Limping

[jj71787]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum wasn't sure if I put it here or in sick and injured.

My dog is a 4 year old. He was diagnosed with a laxtating petallar or trick knee. He was always fine with it only popped out once and for a few hours. For about 2 weeks now he has been limping when he walks. He will hold is back leg up and just hop on 3 legs.

Only thing is when he plays or jumps on the couch or barks at passing people he puts pressure on all legs and seems fine.

I checked his foot to see if maybe he had something in his paw I did not see anything nor did he pull away in pain.

[OwnedByJezebel]

You need to see your vet and get an evaluation and a referral to ACVS board certified surgeon/orthopedic specialist. That is the only way to know what is going on for sure. It could be that the LP has gotten worse or he could also have torn a ligament. If it goes on much longer, the meniscus will also be injured and worn down and then he will have no cushion left in the joint and it will be bone on bone and he will be lame. His limping demonstrates that, in fact, he is already in pain. Please take him to the vet.

https://www.acvs.org/

[jj71787]

Thank you. I will call them tonight.

[momofreese]

I am curious to know what your vet said. I saw a limp in my soon to be 11 year old yorkie about eight months ago. I rushed to my vet and after an xray, not an mri they said torn acl, she must have surgery. I said I wanted to wait and do research. I found an article that a dr wrote on his dog and having a limp and NOT rushing for surgery. They explained that you should limit all activity and restrict for at least 12 weeks. I am lucky because Reese is and has always been a couch potato who wants us to basically carry her everywhere, obviously we do not. I had her sleep in a crib, she used to sleep in before demanding she sleep in our bed. I didn't want to hurt her any further, accidentally. We restricted ALL activity. My vet did not believe in this, obviously but I was a stickler. I did not want Reese going under the knife again and having the same 12 week recuperation with pain.

As directed I stopped any pain killers the vet gave us since we didn't want her to use her legs with a false sense of security. She never cried out in pain and Let me tell you ( and we have video of a long outside walk) she is completely healed. When I took her back to the vet numerous times to check on her they basically told me I was crazy and that she will definitely need the acl surgery. They also told me that she will eventually need to other back leg done as well. Well it is about eight or nine months later and she is walking FINE!!!

When I brought her back one time she was nervous and not walking her best. My vet basically said "you see, mind over matter won't work"..well I pulled out my handy dandy iphone video and produced the video from the day before and the vets were shocked.

I don't know if she won't ever show signs again of this supposed torn acl, but we will do whatever we have to do when and if we cross that road.. but I will tell you after her dental experience and now having a horrible underbite from extractions from the same vets, I must question if her teeth really did need to come out, as well.

I will NEVER do anything, even something as common as extractions without a second and third opinion. I was also told that Reese has atypical cushings and after about two years I do not see any signs of that either, other than her buddah belly.

My point is as with humans too.. do NOT rush to do any major surgeries, medications until you are as sure as possible. To think that my baby could have gone under such a painful and expensive surgery for NOTHING, sickens me.

Good luck with your baby. By the way Reese has had luxatting patellas for 11 years. This vet was the only one to tell me to think about surgery for that too. I have always been told to just watch her. and hers too, slipped in and out a few times.

Also I was told she had legg perthes at 7 months old and needed a double hip surgery. that was a different vet and a different orthopedic specialist. They wanted to take her on the spot.. Well... 10 and 1/2 years later.. NO SIGNS... Caution, Caution, CAution always.

Have a great day all...

[jj71787]

I usually take Jeter to the adoption center because the vet is cheap and they care for the animals. Unfortunately they can not get him in until the 21st and I am thinking about calling another vet.

[jj71787]

OK Inted to update this because I finally got to see the vet. They said Jeter is going to need surgery. They first want to orthopedic xrays on his leg to see if he is a candidate for surgery.

I keep googling it and it seems like I can not avoid surgery. I am even contemplating getting a second opinion at a vet that is closer to home.

I trust my vet since they are an adoption clinic I don't think they would give me bad advice. Just didn;t want to subject him to surgery but I guess I have to.

[misskate]

Originally Posted by jj71787

OK Inted to update this because I finally got to see the vet. They said Jeter is going to need surgery. They first want to orthopedic xrays on his leg to see if he is a candidate for surgery.

I keep googling it and it seems like I can not avoid surgery. I am even contemplating getting a second opinion at a vet that is closer to home.

I trust my vet since they are an adoption clinic I don't think they would give me bad advice. Just didn;t want to subject him to surgery but I guess I have to.

Interesting to read your comments. My Spice began limping badly Friday. Our vet has found sever arthritis in both hind legs and inflamation of the ligaments. She is on pain killers and is keeping very quiet (no big deal for another couch potato) We went back today and he found her better. No talk of surgery but possible cortisone injections in her knees. Any insight on this? She has had no trouble with her legs up to now, just been a lazy walker. Unfortunately our dogs dont tell us and really don't cry out much unless it is really unbearable.

[OwnedByJezebel]

What did the xray / exam show? I don't blame you for getting a second opinion -- I would definitely do that if I were you. Get the opinion from a board certified surgeon, since that is who you would want to do the surgery anyway, not a regular vet.

I am not disparaging your vet in any way or questioning their honesty, but they just don't have the level of experience that a board certified orthopedic surgeon has. There have been several here that were told that surgery was necessary by the regular vet, but when they went to the specialist they found out it wasn't. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones.

