Need advice from knowledgeable yorkie owners I have a 15.5 week old yorkie who I've had for 3 weeks now and I need some advice. Maybe I'm overreacting but I've been so worried about this and am hoping for reassurance. I took Zoe to the vet for the 1st time yesterday (since she came to live with us). I have never met the vet before. Anyways, I asked her if she could check for luxating patella's and callapsing trachea. She took Zoe into another room to check her and came out and said that she palpitated her throat and that seemed fine and that she thought her left leg MIGHT have a slight luxating patella. Just might. Now I'm really worried. Should I take her to another vet? Is there a way they can x-ray to see if there is a problem? I've also read conflicting info about the mild luxating patella's. Can anyone help??? Should I be worried? :( |
I'd be interested in other people's answers to this issue. My Pixie had a slight case in both rear knees. My vet told me to run them and exercise them. He also recommended NutriCal for the calcium. So we ran her and exercised the you know what out of her, gave her the NutriCal for bone strength and when we took her back to the vet, her knees were perfect! And have been ever since. Now I know this probably would not work for a worse case, but Pixie's was very slight. It worked for her. Oh... we also made sure that during this strengthening period that she did not jump off furniture. I'd be curious to hear if anyone else got this advice and if it worked for them....? |
I wouldn't worry about it. Many yorkies have slight luxating patellas their wholes lives with no problems at all. It's the severe cases that you need to worry about. If I were you, I would just start supplementing her food with Glucosamine/Chodrine supplements (OsteoBiFlex that you can get from any drugstore is a good choice)....it will help her joints and will probably make the LP go away. |
My vet says that most little dogs such as yorkies have knees that move just a little bit. Just watch the jumping off of things like the couch and stuff. Yorkies love to crawl up on things and then jump off of them so keep an eye out. |
Just be careful not to let your furbaby jump off of couches and beds and stuff. Either lift your baby or use doggie stairs :) |
I don't know about the luxating patella but what did bother me is that he didn't do the exam in front of you. In my opinion, all exams can be done in the examination room. All he has to do is feel the joints and the throat. My vet takes temps, physical exam, shots, etc in the room with me. Only time he takes them to the back is when he needs assistance from the techs. Before I chose my vet, I scheduled an interview and a tour of the office/hospital. Ok, so maybe I'm a little too paranoid but hey it's my baby! |
You know, that bothered me too and I had a lot of questions and I almost got the feeling I was bothering her or asking too many questions. Later on I started thinking of things that she didn't tell me ie I told her Zoe seemed to be itching and I didn't think she had fleas (but I haven't treated her for them yet either so she could) so I wondered if she might have allergies. She used the flea comb and then never said anything about it at all after the visit. And after she took her out of the room to do the exam I figured she'd come back in and go over it all and say something even if it was just "she looks great". Instead, a technician came back in with her and said, you're all set now. The vet did come out with a free sample of sentinel and told me about her hips as I was checking out. I think I am going to look for another vet but this one was right around the corner so I had hoped I'd like them.... :( |
Need advice from knowledgeable yorkie owners I must quote the famous Dr. Phil here: "People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing." I would say there was certainly no reason for a vet to take your Zoe into another room, without you, for an examination or anything else. I have had Yorkies in the past, and have one now, and if a vet tells me I can't be in the same room with my little ones, even for surgery, I walk. I've been in the room, and stay out of the way, for many different things over the years and a good vet certainly won't take your Zoe out of your arms and into another room where you don't know what is going on. My advice on that subject would be to look for another vet. Also, a bit of knowledge I've gained over the years is, for anyone, if your vet wants your little one to stay overnight, just remember, there is usually no one there at night to watch or to help if anything goes wrong. A cleaning person may come in but what can they do? Nothing. YOU, on the other hand, can take a sick one to the Vet Emergency if it becomes necessary. Just some thoughts. Sometimes you just have to have the courage to stand up in the face of authority and tactfully fight for your little one. I'm not saying that you didn't or wouldn't. Please don't take this the wrong way. This is not