Luxating Patellas ???

[mypreciouspups]

Originally Posted by pea496

I will keep you updated. I am very nervous, but the vet said he should have it done because it happens every time we go for a walk and the vet could push his knee cap out of the socket. He kept going in and out and in and out. He said he was going to send him home with pain pills (more for keeping him asleep for a while when he gets home), so I will have 6 days home with him. I drop him off in the morning at 8 a.m. and can pick him up at 3 p.m. I am going to work that day because I would be a nervous wreck if I were home.

ok thanks. I have a hard time remembering appointments..I am just terrible..so make sure you come on this thread to let us know the night before..so we can be on the look out for updates..I am sure he will be fine, it is always a worry when us humans or our furkids go for surgeries..we will all pray for his recovery and having you home well be so good for him..pooh's mum

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by pea496

I will keep you updated. I am very nervous, but the vet said he should have it done because it happens every time we go for a walk and the vet could push his knee cap out of the socket. He kept going in and out and in and out. He said he was going to send him home with pain pills (more for keeping him asleep for a while when he gets home), so I will have 6 days home with him. I drop him off in the morning at 8 a.m. and can pick him up at 3 p.m. I am going to work that day because I would be a nervous wreck if I were home.

Your picking him up the same day???????

[yorkiecrazy]

Originally Posted by pea496

I will keep you updated. I am very nervous, but the vet said he should have it done because it happens every time we go for a walk and the vet could push his knee cap out of the socket. He kept going in and out and in and out. He said he was going to send him home with pain pills (more for keeping him asleep for a while when he gets home), so I will have 6 days home with him. I drop him off in the morning at 8 a.m. and can pick him up at 3 p.m. I am going to work that day because I would be a nervous wreck if I were home.

Katie is having lp surgery 12/12. She is 6yrs old, her knee just got worse as the years went on. She already has arthritis starting in that knee. Katie has to stay over night and they are giving her a pain block.
I'm very nervous about this surgery. I will keep you and Conner in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep use posted.

[mypreciouspups]

Originally Posted by kalina82

Your picking him up the same day???????

Very good question.....If a vet has no one on throughout the night, but has the call in come like every 4 hours, then I would pick up my dog...same day, they do in and out on humans all the time now..but if there was some one all day and night then I would want him to stay...but I would sooner sit up all night with my baby then have him alone at a vets, no way to let anyone know he needs help..if he did..pooh's mum

[kalina82]

i'm sorry but i don't think this type of surgery should be done at regular vets offices at all IF there is no one there at night to offer overnight care. Patients should never be able to go home same day on an orthopedic surgery. So many things can go wrong. your dog has just been under anesthesia for at LEAST an hour, probably more, especially if your vet doesn't do this every day, they're just not as good. Also Rimadyl just isn't going to cut it right after surgery. The patient should be on heavy pain meds for the entire day after surgery and up until 2-4am the next day. plus they need to be kept extremely quiet so they do not get up and stumble around after surgery and break the leg. I know everybody wants their babies home as soon as possible but sometimes that's not the best idea.

[pea496]

My vet is very experienced in this surgery. Conner will come home the same day with pain meds. I would rather he be at home where he will be comfortable than at the hospital. He has a fit when I leave him at the groomer's for 2 hours!!! I am sure the vet would not allow him to go home if he did not feel it was proper - so I will take his advice.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by pea496

My vet is very experienced in this surgery. Conner will come home the same day with pain meds. I would rather he be at home where he will be comfortable than at the hospital. He has a fit when I leave him at the groomer's for 2 hours!!! I am sure the vet would not allow him to go home if he did not feel it was proper - so I will take his advice.

good luck.

[shuber]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Don't feel that way! Your guy is still young and not fully mature. This could easily be something he 'grew' into and that may not have been detected until recently. You are showing concern for him--you are a GOOD mommy.

On a positive note, this is not a condition that is life threatening. You don't HAVE to have it repaired until he starts showing signs of it becoming a real issue. You can wait it out without worrying about it endangering his health.

Thanks !!!!

[cobird2]

I'm just a new mom and wonder about leg problems. How do the legs look when they have luxating patellas? Are they found just in the back legs? How do they affect the dog's movement?
Any info will be appreciated.
Thank you.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by cobird2

I'm just a new mom and wonder about leg problems. How do the legs look when they have luxating patellas? Are they found just in the back legs? How do they affect the dog's movement?
Any info will be appreciated.
Thank you.

Patellas are knees and they are only found in the back legs. front legs have elbows. the legs will look normal but you may notice a hunched back if the legs are really really bad and the knees will point outward instead of straight ahead. If the LPs are just a low grade you may not notice anything wrong. As the grades get higher you will see more symptoms. sometimes they will be running along and you will see them hike up the leg or kick it out behind them. they are doing this to put the knee back in place because it pops out of the socket. as the progression gets worse you will notice them holding the leg up more and more. you will notice a limp and they will even cry out in pain if they step on it wrong or if you touch it wrong. it does hurt. LPs that are grade 3 or 4 need to be surgically fixed. 1 and 2 can be treated with supplements but keep in mind they will NOT get better. only worse. sometimes they will stay the same if you try to prevent the dog from jumping and running around like a nut (which is hard with yorkies and their "zoomies")

[anthroboi]

Great question and great response from kalina82. I was just wondering, going along with the evidence of LP that you described kalina, how difficult would it be to notice this in a young puppy. I'm just curious if it's something you would notice when picking a puppy from the litter (assuming it's the congenital type) or is it pretty much a combination of luck of the draw and making sure they don't hurt themselves?

thanks!
D-

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by anthroboi

Great question and great response from kalina82. I was just wondering, going along with the evidence of LP that you described kalina, how difficult would it be to notice this in a young puppy. I'm just curious if it's something you would notice when picking a puppy from the litter (assuming it's the congenital type) or is it pretty much a combination of luck of the draw and making sure they don't hurt themselves?

thanks!
D-

if a puppy is born with horrible LPs you will notice it as they get a little older. the knees are sticking out and the back is hunched or rounded. if your going to pick a puppy out of a litter of 4 month old yorkies your probably not going to see or feel it unless its really bad. Most times its luck of the draw AND it is not genetic. sometimes usually happens to them to cause the LP like overactivity, running down the stairs, jumping too much, etc...

[anthroboi]

Thanks for the info kalina82! You're awesome!

[MrYorkiecrazy]

Originally Posted by kalina82

... it is not genetic. sometimes usually happens to them to cause the LP like overactivity, running down the stairs, jumping too much, etc...

Actually, this is misleading. According to several vets we've talked to about this condition, as well as many reliable sources on the internet;

Genetics can play a role.
In certain breeds that have extremely short legs such as the Basset Hound or Dachshund, patellar luxation is thought to be secondary to the abnormal shape of the femur and tibia. The curvatures of the bones in these breeds work in conjunction with the forces of the quadriceps muscles to displace the patella to the inside.

RE: http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=457

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by MrYorkiecrazy

Actually, this is misleading. According to several vets we've talked to about this condition, as well as many reliable sources on the internet;

RE: http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=457

my whole quote was this "Most times its luck of the draw AND it is not genetic. sometimes usually happens to them to cause the LP like overactivity, running down the stairs, jumping too much, etc..."

i didn't say it was never genetic, i said most of the time. LPs can be genetic but it can also be caused by running, jumping, falling, etc, etc. etc. I see dogs with LPs every day...