I'm so sorry to hear Ranger has LP! Chelsea will soon have to have surgery (on both knees) and I'm dreading it. I hope I can learn more from YT about how to handle and what to expect during her recovery period. I'm keeping you and Ranger in my prayers.

I am so sorry about the diagnosis, but glad you are going to have surgery done. You will save him the crippling pain of arthritis later on.

This is what a vet on another forum wrote about Grade 3 luxations:

"Grade 3: The patella is out of place all the time but can be manipulated back into its normal position manually (though it will not stay there).

It is not a good thing to have one's knee cap out of place; the entire weight-bearing stress of the rear leg is altered which, in time, leads to changes in the hips, long bones, and ultimately arthritis. How severe the changes are depends on how severe the luxation is (i.e., the grade as described above) and how long that degree of luxation has been going on. In time, the legs will actually turn inward, making the dog "knock-kneed." The luxation is not considered a painful condition but after enough time and conformational change, arthritis sets in, which is indeed painful.

Dogs with Grade 3 or 4 disease definitely should have surgery."

If anyone knows that it's you for sure. I am so thankful to have you as a friend and know I can lean on you when I'm freaking out about it. You owe me :love-hug3

It is a weird area of medicine, isn't it? I agree that in Ranger's case, surgery is obviously in his best interest, and the sooner the better. Like I said before, if it was Ryder, I wouldn't even consider surgery at this time. I wouldn't do it on Ranger if it was grade one or even grade two that hasn't progressed. The scary thing for me is that it has progressed rapidly, without suffering from an injury to exacerbate it. I do not believe that most yorkies that suffer from grade one and two will be effected with life-altering artheritis. However, I can see that grade threes would be very negatively effected in time, due to the nature of the disease.

Like I said, if it didn't seem to be getting worse, I would sit and wait for a bit. The thing is, what I use to notice maybe once a month is now just about everytime he gets crazy outside :(

Poor hubby is soooo mad at himself for not catching it. The longer and longer it's been since graduating, the worse he gets with his doggie knowledge. That has to be a bit frustrating. When Ranger hurt the pads on his paw a couple months ago he checked him and he was fine in palpation. However, after I brought him home last night he re-checked him and was really upset that it is very easily luxating and not so quick to slide back over.

I am torn between two surgeons- Dr. Randy Acker Sun Valley Animal Center - TATE Elbow

or Dr. Jeff Brourman, who's board-certified Small Animal Surgery :: Idaho's Only Board Certified Small Animal Surgeon I do not care for this facility so we will see...

Thanks for your input!

Poor Chelsea. How old is she and what grade does she have? I will keep everyone updated, so hopefully you can learn from our experience :(

Thanks for your input as well, Marj. I am obviously upset, and mostly because my exuberant little lab/yorkie just wants to LIVE and RUN!!

His LP is actually a "2+" but with the way it has progressed rapidly, will most likely be a three within the next few moths, especially if he keeps up the way he does. Yes, I could restrict his LIFE but it's not fair to him. I am going to be getting more information today, I was so shocked yesterday I had to compose myself and do some research before I could ask any intelligent questions.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. He cuddled with me all night last night, I am sure he wasn't feeling well due to the rabies shot but I know he knew I was upset. I just LOVE my little guy.

You've gotten such great info! I do wonder about the prognosis for the other, currently "healthy" knee - what do you do there? Hugs to you and Ranger. :)

Keeping Ranger in our thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and recovery. We are going this very thing as I type this. We just dropped Hot Rod off this am for his grade 3 surgery. It was also kind of a quick spiral. I'd always noticed that he seemed stiff in his rear but nothing to indicate anything. He'd been checked and 2 different vets said that it was a grade 1 (a year ago).

In Hot Rod's case, his leg is bowed and his hip is out of alignment. Not to say that this has anything to do from it but I wonder how much his knee has been an issue after all. We were fortunate that the ortho had an opening today so we decided to do it right away rather than prolong the inevitable.

You are very smart to get it done now. The longer you put it off, the more arthritic changes occur so the surgery has less chance of being successful. I have a friend who does Maltese rescue and she said that they get dogs in that are no longer candidates for surgery because their owners did a "wait & see" for too long. They then must just live with the crippling pain of arthritis in their senior years. :(

Amanda, I am sorry to read Ranger needs surgery.
LP seems to be running rampant on YT lately.
I do hope the other knee will be fine.
Buddy and I are wishing him a safe surgery and a very
speedy recovey.

Hugs to Ranger from us,

I am on a mission to find out! I will let you know for sure. Thanks for calling last night, all the timing worked out perfectly for me to freak out to you :rolleyes: I'm really not that nutty... promise!

Oh my gosh I am so thankful that you saw this than. I had no idea Hot Rod had LP. PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE keep me updated on both the surgery and recovery. I haven't yet met with the surgeon so I don't know ANYTHING.

My vet last night pulled out the anatomy book and showed me the different scenarios. I guess it's pretty bad when the leg bows, from what I understood, it is all related. I guess they will have to pin/plate it? I was so in a fog last night I am getting things confused but please let me know that Hot Rod is ok and what your recovery instructions are. Is it both legs?

I will not set this little guy up for failure, he deserves to have the best possible chance for a successful surgery and many, many active years to follow.

Thanks so much Carol. I hope the other knee will be fine, too <fingers crossed>

Chelsea just turned one last week. When she was 5 months, her vet said she was already a 2+. He said we would need to plan on surgery at around a year and half old. She sleeps snuggled up against me or on top of me, and in the last month I've noticed the movement in both knees has really increased so I'm terrified it's already worsened to a grade 3. She has begun hesitating on steps, too (I have puppy steps all over the house in hopes of preventing just this :().

Yes, please keep us updated. We'll pray for a quick and smooth recovery for him!

Amanda,
You are such an amazing person and an amazing Mommy. I am sure little Ranger will have a successful surgery and he'll be back to normal in no time.

Oh Amanda, I am so sorry. But....thank the Lord, he has such a GREAT mommy. I know you will do everything you can to make him comfortable. If you need me for anything, just let me know. I know I'm a looooooong way from you.....but I'll do whatever I can. I'll be praying!

Poor little girl! Let me know how it all goes, and when your surgery is scheduled. I'll keep you guys in my thoughts.

You are awesome Mimi. Thank you so much for that. :eek: I was so preoccupied with MYSELF yesterday I forgot to wish Tumi a happy b-day..


Thank you Val, I really appreciate that. I'll take all the prayers I can get. After his neuter, I never thought I would have to put him under again and I am quite terrified. I'll keep you updated.

So very sorry to hear about Ranger. We are facing the same thing with JoJo. I also found out by accident when I took him to have his nails clipped. JoJo has problems when he is tired. We will probably have his surgery in May. He is not in pain. I am very scared too with the idea of having surgery for my baby boy (10 months old). I know what you mean about the neutering being bad enough. While JoJo did great, his Mama and Daddy didn't. Good luck with Ranger's surgery.