meant toward you or anyone personally. It's just that I'm older, wiser (an old foggie) and have learned a few things that, if I can pass on, hopefully will help other little canines out there so you don't have to learn from bitter experience. If you can use it, take it. If not, then thats your choice, of course. (Stepping down, now). :aimeeyork Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Great Advice on this vet thing RpupKuma said it really well, I am a newbie on here but I have had two yorkies one who is waiting for me through the golden gates and one who is past out right below my chair. " she had a rough am bath day LOL" any way follow your heart if you do not feel it was right them more then likely it wasnt. Rpupkuma hit the nail on the head when he/she replied Good Luck and wet kisses from Nina and Dionna " wet kisses from her to all the other 4 legged babies ":aimeeyork |
I question, question, question. The only time my pup is away from me at the vet is when there is a blood draw. Otherwise, I want to see what is being done, know the reason and still go home to read on the internet. This is especially important when they are given medications. Good luck and you instincts were right on target. |
I gotta agree Winston doesn't get away from me during an exam, even blood work. There's absolutely no reason for it. I have had to leave him for IV treatment, but I too brought him home at night, and took him back the following day. I obviously couldn't spend the whole day at the vets, but I stopped by several times to check him, he was being well taken care of, I made sure of it. They probably thought I was crazy, but...maybe I am. He was neutered, baby teeth removed everything was good. If that had been me, I probably would have followed the vet into the other room, stood back and watched the exam, asked questions as I felt fit the exam. Hopefully you will find a vet your comfortable with, as well as your baby. |
I think sometimes we're so emotional when we take our babies to the vet that we forget WE ARE PAYING THAT VET'S SALARY. In other words, he works for me. That said, would you keep a subordinate on the payroll if they did things you felt unscrupulous? I think not. I, too, however, am older and wiser (not to mention a bit bitchy!!). As for the LP, my first rescue had a pretty good one and I just left it alone. He did fine and actually was pretty cute to watch from behind when he was running; his little right leg would kick out. He lived to be approximately 17 and that was the least of his worries. If it gets to the point where it's painful, then consider surgery. Best of luck to you and your baby. |
Quote:
Same here. The only time my vet takes my pups away is for the blood draw and that is usually because their legs are so skinny they have to use the jugular (and that is something I'd rather not see or hear)!! My Sissy was diagnosed with mild LP in her right rear leg at about 10 months of age. The vet even had me feel it. Her only symptom was a "skipping" motion that she would do when in a trot mode. She started on Missling Link Plus (with glucosamine) shortly after she turned a year old and it has made a huge difference. There is no longer any skipping at all. With Angel, the vet has also felt a little slipping, but said that because she is still young (6 months) this can just be part of her growth. She did say that some pups will outgrow mild cases as their legs strengthen. As soon as she is old enough, she will go on Missing Link Plus as well (she is on regular Missing Link now). Good luck!! |
My Tullie (2 years old) was examined the day after I got her by my "cherished vet" whom I love and trust dearly. He always examines her in front of me, asks questions, calls me after my visits - even does the blood drawing in front of me. However, all the girls in the office do come to play with her before the exam. However, she does have bilateral subluxating patellas. Sometimes they are good and sometimes not. I did some research on this surgery and found that experts say if there are no symptoms, do not have surgery. Small dogs tend to develop arthritis faster with this surgery than if they do not have it and wait til there are symptoms. This was just my decision to wait. She runs like a little banshee and climbs stairs like a pro. She doesn't jump and doesn't go down the stairs. With the vet thingy - The baby is yours not your vets. NO ONE will love her like YOU. Therefore, your vet should respect you enough to take time with you and your baby. Do NOT let anyone touch your baby nor take it out of your sight. Whatever is to be done can be done in front of you. My vet was there for me when my other dog was killed by the groomers. He referred me for the autopsy and even found a lab in pennsylvania to send remains to for second and third opinion. He personally took care of sending the needed tissues. Good luck with your babe |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:43 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use