Vet Recommending Patella luxation Surgery for My Yorkie

[mTuran]

Hi Guys,
I have 8 year old male netured yorkshire. He started limping 2 years ago and lasted for 1 week and after that he walked perfect normal 2 years. This week it happened again and now we're at the day 10 and he is again recovierng probably he will fine next week.

I went to vet today after x ray, he diognased our yorkie disase as common Patella luxation and he told me need he requires a surgery. With 2 options;

- Standart patella luxation surgery for both knees
- Standart surgery for right knee and Pgr KYON operation for right.

I will also go another vet on monday to get second opionon but I am very confused. I want to provide the best option for him, cost is not important. What do you think can you help me?

[ladyjane]

If he has a torn cruciate ligament, I could see surgery...but for patellar luxation...NO.

I would get a second opinion. A specialist would be best.

[winterstarpromo]

My baby had to have the luxation surgery on both of her knees about 2 years apart, I think it was.

[mrssabes]

My vet recommended surgery for luxating patella as well for my 8 yo yorkie, despite not doing a thorough physical evaluation and even after discussing how his airway issues may complicate general anesthesia. We insisted on a referral to a physical therapist instead. The particular person we’re seeing grew up in a household of yorkies and was surprised that surgery was even suggested. We’ve only been doing PT for less than two weeks and the daily improvement is amazing after red light therapy, daily at home massages, daily wobble cushion work, and more. Your mileage may vary, but if you have the time and opportunity to explore other options, do so.

[ladyjane]

Repairing a luxating patella on a dog that is older can be done BUT it is not usually done unless there is a lot of discomfort or loss of use of the leg which is rare. When these dogs have LP the knee cap is constantly wearing on the cruciate ligament and these is no way to assess the condition of that ligament. You can repair the knee luxation but then have the pup tear the cruciate ligament after that....that means two different surgeries which are harder on the pup and certainly hard on your pocketbook.
Yes, some vets will repair luxating patellas;. but, a specialist will usually not unless they are young ... in which case the knee has not affected the ligament.

[Murnah]

Sorry to hear about your baby. I took Phoebe to yet another vet because I'm trying to get the right vet for her and me. This is her third vet since October. During her initial examination unlike the other two this vet thought to examine Phoebe's good back leg being as she dorsn't have use of the other. She found Phoebe does have the patella luxation in her good hind leg. She said on a scale of 1 to 4 she is at a 2, if she moves to a 3 she will need surgery otherwise she could end up in a wheelchair. She put her on Dasuquin (joint health supplement). Luckily Phoebe loves them and eats like thry are a treat. They are kind of spendy at $40 at bottle but if they help her then I will gladly pay it. It doesn't hurt to get a 2nd opinion though and I would definately reccomend it. good luck.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Murnah

Sorry to hear about your baby. I took Phoebe to yet another vet because I'm trying to get the right vet for her and me. This is her third vet since October. During her initial examination unlike the other two this vet thought to examine Phoebe's good back leg being as she dorsn't have use of the other. She found Phoebe does have the patella luxation in her good hind leg. She said on a scale of 1 to 4 she is at a 2, if she moves to a 3 she will need surgery otherwise she could end up in a wheelchair. She put her on Dasuquin (joint health supplement). Luckily Phoebe loves them and eats like thry are a treat. They are kind of spendy at $40 at bottle but if they help her then I will gladly pay it. It doesn't hurt to get a 2nd opinion though and I would definately reccomend it. good luck.

Stage 3 luxation will NOT put her in a wheelchair. Plenty of dogs have those numbrs.
Supplements will not hurt her, but in my experience, I have not seen a benefit.
Find a vet who knows these things! Doing surgery on a dog with stage 3 will NOT prevent a torn cruciate ligament. I have seen cases where people spend a ton of money to repair LP only to have to spend another ton of money if and when the cruciate tears. Then the owner is out a ton of unecessary money and the poor pup has to endure two surgeries.

I am going to send a message to one of our members who went through this so she can share that story....

[Murnah]

Thank you Ladyjane. I appreciate the feed back. I will look into getting another opinion and doing some research on my own. She's young but I want to prepair for what may come so I am not blindsided.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Murnah

Thank you Ladyjane. I appreciate the feed back. I will look into getting another opinion and doing some research on my own. She's young but I want to prepair for what may come so I am not blindsided.

Totally understand!

You might want to consider a consult with a board certified ortho surgeon. If she is that young, perhaps surgery to repair her luxating patella might help avoid future issues. Sometimes they do recommend it for the young ones so that they avoid that constant wear and tear on the cruciate ligament.

[ladyjane]

Here is some information that may help.

https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/patellar-luxations/

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Murnah

Sorry to hear about your baby. I took Phoebe to yet another vet because I'm trying to get the right vet for her and me. This is her third vet since October. During her initial examination unlike the other two this vet thought to examine Phoebe's good back leg being as she dorsn't have use of the other. She found Phoebe does have the patella luxation in her good hind leg. She said on a scale of 1 to 4 she is at a 2, if she moves to a 3 she will need surgery otherwise she could end up in a wheelchair. She put her on Dasuquin (joint health supplement). Luckily Phoebe loves them and eats like thry are a treat. They are kind of spendy at $40 at bottle but if they help her then I will gladly pay it. It doesn't hurt to get a 2nd opinion though and I would definately reccomend it. good luck.

Luxating Patella doesn’t lead to a wheelchair. After doing the LP surgery on my one girl and literally a year later her CCL tearing and requiring another surgery, I personally will not do surgery on an adult dog for LP unless for some reason there is some significant issues. My now youngest has absolutely horrible knees that you can see pop out the whole time she’s walking but she has no pain and no issues and could live her whole life without issues. If she ends up tearing her CCL we will fix the knee at the same time otherwise not touching her knees. I personally would be leery of a Vet saying LP would need a wheelchair.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Luxating Patella doesn’t lead to a wheelchair. After doing the LP surgery on my one girl and literally a year later her CCL tearing and requiring another surgery, I personally will not do surgery on an adult dog for LP unless for some reason there is some significant issues. My now youngest has absolutely horrible knees that you can see pop out the whole time she’s walking but she has no pain and no issues and could live her whole life without issues. If she ends up tearing her CCL we will fix the knee at the same time otherwise not touching her knees. I personally would be leery of a Vet saying LP would need a wheelchair.

Amen. I would run from that vet for sure. I had a bit of a chuckle when I read what you said about knees....I have a 14 year old that has knees like that. He is quite spry and loves to play fetch...quite charming....but, I often cringe watching those knees popping in and out. He is fine and just keeps on trucking!

[Murnah]

To be fair what the vet said was that being as Phoebe only has one back leg it is important to keep her good back leg as healthy as possible. I did have a pomeranian who had the luxating patella in both his hind legs. He was able to stretch the legs out by balancing on the other leg and pop them back in place on his own but as Phoebe doesn't have the use on her left hind leg she can't balance on it in order to stretch the other out. So far she is healthy and doesn't let being a three legged dog stop her or slow her down. She not only keeps up with my sisters 4 pugs but runs circles around them. She is the quintessential pesty lil sister (or cousin in this case).