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04-26-2014, 08:38 AM | #1 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | Little 'clunk' on rear leg Sometimes when I'm washing Crystal's rear legs one on them clunks when I straighten it. It sounds like a small displacement. She's 16 months old and I've read up about 'luxating patellas', but this seems more at the hip than the knee? She's a great runner and loves jumping too and so far there seems no degradation to her movement. Has anyone else experienced such a symptom? I suffered the paralysis of my right arm due to an impact injury 'avulsing' my radial and ulna nerves 40 years ago now. The sound is similar to my scapular moving around due to its displacement as muscle tissue has deteriorated. I massage the hip for her but she shows no reaction to this - either way? Any input, or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated... Thanks |
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04-26-2014, 09:23 AM | #2 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Sanford, NC
Posts: 114
| I was a vet tech, not a vet, so I'd advise a vet appointment to check this out. It could be Luxating Patella. Toy dogs are prone to having this, especially Yorkies. These's 4 grades. Grade 1 is when the knee pops in & out on it's own. The dog can live with this & not have any problem. Grade 2 requires manual manipulation to re-seat the knee. Grade 3 is the same as Grade 2, except the re-seating is only temporary. Grade 4 is worse, the knee dislocates, pops out, painful for the dog and surgery is recommended. |
04-26-2014, 09:31 AM | #3 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA
Posts: 3,648
| It *could* be nothing, or it could be a joint problem. The only way to know for sure is to see a vet. If the dog has no lameness in the leg, it's probably nothing. But if you're vet says that it's a joint problem, it would be good to see an orthopedic specialist for a second opinion, just to be sure. Here's an article: Clicking / Popping noises from Dogs joint |
04-26-2014, 10:35 AM | #4 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | IMO clunking is a pretty descriptive term that is quite different to a popping or a clicking sound. Clunking immediately brings to my mind the hip joint and not the knee joint. So Doc Martin, when you extend her back leg are you doing so from above the knee joint? Meaning her foot is hanging relaxed the knee neither needs to flex or extend, so that you are holding above her knee when you take that upper thigh back. If so then the hip is more likely.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
04-26-2014, 05:36 PM | #5 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | Thank you all, really very helpful, your kindness is much appreciated. I'm taking her to the Vets for 'booster jabs' and also to discuss 'speying' over the next week or so and I'll show this to her. Gemy: "So Doc Martin, when you extend her back leg are you doing so from above the knee joint? Meaning her foot is hanging relaxed the knee neither needs to flex or extend, so that you are holding above her knee when you take that upper thigh back. If so then the hip is more likely." The symptom described is best demonstrated when she's relaxed. I extend the leg backwards, by applying a little push with my thumb along the quadriceps muscle (over the femur) and as the limb straightens there's sometimes a clunk. As I said she doesn't mind me doing this and from personal experience my physio has shown me manipulations to keep my shoulder 'free' from congestion. I'll check with the vet, but if this helps, it's easy and a pleasure for me to do. My one fear is that hopefully, unlike me it won't extend into osteo arthritis? |
04-26-2014, 06:40 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| Maybe you could discuss an X-ray during her spay?
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain |
04-27-2014, 02:43 AM | #7 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | |
04-30-2014, 07:24 AM | #8 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | Saw the Vet. Her heart and lungs are sound, weight perfect at 7lbs 9ozs, booster jabs and nail clip completed. The clunk from the rear leg diagnosed as a 'luxating patella' stage 2. From this forum I see its something that needs manual manipulation to re-seat. I carry this out a few times a day. Even without this, she seems indifferent and her running and jumping are unimpaired, so I'm not sure? The prognosis was instant without much inspection and I felt was based more upon - 'they all get it', rather than individual consideration. But, I'm not a great fan of Vets or Doctors in general these days. Unfortunately in both professions, throughput & profit outranks attention in an increasingly overcrowded and selfish world... Last edited by docmartin; 04-30-2014 at 07:25 AM. |
04-30-2014, 08:04 AM | #9 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA
Posts: 3,648
| Quote:
Last edited by pstinard; 04-30-2014 at 08:05 AM. | |
04-30-2014, 10:57 AM | #10 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | Quote:
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04-30-2014, 11:19 AM | #11 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | A specialist is a good idea, although Xrays of the patella might not be ideal to ddx patella luxation, as this is a disorder that comes from movement, and probably would not show up on an Xray as by definition Xrays look at static joints. The Xray would be more definitive for hip problems, be they from Hip Dysplasia and or FHO, or other disorders at the hip joint. I have not tried one-handed to assess LP, I usually use my two hands, ditto for hip assessment. In terms of arthritis, unfortunately dogs just like humans are at risk for this, most especially with bio-mechanical problems at any joint. There are supplements you could add to her food, the research is equivocal on the efficacy of many of these supplements. Also there has been very little research that shows contra-indications to these supplements. Glucosamine, Chondrotin et al. I do supplement my large breed dogs with a joint supplement.. One of the key things is to keep her weight lean. Limit jumping onto hard surfaces. Focus on great walks, swimming if she likes to swim, no chasing balls on slippery surfaces, as the sudden stops and or turns on slippery surfaces are hard on the joints. Interactive puzzle toys are good, games like find Moms, or get my slippers ie training to fetch and retrieve are also good.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
04-30-2014, 11:23 AM | #12 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | |
04-30-2014, 11:43 AM | #13 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | Quote:
We have laminate floors and she loves chasing a ball on this oops! Her walks also involve chasing a ball, but this always on soft sand (beach). | |
04-30-2014, 03:25 PM | #14 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| I'd check out another vet. If something concerns you about your dog, it is their business to take those concerns seriously, suggest appropriate diagnostics, treatments and prognosis. If they won't do that, then they obviously don't need you as a client. You pay them, which makes you the boss, they work for you!
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05-02-2014, 02:08 PM | #15 | |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Quote:
When it gets warmer can you walk her through the shallow water? THat is excellent conditioning. (for you too) I would still get her assessed by an orthopaedic specialist. When Razz was a young puppy I was told he had loose knees. But one year later everything was fine, and is still fine now he is 5.5 yrs old. We do a lot of swimming. You can see vids of him dock jumping Also good walks - some hill climbing is great as well. I took him to different lakes some of which have lovely nice gravel parking lots and we walked through the gravel, great for strengthening the toes and ankles. I do try not to throw the ball or such inside, instead we play find the toy, or pull games with toys. Using paper plates hide a treat underneath one, and then it becomes find the treat. You can do mini obstacle courses inside - it is great fun. Like have a low stool and for a treat she must circle it, then jump up on it and sit - Treat reward. Make or get a tunnel and train her to crawl through it - Reward. Let your imagination and your sense of fun guide you. It is great fun for all!
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 | |
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