Luxating Patellas
 

My poor little girl has Luxating Patellas in both back knees. The vet today said she will need surgery soon. Very upsetting. I just want to cry...again. She's only 9-months-old. I'm thinking about having it done sooner rather than later so she can enjoy the summer. Any thoughts on the surgery and what I should be aware of?

Has she shown any signs? limping- pulling up on the leg? MANY yorkies on here (layla included) have LP but because they show no signs they haven't had surgery. Some vets will push the surgery when it is not needed. I would get a second opinion especially if she isn't showing symptoms. The recovery is quite long and you wouldn't want to hav eto put her through that unless she really really needed it

My dog Daisy had a Grade 4 luxating patella and needed surgery around the same age. She recovered very nicely - it took about 2 weeks of cage rest and increasing activities after that.

My dog had her evaluation and her surgery by a board certified ASVS veterinarian who specialized in orthopedics. You can check to see if your vet is ASVS board certified by visiting www.acvs.org.

I will note that my dog also has a grade 3 luxating patella in her other rear leg and although it goes completely "out" from time to time, my vet will not do surgery on her UNLESS she becomes COMPLETELY lame. So, when it happens to "go out" and I see her hobbling, she goes on pain medication and cage rest until she is back up and around.

This is a very common issue in the breed and surgery is sometimes necessary but you should make sure your vet takes a conservative approach if your dog is not lame.

Hi Kirby...

I'm so sorry to hear about your pup needed LP surgery in both legs. :( Snickers had his LP surgery last Nov and is doing tremendously. Please consider the questions asked in the previous post (does your pup show any signs of pain-lifting, limping, etc.) If your pup does not exhibit sins of pain, surgery may not be needed. The fact that Snick was walking on 3 legs and lifting his LP leg constantly made us aware he needed surgery.

I am in MI also (Warren) and our vet is Dr. Lutz at VCA Clinton Twp and she is great. We also did our surgery there with Dr. Gums who is their orthopedic surgeon of choice and we really liked him (he is NOT board certified-some people have a big thing about this, he felt right to us and answered all of our questions to our approval.) The surgery was expensive BUT WORTH EVERY PENNY!!! I realize you are at the beginning stages of potential surgery but just wanted you to know I am here in case you need anything.

Post op is not fun. It is about 2 months of hardship for you and mostly your pup who is in extreme pain (esp the 1st week.) Medication and supervision is constant as well as physical therapy.

Snicky is now good as new, but will still lift from time to time. He did incredible post op, using his leg the day he came home which is the goal. It can take up 2 yrs sometimes longer and sometimes shorter for full recovery.

Please let me know if I can help in any way possible!!
Big hugs!!:love::love::love::love:
Snick & Viv

Wow I guess we were lucky - Daisy did not need PT nor meds for pain after a couple of weeks (again grade 4). She is a resilient little dog!:)

Oh!! I reread what I wrote and want to clarify the meds were only for the 1st 2.5 weeks. PT was for about a 3 weeks. Pt can very since it all depends on how much the pup is using the injured leg. If the injured leg is being used immediately (little limping, no 3 legged walk) then PT will be needed for less time.

Thanks!
Snick & Viv

Thank you
 

Thank you, everyone. She has on a couple of occasions lifted her back leg and limped. For the most part, though, she moves around without issues. I have decided to get a second opinion, though. If she needs to have both legs done, then we'll do it. Soon, too. I would rather have it done before the snow melts. She loves going outside on nice days. She's just so young and I hate having to put her through this. It makes me so sad to think of her in pain. Thank you, though, for your support. I don't feel so alone anymore.

Sincerely,


Sonya

Second Opinion
 

I just made an appointment for this afternoon with a friend's veterinarian for a second opinion. I'll keep you all posted.

Good luck with your 2nd opinion, good move. Hot Rod had lp surgery on one of his knees and like Vivian said, the post op is the hard part. We had to keep Hot Rod still for 6 weeks and about the 4th week it was very long. :D But all worth it. He will still pick his leg up but he's tight as can be and the surgeon doesn't believe that he will have arithis from this in his knee.

Please keep us update on your appt. Best of wishes. Hugs.

That's sad that she has LP in both legs, but I certainly do agree with you having it done sooner rather than later. She's in pain with bad legs, so you won't really be putting her through more pain. You'll be giving her a chance at being able to run and play like she was meant to do. Take care...:)

might not want to wait
 

We put off having our girl done and when we finally did the orthopedist said it would have been better done sooner than later. She will probably have more arthritis later on and it made the surgery more extensive. She seemed pretty good most of the time, but they are little troopers and don't always show the pain they are in. She was playing like crazy with another dog 2 days before her operation and you would have never guessed she had a grade 4 on one knee and grade 3 on the other.

My girlfriend bought a puppy from a breeder on the Internet Montana or somewhere. Than flew down to pick her up. When she got there she soon realized the dogs were not AKC and had no good pedigrees in the back ground. But, the puppy looked like she was healthy and well cared for so she bought her anyway. Knowing full well not to buy an ACA or CKC puppy. After about 9 months she started having problems with her 1 knee. My girlfriend waited and from her dog putting all the weight on the one leg it wound up ruining the other knee too. So she had to have 2 surgeries and the recovery was very painful and about 6 months of constant monitoring. The vet also told her if she doesn't let the dog's knees recover correctly they will be lame and cannot have another surgery. It is a one time deal and so far a cost of over $5000.00 Please make sure you are buying your babies from reputable breeders. I am not saying you won't have a defect here and there but the chances of them having these types of problems are far far less and they will stand behind them. They are guaranteed!

