i agree with LJ about the board certified orthopedic surgeon.

from my experience, when both legs are bad, its best to do them at the same time if possible. a lot of the time when you do one leg, eventually you have to do the other leg a few months later because it gets worse while the first leg is recuperating. they over compensate for the surgery leg which adds more pressure and strain on the "good" leg.

Thanks, She is seeing a board certified surgeon in orthopedics, neurology and one other thing I can't remember. I am just so shocked because Pixie is the last of my 4 I would have thought to need surgery.
With Pixie her knee won't stay in so it is very hard for her to walk. My vet was also concerned about her hips. She said the Xray copy the ER vet had sent over was grainy but to ask the surgeon to checjk her hips. I'm not sure what that could mean. I need to read up on LP. Thanks I know I will need all of your support in the coming weeks.

I'm so sorry you and your little Pixie are going through all this. It's just the pits when a loved pet is ill or injured.

yep I agree as I would not be quick without 3 opinions on this especially if you have not given it a wait and see period long enough which is usually 2 mos

Join these two groups and you will get two perspectives - ortho dog is big on surgery and conservative management is big on no surgery - get both perspectives until you can do the bc ortho consults- the owner on orthodogs is a bit nasty so just a heads up lol

orthodogs : Discussion of canine orthopedic issues

ConservativeManagement : Canine Conservative Management

the digital xray is much clearer and most vets cannot afford the digital xray equipment but the ortho will have it. When dd hurt her leg I went to a vet that had the digital xray for this reason as it is put on a cd for you to take with you to ortho. Our regular vet now has the equipment as i told him i went to this other vet for this reason as he did not have it. I did not want to pay twice for it and knew the ortho could just look at the cd I had from vet.

Patti...I feel so bad for what you and Pixie are going through. I will continue to pray that her legs heal and she won't need the surgery. Know that I'm here for you whenever you need a shoulder!

Thanks all. Connie you are my rock. I promise one day I will call you with good news!!
Since Pixie just started with this on Tuesday, totally out of the blue and also after I saw her fall of the bed and land on all 4's, I am pretty sure she needs more time to determine how she will do. She is getting a little better everyday. When excited she almost runs normally. However she seems depressed. So there is no danger in holding off on surgery? I know YT prayers can do wonders so please keep Pixie in your prayers.

Patti, somehow I missed this about her falling off the bed on all fours. I am going to tell you a story, but please don't be frightened....just want you to think and also talk to the ortho about it.

Quite a few years ago, my Maxwell (who passed away two years ago) walked off the side of a bed. He landed on all four feet and seemed just fine afterwards. I was traveling at the time and saw nothing wrong. When we arrived at our destination a couple of days later, I noticed that when he was on a hard floor, his right front foot would slip. It was noticeable but not to a point of great concern. I thought perhaps it was hair on the pad of his foot...so cleaned them. Over a period of a couple of weeks, he started to show other signs of difficulty walking but had a history of LP so nothing alarming...same symptoms. Suddenly one day he was unable to even stand up and his front paws were turning inward, a clear neurological sign and my vet referred him to Texas A & M where he was diagnosed with two herniated discs (after tests were done of course) and operated on the next day. My Maxwell was an older pup, but did recover and I had him for another two years.

I don't want to freak you out, Patti, but this jumped out at me this morning. I have more details and am going to PM you now.

Thanks so much, I appreciated you taking the time to talk with me. I am holding out hope that we can do a wait and see on her LP. Today she is using her leg with just a little limp. It still looks like it is out of place but she has adjusted to it. Please keep the prayers coming.

Keeping Pixie...and you as well, Patti, in my thoughts and prayers. I am so hopeful that Wednesday will bring good news.

Thanks Pixie is getting around pretty well. She does have a limp, but she is back to running, when I can't catch her first, and acting her old self. I have not given her any pain medication in 2 days just the Metacam for inflammation and she does not appear to be in any pain. I know the knee is still not staying in but I hope with more time she will get better and avoid surgery. If the surgeon on Wednesday suggests surgery I am going to get another opinion. Please keep her in your prayers

hang in there sometimes these things take time to heal. Improvement is definitely encouraging

Patti, I'm sending my prayers for little Pixie. I hate this happening.:(

Hope you feel better soon Pixie , Give\'s you a kiss on the nose