Luxating patella (dogs)

Zapperzy

Anyone here have any experience with them? Particularly those that went through the surgery.

I have a 6 and a half year old cairn terrier x who I'v had for 4 years now, when we got him first he had a very mild luxating patella, barely noticable. It's got progressively worse since and it's got to the point now that when I bring him somewhere he can have a good run around it really shows when he's trotting and running, sometimes he could hold the leg up for 2 out of 3 steps then put it down for a few steps then hold it up again. He has never shown any signs of pain, never whimpers when he limps but obviously if he's not putting weight on the leg for those few steps there has to be some degree of pain or discomfort, he's a hardy little yolk so he could be hiding it well.

The vet knows about it since day 1 and when asked about it last year she was reluctant to suggest surgery as it was very painful with a long recovery time. I feel he's gotten worse since then. He's due his vaccinations next month so I will be bringing the topic up again to see what she thinks now. If I get the same sort of response I'l probably bring him to a vet I know who specialises in orthopedics for his opinion, not to diss the opinion of my own vet it's just she doesn't do any orthopedics.

What I fear is that it will get even worse with time to the point it is causing him pain at some point in the future. He's nearly 7 years old now so I would rather if he needed the operation to put him through it in the next year or two rather than waiting until he's much older. I'v always been conscious of his weight, trying to keep it down as much as possible to keep the excess stress off the knee. I don't think the crate rest during recovery would be too stressful for him, he's a lazy sod anyways but I wouldn't like to put him through an unnecessary painful surgery.

So apologies for my ramblings, not looking to replace veterinary advice just looking to hear from people with experience of this and what route they decided to go down.

SaleAgreed

Hi, I feel your pain.

My little guy just had the surgery about 3 weeks ago. He is only 1 year old but the knee cap wouldn't go back in so he had to have the op.

It was really tough. I took the first few days off work to mind him (my parents normally baby sit him, but typically it was the one week they were away). He needed total crate rest for one week, so he had to be carried in and out for a wee and basically spoon fed his meals and water and needed 24/7 eye on him for his body temp, blanket on one minute, off the next!! but after the inital first couple of days when the shock wore off him, he got the hang of not putting weight it, and how to hobble around on three legs. He still has a bit of a limp now which is getting better every day, and hes flying around not a bother him.

Bullseye1

My dog had this and the operation. I had to sleep downstairs for 8 weeks to keep an eye on her, which is about the length of time it takes to recover. But it was a great success. It's very important not to allow them exert themselves and basically even when they need to go out to the toilet it needs to be on the lead. Operation cost around €900 plus cost of X-rays. Thankfully I have insurance and the vets handled all the paperwork.

Zapperzy

Bullseye1 wrote: »

My dog had this and the operation. I had to sleep downstairs for 8 weeks to keep an eye on her, which is about the length of time it takes to recover. But it was a great success. It's very important not to allow them exert themselves and basically even when they need to go out to the toilet it needs to be on the lead. Operation cost around €900 plus cost of X-rays. Thankfully I have insurance and the vets handled all the paperwork.

What stage was your girl at when she had the operation? Did it progressively get worse over time to the point she needed it?

Out of interest what breeds do ye both have? Are they terriers? Nearly every second terrier I see seems to have one.

SaleAgreed

I've a French Bulldog, my vet said its more common in smaller dogs. His op 'only' cost about €400 all in, inlcuding all his check ups and pain medication.

Bullseye1

Zapperzy wrote: »

Bullseye1 wrote: »

My dog had this and the operation. I had to sleep downstairs for 8 weeks to keep an eye on her, which is about the length of time it takes to recover. But it was a great success. It's very important not to allow them exert themselves and basically even when they need to go out to the toilet it needs to be on the lead. Operation cost around €900 plus cost of X-rays. Thankfully I have insurance and the vets handled all the paperwork.

What stage was your girl at when she had the operation? Did it progressively get worse over time to the point she needed it?

Out of interest what breeds do ye both have? Are they terriers? Nearly every second terrier I see seems to have one.

She was on the beach and loved to break hard in the sand and yelped. Brought her to the vet and he recommened xray, confirmed floating patela. Thankfully only the one knee. We went ahead within a week of xray. No point in waiting as only get worse and would also lead to stiffness.

tk123

Not Luxating patellas but we've done operations and crate rest twice now. It's tough at first - you question if you made the right decision and how you're going to manage etc but you just get on with it and after the first week or so it seems to go by faster because you're so immersed in the whole process if that makes sense. It's all worth it in the end - especially when you see them running around and not stopping because they've got a pain and lifting the leg up etc. You won't believe how quickly they bounce back - my guy walked out of the vets 4 hours after having his leg broken and set again with plates and pins!! You need to be tough on the restriction but you can plan ahead for this and build up time in the crate etc etc
Also you have all of us as your support network when you need to vent which helps a lot too!

DBB

Another thing to bear in mind is that this is all putting a lot of pressure on the other hind leg... If it gets injured as a result, you're in a whole heap more trouble!
At 7, and as a hardy wee terrier, I wouldn't be too worried about him being too old. In fact, 7 is still young in terrier terms!
So I'd go for it, in the not too distant future. Though I completely understand your trepidation... One of my OAPs here has to have a tooth out next wk and I'm dreading it, though she's a youthful and healthy oul wan!

tk123

DBB wrote: »

Another thing to bear in mind is that this is all putting a lot of pressure on the other hind leg... If it gets injured as a result, you're in a whole heap more trouble!

This happened to us - he was jumping out of the car one day and hurt the 'good' leg and got lame - the bad leg wasn't really strong enough to hold his weight for very long (we weren't doing hydro at that stage so no muscle tone on the back legs) HUGE reality check for me - "stop putting off getting the puppy a ramp and forget what random strangers in a car park might say!!"
I realised how much I love that ramp after op#2 when I had to lift him in and out of the car a few times - he'd grown up and gotten HEAVY at this stage :pac:

Zapperzy

Thanks guys, not much I can do anyways until he's at the vet next month I'l chat to her see what she thinks. Might bring him up to the ortho vet I know and get his opinion anyways. Certainly doesn't hold him back anyways yet, wild winds were nearly blowing me over on our walk this evening and he loved every second of it. Suppose I better start saving, no insurance. :rolleyes: Hell they might even do a 2 for 1 deal and do my knee while their at it!