Medial Patella Luxation
 

My little man (Buddy) had his hind leg amputated at 3 months. He was doing great until this past week I noticed he did not want to put any pressure on his leg, he was depressed and sad. So not like him since he is usually running around and playing all the time.

We took him to the vet and he said that his knee was out of socket and diagnosed him with Medial Patella Luxation. He said it was very common among smaller breeds. He popped his knee back into place and Buddy is back to his old self again playful and happy.

I am very concerned though. He has been through so much already I can not imagine him going through another surgery. Our vet told us that if this happens again then he will have options for us. What does that mean? I have been doing research and all I can think of is adding ramps in my house so he doesn't jump off the couch and raking any leaves in the backyard would help too. I do have some small holes that I will need to cover up with dirt.

He is a dog and it is in his nature to run around and chase the squirrels. I do not want to take that away from him. Maybe I'm overreacting and being too protective by minimizing his playtime with Ally. I just care about him so much that if anything happens to him I really do not know what I would do.

Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated. :animal-pa

My Lulu was diagnosed with grade 2/3 LP in both rear legs about 5 months ago. Her right rear leg was worse and she pulled it up many times a day because it would pop out. I sought a second opinion from a different vet & asked for a referral to a board certified surgeon. Both agreed that surgery was necessary for her right leg, but not for her left leg since she wasn't showing clinical signs & because it wasn't quite as bad (more of a grade2).

My regular vet also recommended giving a glucosamine & fish oil supplement. Lulu had her LP surgery late Dec 2010 & is doing wonderfully now. She continues to take a glucosamine & fish oil supplement daily.

Sorry to hear about Buddy. I would try and get him to use ramps or stairs instead of jumping off furniture. I trained all mine to use them from day one. Pixie who I never even knew had LP, walked off my bed one day when the rescue I had recently took in scared her. Next day she couldn't stand so after 3 vets and an orthopedic surgeons advice she had LP surgery. Her knee would not stay in so we went with the surgery. She had the surgery almost a year ago and it has been great. My Cali has grade 4 LP in both legs and they are permanently out but it doesn't bother her at all. So we are taking a wait and see approach. My vet said she has had dogs with grade 4 never need surgery. I would ask your vet about a supplement and limit his jumping. Did they advise you to crate rest him for a few days? I hope he doesn't need surgery.

Thanks for the replies.

Buddy is going to another vet today, the same one that did his surgery last year. Hopefully he will gives us more information and tell us what we need to do to help Buddy's leg get better. I have read about the glucosamine & fish oil supplements, that is one of the hundred questions that we will be asking his vet. ;) I just want to be sure that I have all the information together.

I will be using ramps for him and establishing the no jumping off the couch rules.

I'm so glad I found this forum for yorkies.

Thanks again!!

Some people use Cosequin supplements for dogs with LP. I have a dog who has two LPs that are grade 4 -- diagnosed at age 8 weeks old...she had sugery at age 2 on one leg and never has needed it on the other. She has never taken a supplement for this problem, it has never been recommended by her surgeon or our general vets, and at age 11 years old there is no showing of arthritis on x-ray or exam and she has not slowed down. I do give her fish oil (Omega 3) but that is for her inflammatory bowel disease and is utilized to offset her bowel inflammation.

Our vet recommended we go ahead with the surgery. Buddy is scheduled to go in tomorrow at 7:30. Basically they are going to add something around his knee cap/ tendon to keep it from sliding out. He is also going to give us some vitamins and medication. Buddy is to be in a kennel for 1 month, he is going to hate that!!! He hates the kennel. Its for his own good though.

The vet also said under no circumstance is he to use any stairs and ramps are a bad idea too because they are at an incline. We told him about Ally and how she jumps around everywhere. She is strong and healthy now but later on will have problems with her knees.

Hoping all goes well for my little man Buddy. He's been through so much already. I just want him to be happy.