My Poor Shadow

[bjh]

Originally Posted by lborman042005

They learn to live with it?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

That's like you dislocating your knee and the dr telling you to live w/ it. no good vet!!! i'd find a new one not to mention the tylonel

Well, I did dislocate my knee when is was 17 years and again when I was 19 years old. The doctor told me I might need surgery one day but I have learned to live with it. I am now 59 years old. I have to be careful because it will slip out of the joint if I twist or move the wrong way but it does not hurt unless I do that. Occasionally, on and off over the years if I twist it, it will hurt and throb for awhile but I will just take it easy, take some ibuprofen and go on. I think our furry friends can deal with some of these aches and pains but of course if they are in constant pain you would do everything you can to help them.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

Well, we went to the vet yesterday, and it turns out that Shadow has luxating patella (slipping kneecaps) and that is what caused his pain. My Shadow is now 7 years old, and this is the first I've ever heard of it. The vet said it wasn't too serious, and very common to Yorkies. He also said there was surgery to repair it, but most dogs just learn to live with it. Has anyone gone through this surgery with their dog?

I had a 6 year old female once that was very, very active. She loved to chase balls or anything you would throw. One day I threw a toy and she spun around and leaped off the chair and yelped in mid air. She held her leg up and ran around on three legs. I took her to the vets and he said she just hurt her knee and he gave me doggy aspirin for pain. She eventually got better but would occasionally favor her leg a little. She eventually went to live with my step daughters mother-in-law where she was very spoiled and pampered until she was unfortunately stolen at age 10.

I hope your Shadow get better.

[xmasbaby75]

Thank you all so much for your kind words and advice. Shadow is doing so much better now. In fact, you would never know anything was wrong with him. I guess it just depends on the day. I agree with you all about the vet saying "He'll learn to deal with it" ... but I don't think he meant any harm by it. He saw how nervous I was and I think he was trying to assure me that it was "no big deal". However, I have read some of the past threads on LP, and it sure sounds like a big deal to me!

I don't think we are near the surgery stage yet, but I have no idea what grade of LP he has since the vet only felt him. Also, I've heard of giving him Glucosimine (sp?). Does anyone do this, or know anything about it?

[bjh]

Yes, it would be a good idea to get him on glucosamine. When my girl hurt her leg I gave her these tasty glucosamine strips and I think it really helped her. I know some on YT give the liquid glucosamine.