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12-19-2013, 11:30 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 21
| LP and CLL tear I met with the Orthopedic Surgeon today. He was so nice. (I don't know if anyone watches The Walking Dead but he reminded me of Hershel lol) He said Emmie definitely has a tear in her right CLL. He could do surgery but due to her age (7 months) it may work but she also has grade 4 LP and that could make the surgery ineffective as the CLL could just re-tear. I don't have the $$$ for the surgery, her pet insurance won't pay for the surgery bc it happened within the first year. He said TPLO surgery would be something he could do at a year old but at that point her LP could be past the point of being able to be repaired. So we have medications to help with pain and inflammation for now and I will be trying to do my best to keep her as calm as possible. I contacted her breeder to let her know what was going on so she is aware for future puppies. I am just so so sad. Any ideas on what I can do to help Emmie be comfortable? Or make this easier on her? |
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12-19-2013, 12:29 PM | #2 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,448
| I don't know who you saw but I am guessing it is not a board certified surgeon. Did he happen to tell you how severe her arthritis will be if you don't repair this torn ligament? She is looking at a lifetime of pain. I understand it is expensive, but I highly recommend that you get her to a boarded surgeon and find a way to get the money together for her care. Look at things you can sell. Ask family for help. Try to get a credit card from Healthcare and Medical Financing for Consumers | CareCredit™
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12-19-2013, 02:20 PM | #3 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas
Posts: 1,921
| She could be lame in a matter of months, you have a window of opportunity to prevent that. You are right that there is no point in doing the TPLO by itself. My Jezebel had LP with a CCL tear. The orthopedic surgeon did the TPLO and fixed the LP so now she has a nice, stable knee and it won't get re-torn. Didn't the surgeon want to fix both problems?
__________________ Life is merrier with a Yorkshire Terrier! Jezebel & Chuy ... RIP: Barkley Loosie & Sassy |
12-19-2013, 02:27 PM | #4 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,448
| They do fix both at the same time. But, the advantage with TPLO is that if the knee has further issues, there is no more concern with the ligament. I have a pup that happened with. He had a second surgery on the knee and it failed again...this sometimes does happen. His ligament is not a concern now per Dr. Beale.
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12-19-2013, 09:42 PM | #5 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 21
| Thank you for the responses!! He is board certified. The surgery he could do now would be a vinyl suture for the CLL, but that may not hold up due to her LP. The TPLO is the preferred method but he can't do this until her growth plates close, she is only 7 months old. He said he can repair her LP at that time, but it depends on how extreme the patella is medially displaced. He also said it is rare at her age for this to be at this point already, and it does make it more difficult to treat. I am making another appt with another surgeon just for a second opinion. He was very understanding and very gentle with Emmie and his staff was very kind. He mentioned arthritis and we discussed the pain factor. The medications right now are helping her and I will do everything to keep her comfortable. So I will save up for the surgery and try to keep her as calm and confined as possible until she is a candidate. Or maybe the other surgeon will have other options. I will definitely find a way to pay if there is something that will help. I just don't want her to suffer. It just doesnt seem fair at all. I have VPI pet insurance but it doesnt cover LP at all or CLL tears within the first year of coverage. |
12-20-2013, 12:22 AM | #6 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 21
| Here is a picture of my little Emmie. I just absolutely adore her. |
12-20-2013, 12:30 AM | #7 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 21
| I apologize that my response was a lot like my original post. I am a little off my game today. How old were your yorkies when they had their surgeries? I see both of yall are in Texas as well. Any chance either of you were are in North? |
12-20-2013, 02:17 AM | #8 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: King County, WA
Posts: 3,817
| I'm new here... If this is somehow a genetic issue, would the breeder be at all helpful in a solution? A lifetime of pain is an awful lot to ask a friend to bear. |
12-20-2013, 08:33 AM | #10 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas
Posts: 1,921
