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05-19-2007, 07:39 AM | #1 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Wanstead, East London, UK
Posts: 14
| Luxating Patella My Yorkie, Poppy who is 4, has just been diagnosed with a Luxating Patella, I took her to the vet on Friday as she was limping badly when I got home, the vet inspected her and checked her back leg joints etc then explained it was a Luxating Patella, she was given a Metacam injection to help with inflammation and some Metacam drops to be given once a day, but she woke me at 5am puffing, panting and shaking. I carried her down stairs and put her on the grass in the garden to have a wee and she could barely stand up. I took her back in and she went to sleep but woke again this morning very stressed out puffing, panting and shaking again. I got worried so I took her back to the vet who has prescribed her a very small dose of Valium to get her to relax. She is now laying on the bed resting. My vet did inform me that if she does not improve by Monday then she will need an operation. Im having to carry her everywhere as she isnt allowed to climb the stairs or jump up on anything, which as you will know with a Yorkie, its very difficult to stop her doing. Will massaging her leg help? She seems to want to lay on her bad leg all the time. Despite having Yorkie's in the family all my life I have never come across this. Any advise would be much appreciated. |
Welcome Guest! | |
05-19-2007, 08:25 AM | #2 |
Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member | POOR BABY !! I've read when they shake like that they're in pain....Bless her heart - she sounds like she does need something done and I'm sorry she's hurting so bad...that's so sad to read. |
05-19-2007, 08:31 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 3,468
| aww....sounds like Poppy is just miserable. There's tons of information on luxating patella here on YT....just do a search. I think between TLC and I we could have written a book. And yes, laying on the leg is her way of protecting it. Seems odd to us but that is what they do. Not so sure about massaging it....maybe if you try it go above and below the knee joint...nowhere near it. Why don't you try some ice....it may take down the inflammation and help with her pain. Keep in mind, even if she does have to have the surgery...it's a fixable problem. Just takes time. Hugs to you both...hang in there.
__________________ KimPhoebiChandler |
05-19-2007, 08:32 AM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Yorkie
Posts: 211
| Poor little furbaby! ~ Hope she gets better soon!
__________________ ROE...PROUD MOM OF OLIVER! |
05-19-2007, 09:13 AM | #5 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Wanstead, East London, UK
Posts: 14
| Thanks for the help and advise its much appreciated. I tend to get myself into a right state when she is not well, which my vet says is not a good thing as she can sense this and will make her worse. Ive done a search as 'yorkiemalt' suggested and there is lots of useful information, thanks. I never realised that they suffered from this problem, as I said we have had Yorkies in the family for years and we have never come across this before. Anyway, I gave her half a tablet of valium when we got home and she is relaxed and sleeping on my bed as I write this, which makes me feel so much better. I will keep you updated on what happens. Thanks again for all your replies. |
05-19-2007, 10:22 AM | #6 |
My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca.
Posts: 12,228
| Did he say what grade she has? If it's a grade 1 or 2, then you shouldn't have to worry yet about an operation, but if it's a 3 or 4 then yes, it should be operated on. My new baby, Pixie Dust has a grade 4, and she can't even put the foot on the ground because it's frozen in an 80 degree angle. I don't think it's the knee that made your dog pant like that. I think it's the medication. Well I do hope your baby gets some relief soon. |
05-19-2007, 07:03 PM | #7 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Maine
Posts: 526
| Poppy My little Bella who is now 4 1/2 was diagnosed with luxating patella when she was 1 1/2. She went to a specialist who determined she had luxating patella in both her knees but her left leg was the worst. She had surgery on both legs at the same time as it was cheaper to do it that way, $2,500.00 later. She was in double casts for 3 weeks. I had to hold her up so she could go potty. She had to stay off her legs at all times. Had the cast removed did some physical therapy and back on her feet again. Unfortunately she was still lifting her left leg when trotting. So back to the specialist, nothing on x-ray but vet thinks maybe pins have grown into skin and may be irritating her. So another surgery on her left leg, another cast, another recuperation and voila, she still picks up her left leg when trotting. She runs and walks with no problems. She also sometimes cries out in pain as I believe her left leg locks up, happens mostly in the colder months. If I had to do it all over again I don't think I would opt for the surgery as it has not made any difference in her life. She will eventually develop arthritis because of the surgery. I am not saying that your little one will have the same results I just wanted to share my experience with luxating patella. Jay
__________________ Off to work I go to support my Tinkerbelle and Gabrielle. Last edited by Tinkerbelle1; 05-19-2007 at 07:05 PM. Reason: spelling |
05-19-2007, 07:18 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 3,468
| just out of curiosity Tinkerbelle....did you go to an Orthopaedic Surgeon for the surgery? It's odd that they'd have put casts on as the knee is a major joint and has to move as soon after surgery as possible.
__________________ KimPhoebiChandler |
05-20-2007, 10:02 AM | #9 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 128
| He needs to have surgery quick... My baby just had surgery 2 weeks ago for Luxating Patella Grade 4!!! He was alwyas limping around and in pain.. if it doesnt get fixed it will lead to arthritis!!! If you any question just ask, I know a lot about the procedure and everyhting...Prayers from me to your little one!!!!
__________________ ♥R.I.P. PopPop...You will always be loved and missed♥ |
05-22-2007, 05:43 AM | #10 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: long island, ny
Posts: 12
| I know that in this time of seeing your baby in pain, it is hard to think positively, but very important. Yorkiemalt and TLC helped me so much when my baby had surgery (about 6 weeks ago) luckily you have found this site! also, LP is a structural problem thank goodness! not an internal issue which can be harder! it is true that they say the dogs heal and bounce back quickly! hang in there and be positive!!!!!!! Poppy can feel it when you are too upset! good luck! |
05-23-2007, 11:27 AM | #11 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Wanstead, East London, UK
Posts: 14
| Thanks for the advise and prayers guys. I took her back to the vet for a check up on Monday but this time see a different vet, as my regular one Dominic was off for the day, after inspecting Poopy she tells me that she has it in both knee's but the left leg much worse than the other. She advised me to call back on Tuesday and discuss this with Dominic my regular vet. I did so and Dominic confirmed that she would need surgery, so she is booked in with the Consultant on Friday and then surgery hopefully next week at some point. So ill let you know what the Consultant says then. |
05-23-2007, 12:40 PM | #12 |
My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca.
Posts: 12,228
| Casts should NEVER be put on the knees after this type of operation. My Zada had both knees done last June and she healed beautifully and never a problem. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...dassurgery.jpg |
05-24-2007, 10:35 AM | #13 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 128
| Good Luck...let us know how it goes!!! My prayers will be with your little baby!!!!
__________________ ♥R.I.P. PopPop...You will always be loved and missed♥ |
05-24-2007, 11:22 AM | #14 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey
Posts: 322
| Awww good luck with the knee surgery. My Joey has a grade 3 and I have him on a diet and I swim him 3x a week in the tub. I'm doing everything I can so he doesn't have the surgery. My girlfriend had her little on done and she was walking on it after 3 days. She has healed wonderfully and now even jumps up on the couch, which she was never able to do before. NEVER cast knee surgery and having 2 done at the same time is not advisable. You need to keep that knee moving at all times. ROM 3x a day from the day after surgery. Good Luck~
__________________ Carole~ Mom to Boomer, Ally, Joey & Kaia Noel~ |
05-24-2007, 03:42 PM | #15 |
My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca.
Posts: 12,228
| Having both knees done at the same time IS advisable under certain circumstance such as if both are the same grade of a 3 or 4 or the dog is a big heavy. Please don't pass on information you don't know all that much about. |
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