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09-18-2010, 05:52 PM | #1 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,363
| My little Toby has LP :( Long story short..............Toby started limping last night. I thought it was a pulled muscle but thanks to "Dr. Jodi's" input (Megansmomma), she said it was probably luxating patella and she was right. She is such a godsend to me (and others I'm sure). Her knowledge is neverending and I'm grateful and lucky to have her as a friend. And a thank you to Lady Jane for her input as well. It is truly appreciated. I took him to the vet this morning. Toby (puppy mill rescue) has Grade 3 in his left rear leg and Grade 1-2 in his right. Did blood work before prescribing anti-inflammatory. It came back all good and now he's on Rimadyl for two weeks. I feel so bad when I watch him walk and just want to carry him everywhere and love on him. I think it's bothering me more than it is him. It's so hard to keep the little stinker from playing and running but I'm doing my best. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he starts improving soon!
__________________ Dianne Toby Speedy |
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09-18-2010, 09:12 PM | #2 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,865
| Keeping Toby in my prayers for a speedy recovery...
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
09-18-2010, 09:30 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,363
| Thanks, I'd love to hear other stories from people who have pets with LP and how it affects their quality of life, how expensive it is to "maintain". Thanks! Dianne
__________________ Dianne Toby Speedy |
09-18-2010, 09:47 PM | #4 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,865
| Many small breed dogs are plagued with LP,and crutiate ligament problems. Knowing this, I teach my dogs not to jump on and off the furniture, to wait for me to help them up or down. This alone prevents alot of injuries. I also add a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement to the food of any with any 'play' in their joints. I guess the worst is their inability to just run free and function as a normal dog, but once the limitations are in place, I think they thrive on the extra attention: when they bark to get off the bed, Mommie comes a running! We schedule bed playtime, too, so they don't miss being able to get up on their own. So I make special fun things to do to make up for the things they can't/ aren't allowed to do. I don't think they miss out on much, they don't seem unhappy....
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
09-19-2010, 05:43 AM | #5 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Dianne I'm sorry to hear about Toby's Grade 3 LP but as I shared with you last night by email, our Daisy has lived a very normal life and just turned 10 despite her TWO grade-4 luxating patellas. Daisy was diagnosed at age 8 weeks - she too is a puppy mill dog - given to us by a local petstore after we purchased Barney. She did fine with both legs until age 2 when she went completely lame. We had used Rimadyl for two weeks with very strict cage rest but she still could not use the leg at all so we had to do surgery as a last resort. She recovered very well from the surgery and her surgeon was right when he said "my knees dont fall apart" because her knee never has in all these years. It looks great on an xray too. As for her other leg that is grade 4 - it has gone "out" from time to time over the years - I'd say maybe 3 times in 10 years where we had to crate rest her. As she is liver compromised with microvascular shunting, also called Hepatic Microvascular Dysplasia or simply "MVD" we can no longer use drugs like Rimadyl or Metacam. Her last leg issue was dealt with using Tramadol and although not an anti-inflammatory medication, it is a powerful pain medication and it kept her pain free during the crate rest. She was back to herself after each episode very quickly (less than 4 days) but crate rested for a whole 2 weeks to make sure she did not aggravate things. Her surgeon will not fix the knee until the dog is completely lame. I've tried to push to get it taken care of when she was younger but I was not lucky in pushing the surgeon and I guess he was right I know it is hard to crate a pup that has been caged in a puppy mill - however, you need to get him used to confinement that is positive because this will protect the knee. You do not want him running around and jumping or it will definitely lead to you to surgery down the road. Toby is a young dog and not yet too stuck in his ways (heck I can even teach old Barney renewed manners and he's a tough one!). If Toby were my dog, I'd lure him into the crate and reward him each time with something delicious (i.e. meat) and make it all happy and positive. Once he accepts the crate, shut the door but stay there and tell him how great he is. My dogs will run into their crates on the command "Kennel up" because they equate everything with food. You can change Toby's mental state if you work with him and you are consistent. As for supplements and such for LP - I know people suggest it, I've never done it and our vets have never recommended it. I don't do it. I feed a natural home cooked diet of quality organic food properly balanced and this has resulted in good muscle tone, strong bones, healthy skin and coat, bright white eyes and teeth and overall good health despite some bumps in the road that were inherent in bad breeding and/or development. I wish you the best with Toby - feel free to contact me any time. And yes, Dr. Jodi is pretty good - watch her though - she can be a little bit of a whackadoodle/quack when she pushes you on various vegetable concoctions that she claims are magic potions
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
09-19-2010, 05:53 AM | #6 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| Dianne I wanted to add - Daisy runs around the yard like a normal dog - I just don't let her do it every day. She manages stairs fine and we have a full staircase in an old colonial home -- we did add carpeting last year to our wood stairs because Teddy is a clutz. If I see Daisy's knee is bothering her, I sometimes alternate ice and moist heat on the knee and keep her quiet and that usually helps without the need for medication. Many may disagree with my approach (letting my dog run, not using supplements etc) but it has worked for Daisy all these years and she is a very happy dog despite all of her problems.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
09-19-2010, 06:02 AM | #7 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,447
| I have pups with varying degrees of LP and I don't use supplements either. I try to keep their weight down and limit their jumping. I have stairs and a footstool alongside my bed. I recently read that blood sugar levels can change due to some supplements and really want to ask my vet for more information about that. She has never recommended supplements, nor has the orthopedic surgeon I use. Not saying there is no value to their usage; just that I have not been advised to use them and I do have some questions about them. My pups with LP have not changed at all....luckily they have all pretty much stayed at the level they are at. Once in a while one might have some minor issues but a few days of an anti inflammatory and all is well again. I personally took Chondroiton and Glucosamine for my knees and had no relief at all. But, that does not mean they do not work. I have heard many people say they do.
