luxating patella - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

TLC · 01-28-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzzy

does anyone mind me asking how much they paid for their LP surgery?

Roxy had LP sugery done on BOTH legs at the same time.
The cost was a few dollars shy of $3000
This included the surgery, meds, hospital stay, etc...

I am in New York - and the surgery was done by a Certified Ortho Specialist

mzzy · 01-30-2008, 12:27 PM

Thanks for the info!

Here's the update... UofG hasn't gotten back to my vet yet... and since one of the posts state it takes approximately 6 weeks to get her back to normal and heal, we decided to go with our vet and just do it... main reason is because we are getting married in 8 weeks and then will be going on our honeymoon for 2 weeks... Missy will be staying with my parents and i want her fully healed so that she doesn't have any issues while staying there... She's scheduled to have the surgery by a specialized certified Ortho this Tuesday so we have to drop her off at the vet for Monday afternoon... I'm scared for her and I hope it all goes well...

We asked the vet if we can not do the pre-screening so that it knocks off approximately $500 and if we can pay by cash and not pay the GST he was fine with that... so the total cost for the one knee will be $1930 which is a savings of about $600. Hopefully everything goes well...

thanks for all your support!

Yorkiedaze · 01-30-2008, 02:26 PM

My Zada had both knees operated on the same time and the entire cost was 1,365.00. Maybe you should seek a couple other opinions and also find a Vet. that will set up a payment plan for you.

RONLYNN · 01-30-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

My Zada had both knees operated on the same time and the entire cost was 1,365.00. Maybe you should seek a couple other opinions and also find a Vet. that will set up a payment plan for you.

Where did you have the surgery done? I see that you live in CA, and not that Teddi needs surgery but it would be good to know in case. Thanks!

lizziepooh_1 · 01-30-2008, 05:30 PM

I can sort of relate to what you're going through. WHen we bought Tia from a pet shop, my husband surprised me with her. I would have gone to a breeder but he felt more comfortable with their "warranty". We went for the 72 hour check up, found out she had grade 4 LP. Some warranty! Tia isn't a pair of jeans with a tear in it! We were attached to her! We didn't know what would happen to her if we brought her back.....would she go to the "breeder", be sold to another family? What if that family couldn't afford the surgery and either put her down or brought her to the humane society and was ulitmately euthanized?

We couldn't live with that, so we kept her. We prefer not to pay for the expensive surgery, but we can afford it if it comes to that. She is over 1 year old and hasn't shown any signs of limping (yet). Out vet told us that at the 10 month mark, the joints and bones have developed enough for an experienced vet to give a corretc grading of LP.

With regards to your fiance wanting to not keep your yorkie, keep in mind that LP is common in small breeds, so even if you get another yorkie, there is no telling that they might also be born with it or might develope it later from one funny jump.

With regards to cost, many people have advised me that you get what you pay for and I've seen plenty of people here who have had to pay for the same surgery on the same knee twice. Do it once and get it done well.

I see you are in Toronto. If you can manage a trip to Quebec (depending where in Toronto you are, you'll be about 4.5 - 5 hours from Gatineau, or 4 - 4.5 hours from Montreal if you take the 401 through to the 40)...schedule a few vet visits there.....when researching, I found their prices to be more competitive than Ontario prices. Prices for surgery on animals is not regulated. And it goes without saying to find a vet who had lots of experience in this area.

You might want to check with a vet or with some experienced members here...a reliable breeder in my region recommended supplemeting Tia's diet with Glucosamine Sulfate (break open a caplet and sprinkle no more than half of a capsule of powder per meal or per day...alternatively, there are dog foods that contain glucosamine sulfate).

Keep your head up, do your homework, and follow your heart. My husband and I don't regret our decision to keep Tia one bit, and going through this has encouraged us to keep her healthier....lot's of exercise, no table scraps.

I wish you all the best!

mzzy · 01-31-2008, 07:06 AM

Hi RonLynn, I'm not in California, i'm in Canada...

Hi Yorkiedaze, they do offer a payment plan, but with 19% interest... I'm not too interested in that plan! LOL

Hi Lizziepooh, we initially were thinking of using the glucosamine suppliments, but it does not CURE the LP... we want a permanent fix... We were just in Quebec in August with Missy but she did not show signs of LP at the time... and another problem that we encounter when we try to "shop around" for LP surgery is that every vet says we have to come in and do another check up which will cost another $100, so we figured even if we saw 5 different vets, it would cost about $500 more dollars that we'd rather just put towards the LP bill...

We've made the appointment, and she'll be going in to get it done this Monday... again, we do need to do it soon so that we're worry free when we head off to our honeymoon on March 31st... we realize it's costly and my fiance initially didn't want to do it... but we see now how worth it she is... Missy truly is priceless! We love her, but we've also agreed it's heartbreaking so we've agreed we won't be getting anymore dogs after her... she's our one and only love... and we're gonna work on having some kids right after our wedding!!! LOL wish us luck! Please keep Missy in your prayers (if you pray

) and hope she has a speedy recovery.. i'll keep you guys posted on how the surgery turns out... my vet will not be doing the surgery himself... he'll be sending her out to get it done at a hospital with a certified Ortho.

thanks!

bbrewser · 01-31-2008, 07:13 AM

Glad to hear things are going forward and Missy will be getting the surgery soon! Hope all goes well, keep us posted!

