Experience with luxating patella???
 

I was told Wookie:aimeeyork had luxating patella when he was little (he is 3 and half now), but it wasn't bad. Just something to keep an eye on. It just popped occasionally at that point. Well, last Oct he had to have emergency exploratory surgery in his intestines and when he got home from the hospital I noticed him doing that lifting his back leg and hopping around for a few seconds then be fine thing. Took him to the vet and she said that the surgery aggravated his luxating petalla because of how they have to tie down his legs for so long. She thought it would be ok, just keep an eye on it and we went ahead and put him on GlycoFlex. She said he could possibly get worse and eventually need surgery, or it could not ever get that bad. We just have to watch it. After a short episode of doing the leg sticking thing, he quit doing it completely. Has only done it one other time since then, when he got his leg caught up in some weeds in the back yard. Then he only did it for a day or two. Well, 2 weeks ago, I was taking something away from him that I didn't realize was tangled on his back leg and when I pulled it away from him he yelped and limped around for a bit. The rest of that day he was real ginger on it, but then he was ok. Now he is doing that leg catching thing again, a lot. It has been 2 weeks now and it doesn't seem to get better. It pops out just when we play around in the floor.

Was wondering who has experience with this? I wonder if this is just an aggravation from that day that is lingering or if there is more damage. I don't really want to go to the vet and pay for a visit if she is just gonna tell me to keep an eye on it again(I lost my job 2 months ago and money is really tight right now). I will if I need to though, if there is anything more they can do for him. I am just soooo scared he is gonna need surgery sometime....:animal-pa

I'm so sorry for all the troubles you having.

I'm no help - just wanted to bump this one.

You know now that you mention it, I wonder..... Bailey was diagnosed a level 1 LP at her very first puppy visit. She had no troubles at all until she was spayed at 7 mos - then she started limping. I never thought to connect the LP troubles with being tied down at surgery?? But I bet that was it! Makes sense!

Anyhow, when Bailey limped - I took her back to the vet - concerned that it might have been the deteriorating hip bone disease (the name escapes me right now). I was somewhat relieved that it was "only" LP. The doc confirmed that it was still only a level 1 - but said that surgery might help and that I should talk to an ortho.

It was Nov. at the time and I decided to put it off until after the holidays. Oddly, Bailey never limped after the vet visit. So, the short answer is that yes, she got over it.

Bailey is now 2.5 years old and no problems! :)

Wookie usually just gets over it too. Has aggravated it only a couple times in the past year where it was popping out. The GlycoFlex really seemed to help him. But this time he just isn't gettin past it. I am thinking he is using it too much. It seems to have even gotten a little worse since I posted this thread the other night. So, I went and bought stairs for the bed yesterday (smart lil guy has already started using them) and a step for the couch. I have laid in bed with him the past couple days cause that is the only way I can get him to lay down and rest. If I get up and around he wants up and around and to play too. I did some research online and it talked about crate confinement until it heals. So I think tomorrow when I go to school (I start dog grooming school tomorrow!) I am going to put him in my small laundry room where he doesn't have anything to jump on or room to run while I am gone. Maybe he will continue to get some good rest. (His crate is too small for him to spend the day in) I am also gonna try get him into the vet this week to see what she says. Hopefully she will think the rest is good and maybe he will need to go up to the GlycoFlex II (he is on I now). I don't know, I just don't think he is to the surgery point yet. He falls under the description of grade 2. The knee cap doesn't stay out, it pops back in after just a couple seconds. Its just happening a lot right now. Hopefully she won't want to put him on Rimadyl cause I don't think I will let her. I have read too many bad things about that med. Anyone have an opinion on that? Or any ideas of what else I could do to help?

My baby has done that limping twice and since we are going to the vet next week for a dental procedure I will tell the vet to check it.

Regarding, your financial situation I feel your pain, so I was looking online for non profit pet care and, this is what I found in Texas. I mean, I know Texas is hugh! but maybe is close to you or you can look for a non profit organization close to you.

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