Early stages of Luxating Patellas do nothing?
 

We noticed that Baileys back legs were making a popping noise and she was sitting a little different so we had our vet take a look. He said her knees are definitely all the way out. So we said What do we do now? He said absolutely nothing unless they are causing her pain. I thought there was stuff you could do if you caught it early to prevent it from progressing further but he tells us theres nothing that can be done. Is this correct?

luxating patella
 

My Dash also has what my vet called "stage 1" luxating patella and also recommended not doing anything about it -- except putting him on glucosomine chondroiton (sp?) maintenance and "keeping an eye on it." I've done a lot of research on luxating patella, and it seemed to me that this is what most vets recommend. But at the same time, it seems that the best chance for a successful surgery is doing it BEFORE things get worse - such as at stage 1 or stage 2...so....that makes me think...why wait?

I suppose one reason to "wait and see" is it may not get any worse if you do the upkeep with the vitamins. Absolutely get him on the glucosomine stuff. Your vet might recommend cosequin. I thought it was expensive and found other brands that packed more punch for an equal or better price. I've had my little guy on platinum performance (you just mix it in with his food). He is starting to show a little arthritis in his hind legs (he has it in both hind legs and his front right leg), but he is still in stage 1.

If you are still really concerned, get a second opinion from a vet who is a surgeon and see what he/she thinks. I suppose most doctors don't want to put a dog through surgery unless they absolutely have to...

I would say get the supplements, no jumping on furniture and taking it easy. Stormy had LP and the vet said right away surgery is the only thing blah blah blah. She got vitamins and we limited her walking/running and jumping. She had one episode of carrying her leg and popping. After that it never seemed to bother her again.

ugh I always forget about the limiting the jumping...and Dash thinks he's superman - always trying to jump off of furniture. Which doesn't help.

Also keeping the weight down - it's important to make sure that they don't get overweight because it's hard on the knees.

Apparently luxating patella doesn't cause pain, but I can tell you that the first time Dash's patella popped he YELPED. But ever since then when it has popped out he just gets lame and sits down and tries to kick it out. I can manually get it back into place. But while it might not hurt, it leads to arthritis, which DOES.

So I would find a new vet. Because your vet is wrong - there are things that can be done and should be done - such as the preventative vitamins. Surgery is an option if it gets past stage II. And it's definitely something to keep an eye on - for some yorkies it gets progressively worse and nothing good comes of waiting. But the only way to know that is to keep an eye on things. Your vet should have at least told you about the supplements.

By the way, I'm not advocating the surgery, but the surgery basically (in my completely layman non-medical terms so everyone feel free to correct me!!) is that they put grooves in the knee so that the knee cap can sit better and not move around and slip off. Sometimes they actually have to "nail down" the knee cap or maybe the ligaments to keep it in place. But I think that's really only for stage IV or the worst cases, where the kneecap is completely and always out of place and the dog can't even walk.

Prince's knee would make a "clicking" noise when we picked him up. His vet heard it and said that it was very minor. It happens only once in a while. Because of his CT, my husband and I have started carrying him up and down the stairs, reduced his treats, and started giving him low cal Blue Buff for his last meal and snacks. I seems as though these adjustments have helped with the clicking. Even when he strecthes, we don't hear it.

Would 1 1/2 years old be to young to start glucosimine? What is a good supplement to give them as a treat? Where is a good place to buy it? The closest and cheapest store I have is Wallyworld. My vet lives closer but would cost more.

I noticed that Acana Prairie Harvest and Acana Pacifica have the Glucosamine (800mg/kg) and Chondroitin (500mg/kg) listed in the food analysis already.

How much do they need?

Max's vet (who I kind of do not like but have not yet found a replacement for) said he has stage 2 in his back left leg and recommended surgery ASAP!
I am getting a second opinion AND another vet.
Everything i have researched and read here says he does not "need" surgery yet.
Max is in no pain and shows no discomfort about it at all.
He just skips a step or two and then walk normal again. Then skips a step...walk normal for a bit.