luxating Patella (knee)
 

Hi, this is our first time posting....we just got our first Yorkie on Sat. (12/11). It is a little boy, 15 weeks old, 2.6 lbs. The breeder required us to have our vet check over the pup within three days, which we did. Unfortunately our vet said that our pup has a luxating patella (right leg). We reported this to the breeder and she claims that neither the mom nor dad has the knee problem and that her vet checked the pup at 6 wks and he didn't report any problems. We love this little guy but we are worried about what we are in for with him and this problem. As you all know Yorkies aren't cheap and we are wondering if we should return him to the breeder. If anyone has a Yorkie with this problem we would love to here from you. This has us really worried.

Did your vet say what grade luxation it was. Some yorkies can have a grade 1 and never have a real problem with it, but if it is a grade 4 the dog will probably require surgery before long. Ask your breeder if the pup needs surgery will she help pay for it. You can ask your vet to send her the information about the pups check-up, and even ask her if she wants to have the pup go to her vet and be checked for it, at her expense of course. If there is nothing about the pups health in the contract, you don't have much chance of getting anything from the breeder.

rpfix , welcome to YorkieTalk! Sorry to hear about your little boy's knee problem. I know it's tough knowing this going in ... I think, since it's a trait of these little ones, that it's a fear that all yorkie lovers live with. We have had no experience with this, only all the information that we have read. We will certainly remember this little guy in our prayers, I know this is a tough decision for you. Please keep up updated.

Lots of good advice already.....Only thing I can add is that if you plan to breed a male, this should not be the male you choose. I believe this condition is passed along genetically. If he's going to be a blue ribbon pet, and the grade is not too severe, I would keep him. If you know that you will never be able to afford the surgery, then I would take him back to the breeder. I sure hope there is a health clause in your contract. I've already said a little prayer for him and a big one for you, since this is a very hard decision, I know.

Welcome to YorkieTalk, and please do come back and let us know your decision.

Higgin's Mom

Luxating Patela is a genetical problem. There is no way the parents don;t have it, i am sorry to say but that breeder is a very irresponsible one and shouldn;t breed the dogs without running all the necessary tests to make sure this doesn;t happen.

Now, yorkies can have a good life even if they have a luxating patela, but like mmyorkies said, it depends on the degree. If it is not too bad, i would sugere that u do keep him, poor thingie, i wouldn't trust that breeder :( Now, i know that it depends on each state legislation, but more likely, if you can prove that you bought your yorkie from that breeder, even if u don;t have a contract, she/he can still be held responsible for selling a puppy with a congenital disease. So find out about that, even if the case is not that bad, you should;t at least be reembursed what u paid for him...that's the only way to teach this people a lesson.

As per your little boy, i hope he is doing fine and get's lots of love!! ;)

Let us know what you decide to do...

Welcome to Yorkietalk Rpfix!!!
 

Im so sorry to hear about your little one's problem. I don't know much about this condition but I will pray for you both. I know is a very hard decision to make.
Please keep up posted.
Hugs,
Gucci and Marie

Thanks everyone for all of your advise and support. We forget to mention that the vet said that it was only a grade 1 luxating patella....and so based on the comments given, we may be OK.... We will be going back to the vet in 3 weeks and will see if the knee is better as it does not seem to bother Teddy at all.

Lets assume for a moment that the knee stays at at stage 1 in the next checkup...and odds are that he will probably never need surgery. Do we ask the breeder for a partial refund in case surgery is needed down the road? (The vet says he seems healthy in every other way and is actually potty training very well!).

Or do we give him back and ask for another one instead?

Thoughts anyone?
Thanks!!

Since he's doing so well and you are getting firmly attached to him, I like MMYorkie's suggestion: Ask the breeder to help with medical expenses (pay half?) if he ever needs surgery. Be really nice about it and see if honey works better then vinegar.

Awwww heck.....hold him and love him and pray for the best! I couldn't give him back.

Mary Ellen

Tish has the same problem with her right knee. Her parents DO NOT have this problem.

yizzl...if is luxating patella, the parents have to have. It's genetical, maybe they have so little that nobody can notice...but ask any vet that specializes in that...there is not way a dog will have luxating patella if one of the parents don;t have. It;s carried on the genes...

luxating patella does not have to be inherited, it can be the result of a trauma. Many times it is inherited, but not always. You can read about them here at the OFA site, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. http://www.offa.org/patluxgeninfo.html

But you can check with vets the specialize in this, 90% agree that it is genetic. But with medicine is always like that...some doctors will always have different opinions. Now all that cases that i know, it was proven to be genetic after all the proper exams were made.

Hi this is my first time on this site also but I just had to join to tell you that you will be so sorry if you give your puppy back. I have had a very bad experience with my babies. I bought two puppies at one time from this person that seemed very nice and caring about her animal's. About a week before I was suppose to pick them up she called and did tell me that Wiggles had this patella problem but said it was not bad and it might not ever need surgery and that was the only thing wrong with him and the other one Buster was in perfect health. Well I got them home in 4 days we went to the vet because they was always digging a there ears well they had very bad yeast infection in the ears that is when it all started then I went in and both of them fixed I had to Buster because of of his testicles would not drop. Then one day I woke up and Buster was limping on his right leg so I took him to the vet again and we had to do x-rays and send them into the specialist all of this has happened in about 2or3 months it was very over whelmed I called the seller back and told her that I was just to over whelmed by all of this and I knew that I would have issues with Wiggles but not with Buster she need to take him back this after paying over 500.00 in vet bills and paying the full price for Buster she did give me a discount on Wiggles due to his knee. Anyway she did take him back and told me she would wait to give him to someone else until she hears from me what the specialist say's about Busters x-ray's so 2 days later I felt so very bad about giving Buster back I called her and told her what the vet said that he did have to have hip surgery and she told me she had already gave Buster away to someone else I was just heart broke. I told her that getting a new member to our family was suppose to be a happy and I did not have a happy experience at all but I still miss Buster and I would still take him back I love Wiggles so much he is just my buddy and where I go he goes, and by the way Wiggles is going to need surgery sooner than later. I am not sure how that seller is still selling puppies but she say's that none of her other litters was like this and I did not get a dime back from Buster or his vet bills. Sorry about your baby but I just think you would be sad and sick with your self like I still do if you give him back maybe the seller will pay for part of your vet bill have you ased them.

My yorkie has a luxating patella
 

My yorkie, Bojangles, has a luxating patella on his left back leg. One vet said that the grade of it was a 3 and he needed to have surgery. I wanted a second opinion and took him to another vet and he said that it was probably a 1 and would not need surgery. I think really good vets try to do anything to prevent from our little babies having to go under. He told me that if I give him a tablet of cosequin ds supplement daily that it will help the stiffness that Bojangles has only on occasion. I am now only having to give him a 1/4 of a tablet(he weighs 6 lbs). Please ask your vet what the recommend. I also give both of my yorkies glucosamine treats. They are good for our little babies bones. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions.