My new puppy has luxating patella!
 

:( :( :(

Hi ,

I have to make a difficult decision regarding my new pup/baby boy.

I just found out during his first checkup with me that his right hind leg has a grade II/III luxation.

The vet told me that it might stay the same or get worst but that surgery at this point is not necessary and unwarranted. He told me to contact the breeder asap to see if she is willing to reimburse me for future med bills which will arise in the future.

I did get in touch w/her and she is offering a new dog or a refund.
She mentioned to me last night that her daughter during our conversation told her that a visiting friend dropped my baby boy when attemting to place him back in his caged kennel area where all of his brothers were. The height is 36" tall. She apologized immensely and said she really didn't know that he was like that because she had just taken all the pups in early October to her vet and all came back fine with no negative reports.

At the same time she said that the father of my baby has had the same problem and that he is doing okay. He runs and jumps like he has no problems at all.
My concern is how do you keep a yorkie from jumping up and down and running and playing when he is only 16 weeks old? I really can't afford any high vet bills now. I mean I have the knee problems too that require surgery and have held back due to the fact that it might not help me either and lead to more severe pain than I already have now.

My heart is broken, but I have to give the breeder an answer today. Please give me your feedback on this situation. You may pm me or contact me @ 347-524-1359.

Maria19:cry:

PS I've read all the health info i can possibly find already.

Did you have a contract with her?? You shouldn't have to return the dog or get another dog. You have THAT dog and now she should pay for the upcoming vet bills, unless she clearly stated that she wouldn't in her contract. The fact that she knew the father had it, is enough information for you to take her to court, if it came down to it, besides the fact her daughter dropped the poor little guy. I would definetely play hard and not nice with her. Tell her either she pays the bills or you take her to court since she sold you a puppy under false pretenses.

Most breeders do not pay for vet bills (and what guarantee do you even have that you can find her in the future when the need for surgery arises) - they either offer you a refund or a new puppy. Luxating patella surgery or any orthopedic surgery is expensive. I, personally, would get another puppy.

Unfortunately what's done is done and upon further reading up on this type of injury it could happen at any time during his life time with me.

The breeder told me about giving him Glusomamine for the joints but the vet told me that it won't do anything for his patella. It is only for cartiledge. Exercise might make it better or worst depending on his situation. So everything is a wait and see.

He loves jumping up and down so I can't seem to stop him from jumping. He needs his exercise too. So how much exercise is too much? He is alone with me so I try to keep him active and busy so that he isn't bored or missing his brothers; also to get him tired enough before going to bed at night since he is not a happy trooper when i place him in his crate @ night when I try to go to sleep. It takes him about 1 1/2 hours before he settles down, he whines, crys, barks till he gets tired I guess or until I don't hear him anymore.

I'm debating whether to keep him or not. She offered another dog to replace him but that would mean more an additional vet checkup on the other dog and me more $$$ out of pocket for for the exam, lab work etc. to be done again. And if this is hereditary then I'm facing the same thing down the road.
Uggggggggggggggggggggggggggh!!! I have been praying about this since I got the news and all day today.

I've read that some dogs just keep on w/o any major discomfort. I'm so confused right now.

Maria19

To truly determine if the pup has luxating patella, I believe he has to be partially sedated and then checked (so he isn't pulling against the vet's hands). Is he limping and favoring that leg. Is he keeping it up? If he isn't showing signs of injury, you may want to have that done. If he does have LP (being caused by an injury is serious), then I am sorry to say that if I were you, I would exchange for another pup. I know that is hard to hear, but I think it would be for the best for you. Everything does depend on the contract that you signed. Still, the breeder may be willing to work with you. I wish you the best and a very healthy puppy.

I do feel for you. Both Roxy and TJ have luxating patellas in both rear legs. Roxy had surgery ($3000 - ortho specialist in Westbury, NY - Long Island), Roxy's right leg is luxating again, she will have surgery on 11/20/06 to futher stabilize that leg (another $600 - $800). TJ will have surgery next summer (that will be at least $3000)...

I didn't except this, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. They are my babies and I would provide anything they ever needed.

This must be very hard for you to decide, but only you can make that decision....

Even though my husband and I have spent and will spend thousands of dollars (that we never expected to) on TJ and Roxy, I am soooooooooo thankful that they came into our lives, b/c they could of gone to another home, where the family couldn't or even worse wouldn't provide the medical needed for them.

You can PM me anytime if you'd like to talk futher...:)

There are different levels of LP. Your vet said II or III ... that is from injury. Your breeder said he was dropped. Maybe you could ask her what she would do with him if you exchange for another pup. If she says she would tell the new owner and sell him cheaper...perhaps she will send you the difference and you can keep him (even if it isn't worded in the contract). Yorkies are prone to LP (one of the important reasons never to let them get overweight). It really is impossible to stop them from jumping. The most you can do is try to teach them to use dog stairs to get on/off furniture...I'm always afraid mine woul leap even further into the air to go OVER them. I never let mine on beds or anything higher than the couch. I know you are so stressed out right now. You will make the right decision.

She mentioned she would let the new owner know about it. That he would be well taken cared of with her anyway. She mentioned she would come pick him up where I'm at since I don't have a car to travel up to her. I had to ask my sister to take me when she was off. I initally wasn't going up there to buy any pup right away just to check her out and see the parents and current pups she had, to get an idea of what they looked like and the premises and her expertise and handling.

She offered complete refund based on my decision today.

I have 2 foam ramps (that I covered in fabric) that Roxy and TJ use to get up and down from the couch. My bed is very high, but they know that they must be picked up to get up and down.

Here is where I got the foam ramp from:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Foam-Dog-Cat...QQcmdZViewItem

Roxy and TJ never act like they are in pain. Roxy we saw her do this 'skip thing' and also when we pick up up we can feel something slipping. Every once and a while she would limp for a day.
TJ has limped 3 times over the past 6 months and we can also feel something slipping. a couple different Vet and 2 different Ortho Specialist have confirmed LP in both legs in both Roxy and TJ.

Where did he come from?

Thanks everyone for your responses, support and info.

I do have the contract and it says I have 72 hours to get him checked and for a full refund based on NY law.

Will keep everyone posted on my outcome.

Maria19:animal-pa

It's really a catch 22. But I wouldn't take another puppy from her.

Is it a lateral luxation??? If so it is a congenital deffect very little risk it is from trauma. No you do not have to sedate a dog to check if it has LP, basically the vet really only needs to tap and bend the joint to check for luxation...

http://www.offa.org/patluxinfo.html

That website has excellent LP information, and we have been through two LP surgeries so if you have any questins please feel free to ask.

When I took my puppy to the initial vet check, he said the same thing & occasionally she would hold her hind leg up after she got up. The next time she was at the vet he said her knees were good. He suggested getting a refund at first. By the time she was probably less than a year old she wasn't seeming to have a problem with it.

My boy Pete was diagnosed with a luxating Patella grade III around 4 months old. The vet asked me if he ever goes lame on that leg and honestly Ive never seen it happen, he walks fine. At the point that we found out I was way too attached to even consider another pup, so we got doggie stairs for the couch and our bed and he never jumps. He's now 1.5yrs and still never limps but I do know that when that day comes he will be having surgery, and Im guessing most likely that day will come.