Zanders' mom · 02-04-2008, 03:24 PM

Hi, I took Jazzie to an ortho specialist 12/07 he confirmed what the vet had told me in 7/07, Jazzie had a level 4 patella. The ortho told me the surgery would be approximately $2,000.00. I was told that Jazzie should have the surgery in her 11th month, I am trying to find "the right" ortho for the job (and the money for it). I wish your little one lots of luck and speedy recovery.

Zanders' mom · 02-04-2008, 03:34 PM

Forgot to mention, from my experience a level 4 LP, doesn't necesarily have to show signs of limping. Jazzie is a candidate for surgery because the majority of the time her patella stays to one side.

mzzy · 02-05-2008, 01:49 PM

Hi Zander's mom... i'm sorry to hear about that... and hope you find the right ortho for you!

Missy has completed her surgery and the vet said she handled it like a champ... he said that the damage in the knee was not that bad since we got the surgery done so soon after she first had her LP. They feel confident that she will not have a limp and will walk perfectly. They also said because she is young she will have a speedy recovery... we will need to carry her and crate her at all times for the next several weeks until her knee is healed... we get her back on Thursday and I can't wait!!! I miss her so much already! Thank GOD the surgery went well!!!!

bbrewser · 02-05-2008, 03:28 PM

That's great to hear!!! I'm so glad everything turned out okay and you can go on your honeymoon and not have to worry about Missy!!!

PunkinPie · 02-05-2008, 03:38 PM

That's great news! Punkin sends lots of puppy kisses for a speedy recovery.

mzzy · 02-06-2008, 07:29 AM

thank you everyone for all your info and support!

mzzy · 02-08-2008, 05:40 AM

Hi everyone... Missy came home last night... her surgery was on Tuesday... so two days later we were able to pick her up... she's completely scared, shaking and only wants to be in her small travel crate... no clue why she doesn't want to go into her bigger home crate?!?

she's not eating or drinking either... my fiance picked her up, but didn't have time to get all the info from the vet to see what we're suppose to do with her... she also has this clear square sticker patch on her body... i have no idea what that is and if we can take it off... any ideas?

thanks!

PunkinPie · 02-08-2008, 05:55 AM

oh the poor thing. She must be sooo scared and in pain. Did they send meds with her? Do you know when she ate last? You might try making a little chicken broth for her. That would get some liquid in her. Has she peed since she's been home?

Where is the patch located? I'm not sure what that is.

01-30-2008, 12:27 PM	#17
mzzy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 127	Thanks for the info! Here's the update... UofG hasn't gotten back to my vet yet... and since one of the posts state it takes approximately 6 weeks to get her back to normal and heal, we decided to go with our vet and just do it... main reason is because we are getting married in 8 weeks and then will be going on our honeymoon for 2 weeks... Missy will be staying with my parents and i want her fully healed so that she doesn't have any issues while staying there... She's scheduled to have the surgery by a specialized certified Ortho this Tuesday so we have to drop her off at the vet for Monday afternoon... I'm scared for her and I hope it all goes well... We asked the vet if we can not do the pre-screening so that it knocks off approximately $500 and if we can pay by cash and not pay the GST he was fine with that... so the total cost for the one knee will be $1930 which is a savings of about $600. Hopefully everything goes well... thanks for all your support! __________________ My Missy

01-30-2008, 05:30 PM	#20
lizziepooh_1 YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 361	I can sort of relate to what you're going through. WHen we bought Tia from a pet shop, my husband surprised me with her. I would have gone to a breeder but he felt more comfortable with their "warranty". We went for the 72 hour check up, found out she had grade 4 LP. Some warranty! Tia isn't a pair of jeans with a tear in it! We were attached to her! We didn't know what would happen to her if we brought her back.....would she go to the "breeder", be sold to another family? What if that family couldn't afford the surgery and either put her down or brought her to the humane society and was ulitmately euthanized? We couldn't live with that, so we kept her. We prefer not to pay for the expensive surgery, but we can afford it if it comes to that. She is over 1 year old and hasn't shown any signs of limping (yet). Out vet told us that at the 10 month mark, the joints and bones have developed enough for an experienced vet to give a corretc grading of LP. With regards to your fiance wanting to not keep your yorkie, keep in mind that LP is common in small breeds, so even if you get another yorkie, there is no telling that they might also be born with it or might develope it later from one funny jump. With regards to cost, many people have advised me that you get what you pay for and I've seen plenty of people here who have had to pay for the same surgery on the same knee twice. Do it once and get it done well. I see you are in Toronto. If you can manage a trip to Quebec (depending where in Toronto you are, you'll be about 4.5 - 5 hours from Gatineau, or 4 - 4.5 hours from Montreal if you take the 401 through to the 40)...schedule a few vet visits there.....when researching, I found their prices to be more competitive than Ontario prices. Prices for surgery on animals is not regulated. And it goes without saying to find a vet who had lots of experience in this area. You might want to check with a vet or with some experienced members here...a reliable breeder in my region recommended supplemeting Tia's diet with Glucosamine Sulfate (break open a caplet and sprinkle no more than half of a capsule of powder per meal or per day...alternatively, there are dog foods that contain glucosamine sulfate). Keep your head up, do your homework, and follow your heart. My husband and I don't regret our decision to keep Tia one bit, and going through this has encouraged us to keep her healthier....lot's of exercise, no table scraps. I wish you all the best! __________________ Hope in a jar: Where there is hope there can be faith; where there is faith miracles can occur. Liz and Tia

