Dog owners: Any experience with a luxating patella?

[tridim]

or a kneecap that occasionally pops out of joint? My 11 month old started limping on and off a week ago and tonight I was feeling around her leg to try to find where the injury was located, when I wiggled her kneecap it popped back into the correct position. I can move the cap in and out of the groove fairly easily. She didn't wake up, so I assume there was no pain.

I did some reading and it's fairly obvious that she has a medial luxating patella. She appears to be at the stage where surgery isn't required, but it's "suggested" to avoid arthritis problems later in life. I'm taking her to the vet later this week to get a professional opinion, I just wanted to ask if anyone's dog has ever had the surgery and how much it costs. I ask only because I'm currently very poor, due to a 6 month layoff.

[Blue-Jay]

1. This is a large dog?

It's not uncommon with many breeds, labs and larger. Good luck to you and the doggie. The surgery is difficult.

[tridim]

2. She's a 20lb Boston Terrier

I read that it's common in toy and miniature dogs. It's usually genetic (but not always) in small doggies.

[coralrf]

6. The surgery is quite easy...

I do many of them.

In large breeds the luxation or dislocation is usually to the outward side, in small dogs usually inward. The dislocation is usually graded on a crude scale, I in position but can be forced out and returns right away, II in position can be pushed out and stays out, III out of position and can be pushed back but quickly re-dislocates and IV out and will not go back.

If the dog is intermittently lame and can relocate the joint (usually by stretching the limb to the rear) without signs of pain you may need to do nothing. If the dog is in pain, is lame or showing the beginnings of secondary disease (rotation of the tibial crest, bowing of the limb) you will need to have a surgery done.

The usual procedure is "recession trohleoplasty”. The knee is opened and the groove that the kneecap rides in is made deeper so that it cannot dislocate. Often an artificial implant or "stay suture" is placed.

Usually the animals are sound in 2 weeks to 2 months. Owner post op care is critical.

[chookie]

3. I have some experience

This knee problem is common to some breeds. I have had 4 pomeranians, and all four have it, grade 2 (has potential to slip out). It is a congenital condition, can be prevented only by very conscientious breeders eliminating animals with this condition from breeding.

Pomeranians are little lap dogs, just little teddy bears who live to cuddle -- not your archetypal frizbee-catching athletic labrador -- so physical stress which might exaserbate the condition is minimal, and I was cautioned to watch their weight and keep it low, again, to relieve stress on the joints. My vet did not recommend surgery as a preventative measure. My own research on the internet indicated that surgery is the very last option to consider and only in the very worst cases, because it does not have a very high success rate.

My advice would be -- try to be pro-active and do things to minimize the risk of injury to the dog, such as avoiding strenuous play, jumping, and keep their weight down, and don't worry about surgery for now. If, heaven forbid, the animal's condition should really get very bad for some reason, be sure to visit a number of vets and get a number of opinions, and do not rush into surgery.

Good luck to you and your pooch.

3 of the dogs I mentioned above are young (6, 2 and 4 months), but one was an old man of 16, and even in his elder years, the condition did not disable him, so there is no certainty that it will be a problem for your dear little BT.

[tridim]

5. Thanks for the advice

Aki is very trim and athletic, so weight isn't a problem. However, she's incredibly active and is in play mode all day long. I can't even imagine keeping her inactive without a tranquilizer. She lives to play.

I also believe she is grade 2 because she can run and jump with full strength, but every once in awhile she'll lift the leg. I'm not too worried yet because there's no obvious pain, but it's on my mind simply because she is so active and I'm so poor.

[coralrf]

7. The surgery has a high success rate..

one of the highest in veterinary orthopedics. I would think any veterinarian that said otherwise a quack or a lazy slob that will not do them. Save the flame I know my business well. I don’t care how "great" the vet is that said that..he is not.

Groan! You are not one of those “I read on the internet” types are you?

[XanaDUer]

4. Yup

27.5 lb. Schipperke. Luckily, I was working at the time, and it cost about $800.00.

I don't have pet insurance.

We got it done because the dog would yelp and start limping when the patella moved out of place, and it started happening more and more.

Most vets will work with patients if they cannot pay at once.

Call the ASPCA and see if any vets in your area help indigent animals and poor owners.

Good luck!

[xultar]

8. OMG my Chihuahua has them the vet want's 1700 to do the surgery

ARGGGG....
He's not in pain, he's only 3 lbs. I'll send you a PM later with the details.

Sorry to hear that your pup is feeling bad.

[haele]

9. Our dog has a similar problem

She started developing flare-ups at around a year old with her hind end; apparently, her front end and hind ends don't quite "match" so she has developed an odd walking gait which tends to lead to her hips slipping out of joint.
The vet recommended surgery, but we couldn't afford it (still can't), so she also recommeded "Cosimine" or "Flex-Joint" (Glucosimine supplements for athletes) on a regular basis to build up the muscles and tendons in the region and to keep her excercise monitored so that she doesn't over-exhert herself.
It's been 6 years, and she's done well so far but we still keep an eye out for arthritis and gait changes.

Now, chances are, she will probably have serious arthritis by the time she's 9 or 10 instead of 12 or 14; that's something we've had to weigh along with costs in our decision.


Good luck with whatever decision you make