Injured leg.

[KairaPup]

I'm very worried about my girl. I guess I just need some supportive words right now.

Last week, Kaira was playing with another small dog at the park and got hurt. She came up to me holding a hind leg up. I brought her home. The leg didn't get better by the next day, so I got her to the vet. I originally thought it might just be a muscle strain.

The vet (not my normal one, but a good vet) thinks she's got grade 3/4 luxation and has popped out the patella. She was given some meds to help with inflammation and pain but they made her incredibly ill and had to be stopped.

Tomorrow morning, she has X-rays scheduled. I am hoping for some answers. I am praying not surgery. Kaira is my service dog, and being disabled, I have a limited income. I do have a vet fund, but as you all know- patella surgery is insanely expensive. If she needs it, I will get it for her. Take out a loan, get a credit card, whatever I need to.

Anyway. I am terribly worried.

[anneclaire]

I am so sorry to hear this. I am in the same position except mine is a grade 2-3 and right now I am giving her supplements for her joints hoping that will hold surgery off until I can figure out the money part.
Good luck.

[Wylie's Mom]

I'm so sorry she was hurt. Please let us know how the vet goes. I hope you can avoid surgery but I know you'll get it if she needs it.

[theevieempire]

Originally Posted by KairaPup

I'm very worried about my girl. I guess I just need some supportive words right now.

Last week, Kaira was playing with another small dog at the park and got hurt. She came up to me holding a hind leg up. I brought her home. The leg didn't get better by the next day, so I got her to the vet. I originally thought it might just be a muscle strain.

The vet (not my normal one, but a good vet) thinks she's got grade 3/4 luxation and has popped out the patella. She was given some meds to help with inflammation and pain but they made her incredibly ill and had to be stopped.

Tomorrow morning, she has X-rays scheduled. I am hoping for some answers. I am praying not surgery. Kaira is my service dog, and being disabled, I have a limited income. I do have a vet fund, but as you all know- patella surgery is insanely expensive. If she needs it, I will get it for her. Take out a loan, get a credit card, whatever I need to.

Anyway. I am terribly worried.

((HUGS)) disabled veteran here. I know how the bills can stack up too unfortunately, last year I charged up 12,000 for a collapsing trachea. Let's all keep positive thoughts for Kaira right now although I know how easy that is to say.

Maybe it's just something small and Kaira needs a few days rest. I'll be keeping you both in my thoughts and putting up prayers as well.

Hang in there mama - and please keep us updated!

[KairaPup]

It is a luxation. Surgery is next week. It's not going to be quite as expensive as we first thought, so that at least is some relief. She will be spending a night there.

The vet said she will probably need the other knee done down the road as well. Once I can replenish the vet fund from this I will start saving up for the next surgery.

She is clearly in pain, so this should be a good thing. Right now she won't walk on it very much and is hopping on three legs. I told them to get her in ASAP so she wouldn't have to be in pain any longer than she has to be.

My poor baby. At least now we have a plan of attack and can get her on the road to recovery and back to work full time.

[theevieempire]

Originally Posted by KairaPup

It is a luxation. Surgery is next week. It's not going to be quite as expensive as we first thought, so that at least is some relief. She will be spending a night there.

The vet said she will probably need the other knee done down the road as well. Once I can replenish the vet fund from this I will start saving up for the next surgery.

She is clearly in pain, so this should be a good thing. Right now she won't walk on it very much and is hopping on three legs. I told them to get her in ASAP so she wouldn't have to be in pain any longer than she has to be.

My poor baby. At least now we have a plan of attack and can get her on the road to recovery and back to work full time.

I'm sorry to hear she'll need surgery, poor little sweetie. You were a smart cookie for keeping that funding set aside.

I hope everything goes smoothly for both of you, please keep the updates coming.

[maxdog]

We'll keep you in our thoughts for a quick recovery.

[Russpilot]

Hope the surgery goes well! You will be amazed at how fast they recover and are back to their normal rambunctious self! Thoughts and prayers your way!

[anneclaire]

I hope all goes well for her. Poor baby . I have started setting aside money for my Spice's knee surgery.

[KairaPup]

I put money aside whenever I can for my kiddos. I keep a lot of exotics and a horse along with my 3 dogs, so vet bills are a real expense for me! Luckily, major bills tend to be few and far between. This is the highest I have had in a loooong time, even with my horse getting very ill last fall.

I feel it's part of being a responsible pet owner. You need to have the ability to vet them when you need to, or at least get them there and stable at least.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by KairaPup

It is a luxation. Surgery is next week. It's not going to be quite as expensive as we first thought, so that at least is some relief. She will be spending a night there.

The vet said she will probably need the other knee done down the road as well. Once I can replenish the vet fund from this I will start saving up for the next surgery.

She is clearly in pain, so this should be a good thing. Right now she won't walk on it very much and is hopping on three legs. I told them to get her in ASAP so she wouldn't have to be in pain any longer than she has to be.

My poor baby. At least now we have a plan of attack and can get her on the road to recovery and back to work full time.

I would really REALLY recommend you get a second opinion, preferably from an orthopedic surgeon to see if surgery really is needed. Most yorkies have some degree of LP unfortunately, and many on here do have Grade 3 and 4. Unless the dog is lame, I would opt out of surgery and try supplements first.

Uni was diagnosed with Grade 3 at around 3 years old. It was after a day at the beach and she was running on the sand. I guess it was too much strain for her. The next morning she would not go down the stairs, very unlike her. After a few days she went back to normal and although I do feel her knee caps popping in and out all the time, she can walk, run, jump etc just fine. No surgery needed.

At the very least get a second opinion. I really think a lot of vets will push for surgery, even if not really needed, bc in the end they are a business and they are doing it for a profit. Recovery is about 8weeks of crate rest. Not easy or fun.

[KairaPup]

I have had two opinions, and she is unable to walk on it at all. She's in a lot of pain. She is literally hopping 95% of the time. It is heartbreaking.

I do have her on a supplement.

[capt_noonie]

Sorry, didn't realize you already got a second opinion. I thought since this just barely happened last week that you only saw the one vet.

As long as you are prepared for it. Know that this will be a long journey. Is the surgeon who is doing the procedure board certified?

[KairaPup]

No, I went to one and then to my usual vet. She'll have been unable to use it for 2 weeks on surgery day.

I believe he is yes. There are only a couple of people who do this surgery. I've been going to my vet for 8? or so years and he's excellent. He's the only person I'd trust to work on Kaira's knee.

[KairaPup]

Well, she came home yesterday.

She is such a brave girl. She is up and active on 3 legs, eating, and wanting to be held and comforted. The vet said the repair went well.