She is already a part of you and if you get another Yorkie you could find that you end up with the same problem or worse, and then you will regret giving Tia up. I'm sure she is happy to be with you. And I know the decision is hard, but listen to what everyone on here is saying. They all say keep her, so I would do exactly that.

Good luck in your decision. And give little Tia a big round of YT hugs and smooches.

Ask your vet for Nutrical it is very good for them.

[MissLola]

Hi and welcome! I have to agree with what everyone else has said. If the pet store is willing to refund your money AND let you keep her, that is wonderful. She might never need the surgery. Besides, if you return her, they know they can't resell her and who knows what would happen to her. She will be much better off with you.

[yorkiemalt]

Hi Lizzie....

I can't tell you what you should do but I can tell you a bit about LP surgery and recovery.

Last April, my maltese had his first surgery. He was a grade 3+ due to an injury....he was out for a walk and turned the wrong way and in a second a grade 2 knee went to a 3+.

Then the end of June, when he was almost completely recovered from the first surgery.....he was running for the door one night and his sister bumped him and again within a second his other knee went out. His second surgery was the next day.

There are different types of repairs for LP as well as grades. Depending on the repair, the extent of recovery will vary.

Both my maltese's knees had the "complete" surgery....can't remember the correct codes they used but the groove in which his knee cap rides was deepend and the ligament holding this in place was cut and shortened. At the same time they actually cut the tibia bone and straighten it so there is less chance of luxation. This bone is then pinned in place.

Hence....an 8 week recovery. It is a difficult surgery and they come home well medicated, usually with a morphine patch for at least 5 days.

Confinement is for 8 weeks. No running, jumping or playing at all. He stayed in an ex-pen except for the 3 walks a day he was allowed. You start with a 5 minute walk and then gradually increase the time depending on their progress.

Rehab is precise and if done correctly takes alot of time. The expense, in my area...NYC/NJ is tremendous. By the time we were done with both knees we were close to $7000.

Of course, our surgeon was Board Certified (a must) and does a minimum of 5 knees a week. Experience is a must for me....so much of the success of the surgery is based on the Surgeon's judgement as to where to cut, deepen, tighten, etc.

Chan was fully recovered the end of September 2006. He takes a daily glucosamine supplement and has had tremendous success and is pain free. He runs, jumps and plays as if nothing was ever wrong.

I have posted on here about his surgery so if you search you can find some of my threads.

I haven't posted this part...but I guess now is as good a time as ever.

December 15, I had both Chan and Phoebi, my yorkie, out for their walk. I can barely tell the story now almost 2 months later but to make it really short....Phoebi was attacked by my neighbor's pitbull. The pit was off leash and I'm thankful that Phoebi is still with us.

Unfortunately, Phoebi has been a Grade 2 lp for the past 5 1/2 years....due to the trauma and severity of the attack her right knee was injured. She too become a grade 3+ and she had surgery on January 2.

I am heartsick and still can't believe I am now rehabbing a 3rd knee. Not to mention what Phoebi has been through. She is quite an active girl and this confinement has been terrible for her.

Phoebi's recovery has been the exact opposite of Chan's. She didn't do half as well as he did. I've been told that every dog is different and that has surely been the truth around here.

Our final check up is 3 weeks from today and then you have to take the final month and wean them back into a normal routine.

This road has been long and I will be very happy to have it end.

I wish you the best of luck in your decision and just keep in mind...it is a fixable problem.