I have had SO many pups with LP and have yet to have one operated on; and they were fine. The only way the orthopedic surgeon I use will recommend surgeries is if a pup is having problems and the knee pops out, stays out and causes pain. There are SO many yorkies with LP these days that do very well without surgery.

Lots of people think this must be the end result...fact is that the trend now is going away from these surgeries.

I always suggest second and even third opinions. And, definitely speak with a board certified orthopedic surgeon.

Knee Problems In Your Dog - Patellar Luxation - Luxating Patella


What some people do not understand is that not ALL cases of LP progress. Many people think they must do surgery early to prevent it from getting worse, when in fact it may not ever get worse. If it does progress, there is plenty of time then to do the surgery before there are major changes.

Sydney did come from an AKC registered breeder. The local AKC recommended her to me. Syd came with a pedigree. I signed the agreement, which guaranteed her puppies 100% for a year of anything hereditary...EXCEPT for luxating patellas because it can occur do to the dog's environment. The vet I took her to yesterday said he's very familiar with the breeder. In fact, he's the one that said that although she told me her puppies were 100% guaranteed, the contract said otherwise. Sure enough, when I looked at the contract, the vet was correct. Teaches me to read everything before signing. I just took the breeder's word. She was AKC AND recommended by the local AKC. The vet said he's discussed LP with this breeder. The vet tried to educate her that it is usually something hereditary. The breeder wouldn't listen. The vet said to phone the breeder anyway. She hasn't returned my call. Syd's second opinion on surgery is later this afternoon.

Well it is always good to get another opinion. Just don't keep going until you find someone who will tell you what you want to hear. Many do get worse, I agree perhaps not all. You have to use your own wisest judgement in each case, even though it may be not turn out to be what you would hope. Our girl came from a very reputable breeder and from a BSS sire, still had bad knees. sniff sniff

I would not take her to a regular Vet. Trust me on this. My Vet. was "the" best and all the Vets. in surrounding towns always referred their patients to him when they could not do a certain operation. Long story short, he operated on both Zada's knees and even though he told me how he would need to deepen the groove the cap sits on, he didn't, and later on she had to have more surgery, but this time by a Board Certified orthopedic surgeon. They know what they are doing for sure. So my advice is to make an apointment with one, and get things done right the first time around. ;)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I have to agree Yorkie Daze. I've been down too many roads of going with my regular vet when specialty care was warranted. It cost me more heartache and money in the long run.:(

My dog Daisy was the same age as your dog when she had surgery on her grade 4 LP. she recovered rapidly and is now almost 10 years old and we've never had another problem with that knee again. :)

Others may disagree, but I believe that a specialist who has undergone board certification is far more qualified to do this surgery. This is not a routine matter, it is a speciality surgery. I would ask myself this -- would I let my general family doctor operate on my knee? No, I'd go to an orthopedist. I applied the same reasoning to my dog.

agree
 

Totally agree. Best doc's for our best friends!

Absolutely! :thumbup::thumbup:

This is an excellent article on luxating patellas:

Medial Luxating Patella

The second opinion, a vet from a different office, said Sydney does need surgery. Unfortunately, we don't have a specialty surgeon anywhere near where I live. The second vet recommended the first vet and so did the breeder where Sydney came. The breeder said she felt bad about what has happened. She actually is offering me another puppy for free. I told her we'd think about it. Syd will be going in for surgery on March 29th. I am a nervous wreck, but thank you again for the support. I really do appreciate it.

We don't have an orthopedic surgeon near us either. I had to drive two hours one way, but so well worth it to know she was in expert hands. I hope it works out for you. Keep us posted.

Unfortunately, the drive we would have to make would be eight hours one way. If it were two, we'd be going.

Wow! She isn't willing to help you pay for the LP surgery for Sydney but will give you another for free. I surely hope that you tell her absolutely NOT would you ever consider taking another puppy from her EVER! You said that your vet had spoken with her in the past about LP being hereditary and that she has refused to take his advice. My guess would be that you would very likely end up with a second puppy needing LP surgery in 9 months. :( You should post who this breeder is so that other can be away of her breeding practices and steer clear of her.

I hope that Sydney does well with surgery and makes a quick and full recovery. :)

Thanks, Megan's Mom. I told the breeder thank you, but no. It sounds like she might be paying for part of the surgery. I'm hoping she will. She is calling the owners of Sydney's litter mates to have them get their puppies checked at the vet's, too. One puppy is in CA and the other is in WI.

Maybe you could check into a hotel and stay overnight.

I forgot to ask. What town do you live in?

Usually specialty vets are a bit of a drive. How close are you to MSU/East Lansing? They have an excellent vet school there. Vets schools are generally less expensive, too.

I live in the U.P. Lansing is 7-hours south. After checking on Sydney's vet, it turns out he's done several of these surgeries. Area vets and breeders refer patients to him for this surgery. Also, I think the travel would be way too stressful on Syd. She really doesn't like car rides. She cries and barks anytime I slow down or use a turn signal.