Luxating Patella Hi everyone, my dog mylo was recently diagnosed with luxating patella (dislocated kneecap)...anyone else have this problem with their yorkie? mylo is ok, he's not that severe, but it still bugs me that he has this problem. and the vet suggests i do surgery, but i'm trying to see if i have other options. he can walk fine and is active and lively. just the odd limping when it pops out. but it's rare...any info/tips would be great. thanks |
Lacy was diagnosed about a month ago at her last checkup. Her right leg is a grade 3 and her left is a grade 2. The right one really pops out easily. She hasn't had any problems with limping or her leg locking up and it hasn't seemed to bother her at all yet. The vet told me that they've seen a lot of dogs under 15lbs with grade 3 luxating patellas live just fine without surgery. She said we'd just need to monitor Lacy. She said that Lacy was at a healthy weight and that is very important - don't want to much weight on those knees. I also started giving her a glucosamine/chondroiton supplement every morning to help her joints. The vet said as long as her knees aren't locking up and bothering her there is no need for surgery but we'll keep an eye on them. |
Quite a few people on here have yorkies with LPs. Some have had surgery and some have not. Morgan has LPs but they are low grade. I started giving her Missing Link plus with glucosamine to hopefully prevent it from getting any worse. I work for a veterinary orthopedic surgeon and we do knee surgeries every day. Little dogs do wonderfully after this type of surgery. If your dogs knee is already popping out it is possible that he will need the surgery done eventually, and sorry to say, your vet will probably recommend getting both done at the same time. |
THANKS FOR all the tips...hmm, i really dont want to put him through surgery :( but yeah, i guess it's better for him in the long run...so you recommend i do both legs? i guess there's that chance the other leg can be affected later on... |
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We did surgery on her right leg immediately. It really wasn't so bad. We had to kennel her for a while, but within a week, she was starting to walk around. My vet said that was extremely early, but if she's ready, let her start - just make sure she takes it easy. That was the first of April - now, with the exception of being shaved, you can't tell she ever had anything wrong with her legs. She is still walking on her left, but it is a grade 3 and gradually getting worse. We know that if we don't do something, her left will end up permanently dislocated like her right and she'll no longer be able to use it either. We also know that any damage done is permanent, even with surgery. They can put the knee cap back where it goes, but they can't fix all the damage if you let it get that bad. Pixie is scheduled to go ahead and go in for her left knee surgery on July 5th. We think this is her best option even though it means her 4th surgery in less than a year, without it, she will soon lose use of her leg. So the advice I offer is this - don't panic. It really does turn out OK and the surgeon can fix their knees good as new AS LONG AS you don't let it get too bad before getting the surgery. My other advice is... do the surgery soon if it's a grade 3 or more. If it's a grade 1, there's nothing really to worry about except to keep an eye on it - although if they notice it, it's likely a 2-3. My vet said a grade 2, they would consider surgery, but it is definitely necessary when it gets to grade 3. Pixie never even knew anything happened to her. She woke up rearing to go and within a few days was trying to put weight on her leg. This is not a death sentence or anything - just a hurdle to jump over so they can keep running and jumping :) If you need any more help or advice, I'm right there with you. |
thanks for the advice and support...i will keep an eye out on my dog and see if it gets worse...i'll for sure call around to diff. specialists... |
new to this forum-knee problem My Rex has seen an orthopedic surgeon recommended by our vet on Long Island and the surgery has been recommended for his left leg-a level 3. He also damaged a ligament in that leg, a weeek ago, perhaps because it was already in a less than perfect condition. I did not ask if his other knee should be operated on-it is a level 2, but after reading these comments, I will inquire. Although I am reluctant to have the surgery at this point I am more afraid not to-he is just 3 years old and loves to romp. Was the recovery very difficult? Will he be able to go for those long walks once again after he has healed? |
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