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09-19-2010, 06:17 AM | #8 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| Quote:
But seriously~I am by no stretch of the imagination a DR of anything. I have some personal experience with LP because all three of mine have some degree and took a guess with the way he was carrying his leg. I'd never give medical advice and like I said when we spoke your vet is always first choice of care. I'm glad that you took Toby in to see your vet and that she able to properly Dx him. I really like 107Barney's suggestion for crate training with Toby. You never know when he might need to be confined in the future. Stairs are also a must. We do not use supplements and although I have discussed this with my vet his recommendation was they were not needed for my three. Dbug did take Rymidal once when he took a strange tumble off the back stairs but has never had any other issues. He's a Grade 2. They all run~like the wind and play like maniacs. They do use stairs by the bed but they are also over 11 lbs each and the couch is not as high for them as a 5 lber. Hopefully, Toby is on his way to a full and quick recovery. You are a good momma.
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain Last edited by megansmomma; 09-19-2010 at 06:22 AM. | |
09-19-2010, 06:19 AM | #9 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,363
| Thanks Cathy, Linda and KJC. I appreciate all the information. I do feel better about his LP and I've mentioned to my husband if he's looking for a project (like he needs another one as a carpenter) he could build Toby some stairs for the bed. We too have a full set of stairs going down to the family room and they are carpeted. I've given Toby one of his favorite chews......a Himalayan chew and it keeps him pretty calm. My husband says most days all the dogs do is sleep. They usually don't get active until after I get home from work. I will definitely work on "retraining" Toby. He's definitely a stubborn little stinker but he IS the animal version of the love of my life. I've never had a dog as dedicated (to me) as he is and am loving every minute of it. Thanks again for everyone's story and advice. I'm copying and pasting all of it into a document I can keep and reference from time to time. I'm thankful it isn't real serious or life threatening. Jodi - you must have added your response while I was typing this one. I know you aren't a REAL doctor but you are very knowledgeable and I appreciate all your help.
__________________ Dianne Toby Speedy Last edited by diannenet; 09-19-2010 at 06:21 AM. |
09-19-2010, 06:26 AM | #10 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| Quote:
Totally off topic~~~~~It's Me or the Dog is on right now and they are giving Pineapple for poop eating
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain | |
09-19-2010, 06:56 AM | #12 | |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,447
| Quote:
__________________ | |
09-19-2010, 07:02 AM | #13 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Sorry to hear about little Toby. My Pixie had Grade 3 in left and Grade 2 in right. I didn't even know she had it. One day this summer, Nikki scared her and she fell/walked off the bed. A day later she couldn't stand up and it looked like her leg was just hanging there. I ran her to the er vet and they said LP. I wasn't convinced since no mention had ever been made about it and my vets check all of mine for it. He said she needed surgery, I went back later that night to get an Xray and a second er vet looked at her and did the xray and said surgery. So I took her to my vet and she said it looked ot her like surgery was needed but referred me to an orthopedist. She agreed so we did surgery that day. Recovery was not to bad. Now my 5 year old Cali has grade 4 in both knees and they are permanently out of the groove. Due to some other conditions the vet and I decided to wait and see on her. She gets around fine and does not appear to be in any pain. Pixie was never crate trained but did pretty well with confinement. I mixed it up so she had several different areas to be in confinement and kept her with me where ever I was in the house. I hope Toby heals and can avoid surgery. Pixie's surgery was 2600.00 plus the 2 er visits.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
09-19-2010, 08:04 AM | #14 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
|
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain |
09-19-2010, 08:19 AM | #15 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,447
| Hey it's tough trying to keep myself and you seven brats in line.
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