01-31-2008, 07:06 AM	#21
mzzy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 127	Hi RonLynn, I'm not in California, i'm in Canada... Hi Yorkiedaze, they do offer a payment plan, but with 19% interest... I'm not too interested in that plan! LOL Hi Lizziepooh, we initially were thinking of using the glucosamine suppliments, but it does not CURE the LP... we want a permanent fix... We were just in Quebec in August with Missy but she did not show signs of LP at the time... and another problem that we encounter when we try to "shop around" for LP surgery is that every vet says we have to come in and do another check up which will cost another $100, so we figured even if we saw 5 different vets, it would cost about $500 more dollars that we'd rather just put towards the LP bill... We've made the appointment, and she'll be going in to get it done this Monday... again, we do need to do it soon so that we're worry free when we head off to our honeymoon on March 31st... we realize it's costly and my fiance initially didn't want to do it... but we see now how worth it she is... Missy truly is priceless! We love her, but we've also agreed it's heartbreaking so we've agreed we won't be getting anymore dogs after her... she's our one and only love... and we're gonna work on having some kids right after our wedding!!! LOL wish us luck! Please keep Missy in your prayers (if you pray ) and hope she has a speedy recovery.. i'll keep you guys posted on how the surgery turns out... my vet will not be doing the surgery himself... he'll be sending her out to get it done at a hospital with a certified Ortho. thanks! __________________ My Missy

02-04-2008, 03:24 PM	#23
Zanders' mom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,351	Hi, I took Jazzie to an ortho specialist 12/07 he confirmed what the vet had told me in 7/07, Jazzie had a level 4 patella. The ortho told me the surgery would be approximately $2,000.00. I was told that Jazzie should have the surgery in her 11th month, I am trying to find "the right" ortho for the job (and the money for it). I wish your little one lots of luck and speedy recovery. __________________ With GOD .... All things ARE possible!

02-04-2008, 03:34 PM	#24
Zanders' mom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,351	Forgot to mention, from my experience a level 4 LP, doesn't necesarily have to show signs of limping. Jazzie is a candidate for surgery because the majority of the time her patella stays to one side. __________________ With GOD .... All things ARE possible!

01-30-2008, 02:26 PM	#18
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	My Zada had both knees operated on the same time and the entire cost was 1,365.00. Maybe you should seek a couple other opinions and also find a Vet. that will set up a payment plan for you.

01-31-2008, 07:13 AM	#22
bbrewser Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 162	Glad to hear things are going forward and Missy will be getting the surgery soon! Hope all goes well, keep us posted!

02-05-2008, 01:49 PM	#25
mzzy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 127	Hi Zander's mom... i'm sorry to hear about that... and hope you find the right ortho for you! Missy has completed her surgery and the vet said she handled it like a champ... he said that the damage in the knee was not that bad since we got the surgery done so soon after she first had her LP. They feel confident that she will not have a limp and will walk perfectly. They also said because she is young she will have a speedy recovery... we will need to carry her and crate her at all times for the next several weeks until her knee is healed... we get her back on Thursday and I can't wait!!! I miss her so much already! Thank GOD the surgery went well!!!! __________________ My Missy

02-05-2008, 03:28 PM	#26
bbrewser Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 162	That's great to hear!!! I'm so glad everything turned out okay and you can go on your honeymoon and not have to worry about Missy!!!

02-05-2008, 03:38 PM	#27
PunkinPie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Halifax, NS Posts: 186	That's great news! Punkin sends lots of puppy kisses for a speedy recovery.

02-06-2008, 07:29 AM	#28
mzzy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 127	thank you everyone for all your info and support! __________________ My Missy

02-08-2008, 05:40 AM	#29
mzzy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 127	Hi everyone... Missy came home last night... her surgery was on Tuesday... so two days later we were able to pick her up... she's completely scared, shaking and only wants to be in her small travel crate... no clue why she doesn't want to go into her bigger home crate?!? she's not eating or drinking either... my fiance picked her up, but didn't have time to get all the info from the vet to see what we're suppose to do with her... she also has this clear square sticker patch on her body... i have no idea what that is and if we can take it off... any ideas? thanks! __________________ My Missy

02-08-2008, 05:55 AM	#30
PunkinPie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Halifax, NS Posts: 186	oh the poor thing. She must be sooo scared and in pain. Did they send meds with her? Do you know when she ate last? You might try making a little chicken broth for her. That would get some liquid in her. Has she peed since she's been home? Where is the patch located? I'm not sure what that is.