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Luxating Patellas

3K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  Pyperpup 
#1 ·
My 11 month old Toy Poodle has just been diagnosed with Luxating Patellas in both legs. I am so disappointed. The vet says they are quite severe and recommends surgery in the future, once she is a little older. He recommends doing each leg seperately, in two seperate surgeries a few months apart, but a few people have recommended having the two knees done at the same time. According to them, after a few days the dog can start to get around again, and after a month, they are all healed and don't have go through another surgery.

I don't know what to think about this. I can see the benefit to both ways. Does anyone have any experience with this?
 
#2 ·
I'm sorry for you and your pup. The good news is that I believe surgery for luxating patellas has a good prognosis and your pup can go onto live a long, healthy and normal life.

I would get a second opinion. We have never had a dog with a luxating patella, but our dog did have to have surgery to fix his cruciate ligament when he was a senior. Keeping him quiet post surgery was a real challenge, and we only had to do it once. I can't imagine getting him through the surgery and recovery then having to do it all over again. So as long as he has a good prognosis from getting both done at the same time, then that's maybe the way I would lean...
 
#3 ·
I'm sorry to hear that :(

As for the surgery, if you feel confident in your vets diagnosis, then why not go with his recommendation? I've had several dogs (clients) that have had this surgery, but have never had one that had both at the same time. They do heal up quickly, but it would be difficult (I can imagine) to keep a dog calm and confined for a double surgery like that.

Have you notified the breeder?
 
#4 ·
My little Bubbles has it in both knees (yes,I notified the breeder, she did not care and continues to breed her bitch). I have done a great deal of research on this and of the 10 folks I have found that have had the surgery done, 7 of them blew it out again (all different surgeons). I have found a company who makes an elastic sling that goes over the leg but am waiting to speak to my vet on this. The big teaching hospitals seem to have a better long term sucess rate, it is a very expensive surgery to not have it work.
 
#5 ·
About 8 years ago I had to have this surgery done on one of my minis. Yes, it is expensive. My vet referred me to an orthopedic vet specialist. I had both knees done at the same time--so only one traumatic event for both of us. The surgery was successful, and there were no further knee problems. Like you, I was not pleased with the breeder--never went back there and warned freinds away. Good breeders are worth their weight in gold.
 
#6 ·
Poodlelvr, you have given me hope! LOL! I am so glad to hear from someone who has had the double surgery done. I think I will really need investigate this furthur with the vet. I trust his opinion and experience, but I know if I want to try the double surgery he will be willing to do it. I just need to make sure it is feasable and what is involved. Poodlelvr, how long was your dog laid up, when could he/she walk again and how long did you have to keep him non-active. Was it difficult? That is my main concern, that I won't be able to keep her from running and jumping after the first week or so and she will re-injure herself.

As for the breeder, I e-mailed her the day I received the diagnosis and she immediately responded. She has offered to refund the money I paid for Pyper. She is an incredibly responsible breeder and was dismayed at the problems. Pyper has also had other problems, so I guess enough was enough. I would recommend her to anyone. Pyper has an amazing temperment and personality, so that says something about her puppies. I think pyper is an anomoly.
 
#7 ·
It's about 800$ per knee, so it really depends on what you can afford at the time. If you can afford to do them both at the same time do so, but if you don't I wouldn't worry about stressing your wallet, you can get them done at different times.

Get a second opinion because it's something that is pretty common, but surgery for it is somewhat uncommon as there are many different levels.
Another vet may tell you she can live comfortably without surgery. Which is the case most of the time.
 
#9 ·
Pyperpup,
You asked for more info. Here is my experience. I took Merlin to the animal speciality hospital on a Wednesday morning. The vet who performed the surgery was a specialist in orthopedic surgery. I had the option of having only one knee done or having them both done at the same time. It was less expensive to have them both done at once than it would have been to have them done separately It also meant only one anesthesia, one stay at the hospital, one recovery period so that is what I chose.

The operation was a success. I was able to pick up Merlin on Friday morning. The doctor told me that Merlin was able to walk; he just didn't want to. I think that depends on the individual dog, because another dog who had the same surgery was on her feet and walking the next day.

I had to carry Merlin up and down stairs for the next 4 weeks of so, and I had to take him on 10 minute walks 3X a day. That was hard at first, because he didn't want to go for walks. We went out for 10 minutes, but we didn't walk very far. That improved over time. I didn't have to worry about running or jumping for quite a while. If your pup wouldn't restrict herself after surgery, I'd keep her in an X-pen or gated off in a small room where she could move around, but not really run.

There were a couple of follow-up visits until he was pronounced healed and all restrictions were removed. His knees were fine for the rest of his life. I'm really glad I had both of them done at once. I think very highly of the specialist who did the surgery and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him, if you were closer.

Good luck to you and your pup.
 
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