| What a sweet picture! My pup was 3 when she had surgery. LadyJane and I are both in the Houston area. If you get a second opinion that is the same as the first (i.e. you need to wait until the growth plates close), we need to start talking about strategies for preventing that knee from getting any worse over the next 4-5 months. With the LP, her knee was already unstable, but add a CCL tear to that and it is even more wobbly. There is a structure in the knee (meniscus) that provides cushioning in between the femur and the tibia / fibula. The instability of the joint will damage the meniscus and wear it down. Once it is gone, there will be bone on bone, arthritis, pain, and the surgery won't help. Do everything you can to protect that meniscus over the next 4-5 months. Some precautions I took during Jezebel's confinement period after surgery might be helpful to you: 1. No walking except for going to use the bathroom. If you take her outside to go to the bathroom, she must be on a leash. You don't want her trying to chase a bird or something. 2. My dogs get excited and run to the front door when someone knocks or rings the doorbell. I put a sign on the front door asking not to ring the door bell or knock, that there was a recovering surgical patient inside and to feel free to call instead. 3. She needs to be crated (or you can use an x-pen) when you are gone and also when you can't give her your undivided attention. You can't risk her jumping on and off furniture, and you know how quickly they can do that if you just turn your head. 4. To leave NOTHING to chance, when she was not in her x-pen, I tethered her to me. I used groomer's loop, which has a clip on one end and an adjustable loop on the other end. I would clip it to her harness and I could put the loop around my wrist (if she was on my lap) or around my ankle or a chair leg (if I was on the computer and she was in her bed on the floor next to me. I also tethered her (and still do, since the other leg still has LP) in bed at night. I tethered her to me when she was sitting next to me on the sofa. I really did not want to leave anything to chance. I think LadyJane used a stroller when her pup was not confined, so that's an option for you. You can also buy one of those sling things to carry her around. 5. You need to think about everything that gets her excited an avoid those things at all costs. No play dates, for example. Jezebel is one of those dogs that jumps and jumps and jumps at meal time. The x-pen she was in didn't prevent that and tether wouldn't either, so I would hold her before hubby put her food out and then put her down. Good luck. If you can get her to the point where a successful surgery can be done, you'll already have a good routine down that she will be used to for post-surgery care.
__________________ Life is merrier with a Yorkshire Terrier! Jezebel & Chuy ... RIP: Barkley Loosie & Sassy |
12-22-2013, 03:44 PM | #11 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| My dog was 11 years, 3 mos when he tore his CCL. I did the surgery. He recovered just fine and it's been two years since. We went to a board certified surgeon who performed the surgery and also fixed the LP.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
12-26-2013, 07:12 PM | #12 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 21
| Thank yall so much for the responses. Unfortunately the second surgeon we went to had the same opinion as the first. He said the suture attempt would be futile due to how bad her LP is and the only way to fix it will be the TPLO but we do have to wait until her growth plates close. He also mentioned that she was showing signing of her trachea problems but that is not his specialty so he recommended I speak with her vet about that. OwnedbyJezebel I really appreciate the precautions. I love the tethering idea and will be ordering one asap. Thank you so much again. I appreciate it greatly. My heart breaks for her, but the meds are helping right now so she is comfortable and happy so that is good. I did contact her breeder however have still not heard back. The surgeon suggested the tear was caused by the LP that due to the advanced stage she is in more than likely the breeder is aware of the condition in her puppies. But Idk. Thanks again. And I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! |
12-26-2013, 07:53 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 4,285
| The stroller thing sounds like a great idea. She could be near you but confined. Do you have one?
__________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car |
12-27-2013, 02:58 PM | #14 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas
Posts: 1,921
| You've got a long 5 months ahead of you. I hope it passes quickly. Good luck.
__________________ Life is merrier with a Yorkshire Terrier! Jezebel & Chuy ... RIP: Barkley Loosie & Sassy |
12-27-2013, 08:22 PM | #15 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 21
| I don't have one, or a sling. I have been using a purse carrier up until this point but I like the sling idea. And the stroller idea is perfect. She loves being outside but the surgeon said she should be on "house confinement" so the stroller is a great idea. The week so far has been a little difficult because when the medication kicks in Emmie feels better and wants to do things she isnt supposed to. But I think the tether, stroller and sling will be help with that. I appreciate the tips!! If yall think of anything else let me know!! |
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