What's a "stifle"
 

:thumbup:I got a 6 year old (rehomed) about a month ago. She looks like she has a little limp, and it seems difficult for her to stand and walk when she first gets up from lying down a while.:cry:The lady I got her from in Arizona never mentioned this to me prior to receiving her. When I brought it up to her, she said "yes, I thought I mentioned to you before she had a stifle". Uh, no you didn't.:mad:My vet said she apeared to have been "cage kept", always lying on the one leg. It about broke my heart to picture her in a wire cage all the time!:cry: Anyone have any info or tips for me & My Rita?

A stifle is the knee joint.
A common problem associated with knees is luxating patella.
Is that it?

The stifle is their knee. What she is probably telling you the dog has luxating patella otherwise known as LP. It's the most common aliment of the "stifle" and does not necessairly mean she was cage kept.

Are you sure she did not say a "slipped stifle?" All dogs have a stifle -- it is the hind leg joint beteen femur and tibia. If this is so, it is terrible that she did not disclose such a potentially serious condition. But maybe it is not Luxated Patella/slipped stifle but just a problem from being cage kept as your vet said. Here is an explanation that might help you.

"Luxated Patella, (slipped stifle or displaced knees). The stifle is the joint of the hind leg between the femur and the tibia. The stifle joint of the dog corresponds to the knee joint of the human. The patella, the kneecap, is a small rounded bone normally located at the front of the stifle. The patella is held in position by ligaments and by the bony structure of the joint itself. When the patella is not in the correct position, it is said to be luxated. Congenital malformations of the bones of the stifle may cause the patella to be displaced from its correct position at the front of the joint, usually to an abnormal medial position toward the inner surface of the joint. Some conditions can occur in several degrees of severity. Breeders know these conditions as "slipped stifle"."

How is that for service? -- 3 of us all posted basically the same thing within a minute!

Yes, I beg your pardon, it was a "slipped stifle." I had to look back through my correspondence with her. This is a breeder (Gold Dust Yorkies), but this was also a 6 year old she no longer bred, so I don't know if she figured it wasn't worth mentioning or what.The leg that is affected is also kinda twisted inward, really noticeable when she's on her back, very much like I've seen in some daschunds.
So what can I do to make her a little less stiff upon rising from sleep? If you get a chance check out her picture in my album, she's just as sweet & cute as can be! I tried to put her pic here but it is too big. I'm not computer savy but that's what the message says when I try. When Rita walks her leg looks straight but you can see a small limp. Thank you all for your help, I learn something new everyday!

Baily has LP and has had it since he was 4 months old. I got him from a BYB (although I didn't know it at the time). Anyway, I put him on Synovi granuals and ever since then he hasn't had a problem with his joints popping out (knock on wood). It's basically the Glucosamine in the Synovi that helps so much but I use the Synovi because it has other Vitamins that are good for him. I'm not sure if this would completely correct your baby's problem but it might help. :)

Welcome to YT.
Your Yorkies are all so adorable. They look very well behaved
in "School" too.

I've been here for a couple of years and I still learn something
new everyday:p

Thank you for the compliment, I love them to death! When I ask them "what time is it?" They know it's time for school and go nuts! I don't know who gets a bigger charge out of it, me or them!

I would recommend you start her on glucosamine, watch her diet so she does not get too over weight and try to keep her from jumping as much as possible. I am glad she is in a wonderful home.