My pup wasn't so lucky and and did have to have surgery to correct LP with a torn ligament, but I knew my pup was in great hands with an expert that had lots of experience. Interestingly, my regular vet (during a yearly exam before the injury) diagnosed Jez with grade IV LP, which I highly suspected was wrong since I had never seen her lift her leg or limp. When she was injured and I took her to the specialist, he diagnosed her with grade II. Big difference from an expert! And he would not have recommended surgery if the only problem was grade II LP, it was necessary because of the torn ligament.

[jj71787]

I am not sure about arthritis. I just know if they have the luxtating pettelar problem and left untreated can turn to arthritis.

Jeter is a couch potatoe too but he does have his moments where he likes to play but it seemed to have slowed since the vet visit.

[OwnedByJezebel]

Originally Posted by misskate

Interesting to read your comments. My Spice began limping badly Friday. Our vet has found sever arthritis in both hind legs and inflamation of the ligaments. She is on pain killers and is keeping very quiet (no big deal for another couch potato) We went back today and he found her better. No talk of surgery but possible cortisone injections in her knees. Any insight on this? She has had no trouble with her legs up to now, just been a lazy walker. Unfortunately our dogs dont tell us and really don't cry out much unless it is really unbearable.

Poor Spice. Is she a senior dog? It's not uncommon as they get older. Perhaps someone can shed some light on the cortisone injections. I know they do this for humans, but I have no experience with this treatment for dogs.

[jj71787]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

What did the xray / exam show? I don't blame you for getting a second opinion -- I would definitely do that if I were you. Get the opinion from a board certified surgeon, since that is who you would want to do the surgery anyway, not a regular vet.

I am not disparaging your vet in any way or questioning their honesty, but they just don't have the level of experience that a board certified orthopedic surgeon has. There have been several here that were told that surgery was necessary by the regular vet, but when they went to the specialist they found out it wasn't. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones.

My pup wasn't so lucky and and did have to have surgery to correct LP with a torn ligament, but I knew my pup was in great hands with an expert that had lots of experience. Interestingly, my regular vet (during a yearly exam before the injury) diagnosed Jez with grade IV LP, which I highly suspected was wrong since I had never seen her lift her leg or limp. When she was injured and I took her to the specialist, he diagnosed her with grade II. Big difference from an expert! And he would not have recommended surgery if the only problem was grade II LP, it was necessary because of the torn ligament.

I have to make a seperate atment to do the orthopedic xray. They want to sedate him and take xrays of his leg in different angles.

I am not sure if they are certified. They are one of the biggest adoption centers so I don't see why not. My other dog had surgery there and he's fine now.

I want a second opinion but in my mind I feel like I am just prolonging it.

[misskate]

Jez, yes Spice is 10 yrs old and has been in perfect health up to now. Looking to hear from others about the cortisone

[Lovetodream88]

In my opinion a regular vet should never ever do Luxating Patella surgery in fact there was a person on here who's regular vet did it and it had to be re done by an orthopedic specialist so please please go get a second opinion from an orthopedic specialist and if surgery is necessary have him do the surgery. Also xrays are useless with LP.

[OwnedByJezebel]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

In my opinion a regular vet should never ever do Luxating Patella surgery in fact there was a person on here who's regular vet did it and it had to be re done by an orthopedic specialist so please please go get a second opinion from an orthopedic specialist and if surgery is necessary have him do the surgery. Also xrays are useless with LP.

+1 And, like I also stated above, there have been some here that were told by their regular vets that surgery was needed, but when they saw the ortho vet, they found out it wasn't necessary at all. I am sure your regular vet is wonderful and really cares for the animals, adoptions and all, I don't doubt that one bit. But it doesn't make them qualified to get to an exact diagnosis and perform the surgery if necessary. To do it correctly, it requires training, practice, special instruments and technique that a regular vet does not have, so who knows how good the "repair" will be.

Besides, what if your pup is one of the ones that was told that surgery was necessary by your regular vet, when all along it wasn't? By not getting a second opinion from an expert, you could be putting your pup through an unnecessary ordeal and expense. See this thread as an example: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...rlie-hurt.html

You can find a qualified surgeon in your area here: https://online.acvs.org/acvsssa/rfls...VENDOR_TY=VETS

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

+1 And, like I also stated above, there have been some here that were told by their regular vets that surgery was needed, but when they saw the ortho vet, they found out it wasn't necessary at all. I am sure your regular vet is wonderful and really cares for the animals, adoptions and all, I don't doubt that one bit. But it doesn't make them qualified to get to an exact diagnosis and perform the surgery if necessary. To do it correctly, it requires training, practice, special instruments and technique that a regular vet does not have, so who knows how good the "repair" will be.

Besides, what if your pup is one of the ones that was told that surgery was necessary by your regular vet, when all along it wasn't? By not getting a second opinion from an expert, you could be putting your pup through an unnecessary ordeal and expense. See this thread as an example: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...rlie-hurt.html

You can find a qualified surgeon in your area here: https://online.acvs.org/acvsssa/rfls...VENDOR_TY=VETS

Callie had to have LP surgery and it is very tough extremely tough so it is very important you make sure the surgery is 100% necessary.