Guest Panzer Attack! Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Firstly, I have permission from my breeder to post this :) My Scooter was tested fully when he was still with his breeder, but a few days ago my housemate noticed him limping. Took him to work and my boss (vet) said his patella has luxated. Since then it had gotten worse and worse. I know surgery is an option and I can't bear to see him in pain. He was purchased as a show and sports dog and I'm really worried we can now not do either of those things... Has anyone had any experience in this kind of situation? He is a Papillon so very small, but right now it pops out so much that it is starting to affect his quality of life. For example, he just walked out of a crate (flat on the ground) and it's just gone. I don't want to walk him and don't really know what to do from here. Will we ever be able to do agility? Op or no op? Please help me. Money is not an issue as far as he is concerned, I will spend whatever I have to so he can have a good life. I love my little dog! Thanks everyone :) PS I am not sure what the cause was, but I suspect my housemate may have had him on her bed and he either jumped or fell off. His parents and siblings are all ok in that department and I have 100% faith in his breeders practices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 (edited) Definitely get the op. I did agility with my poodle boy Ted after a luxating patella was surgically repaired. He never had any issues and is now 15 and still sound. You certainly would not want to do agility without the op. However, how old is he? If he was under 12 months, I'd be inclined to wait till then. Edited October 14, 2012 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Panzer Attack! Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Thanks HW, I'm not so great at wording, I meant doing sports AFTER the op! He's 2 in January :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 PA - on the whole its suppose to be a highly successful surgery with low risk of complication. Follow the post-surgery guidelines properly and you should really not encounter to many issues. I know of others who had had the procedure with no complications. Even Kenz coped ok with all the crating and rehab and I am sure Scooter will be fine. They are given enough pain relief so I wouldn't be to stressed about the dog feeling much pain - Kenz didn't appear to at any point. Kenz had the surgery because I was hopeful she would compete again. The specialist didn't see any reason why she shouldn't post-surgery (if it had been hassle free). Luxating patellas are seldom due to injury so its highly unlikely Scooter did it jumping off the bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Thanks HW, I'm not so great at wording, I meant doing sports AFTER the op! He's 2 in January :) I'd go ahead then, particularly as it seems to be happening more frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I'd say it depends on the type of surgery and who does it. The surgery Ness describes is relatively low risk, but there are other surgeries for more severe cases that involve moving pieces of bone and putting implants into the bone. These are higher risk, especially if you don't rest and restrict them adequately after. I think you should discuss the risks and potential outcomes with your vet or a specialist in orthopedics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Aussielover I was told regardless of what was done the surgery was considered relatively low risk. The specialist wasn't sure what he would do until he had her on the table so I asked for the risk associated with worse case scenario (which included bone cutting). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Panzer Attack! Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 What kind of surgery did Kenzie have, ness? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 (edited) She only had soft tissue tightening because when she was on the table the specialist felt her groove was sufficiently deep enough and her tibial tuberosity was aligned correctly. I have been told if she needs a revision surgery which is looking somewhat more likely he will reassess the grove depth and may chose to deepen it and he will more then likely over correct her alignment because while it appears to be lined up correctly the pull must be creating a problem. I would really rather not be going through the process again mind you . She was still crated and on strict rest for 6 weeks the first time. I know its 6-8 weeks if they cut bone though so I don't think the post-surgery will be any much different. Edited October 14, 2012 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 My boy Mitchell had his done many years ago ..had the groove deepened ... and everything put back .. other ligaments used to hold it ... he did have it done by a very experienced surgeon..and after a lengthy convalescence which went fine ..not a crate in sight ...he had not one problem for the next 10 years ..and was working sheep ..chasing rabbits ...all sorts of stuff. (he was a cocker spaniel X ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 a grooming client had it done on both knees at different times and a couple of years later had athritis in the knees, so that is a possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Lab Love Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Panzer Attack - my Lab boy had luxating patella surgery just over a year ago... His surgery involved deepening of the groove and tightening of the ligaments... we followed the post op instructions to the tee - as OH was between jobs so he had 24 hr care - thank dog... His surgery was successful and the patella healed beautifully BUT he has since developed a luxating patella in his other leg - which being a big boned Lab may have been overcompensation even though we did everything to the letter post op and in addition I have kept him v lean... Our vet and specialist seems to think he may have a genetic weakness in the patellas as opposed to it having been trauma - hence the weakness in the second leg... patella issues are less common in larger breed dogs apparently (or so I have been told) Our specialist has said that this time the patella is nowhere near as bad and is really not bothering him so we are leaving it as this stage (really don't want him to have two ops within a year - esp as OH and I now work full time). We are keeping him very lean with lots of controlled leash walking, hill work, swimming and joint supplements and no boisterous off lead play.. BUT if it worsens then I would have no hesitation in booking him straight in for surgery and we would try and work around the 6 week post op care... Hope this helps ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.S.P.S/K Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I would definitely get it done. My vet said if we didn't do it for our Staffy X Kelpie she would get crippling arthritis at a young age, and would be at increased risk of rupturing her ACL. I know they can still get arthritis after having the surgery, but the prognosis is very good. The recovery part is difficult, keeping the confined for so long, especially if you have a hyperactive dog like I do- and my girl has had both knees done in the past 4 months! We'll have to wait until next year before she can be in the yard with our GSP, and our vet pretty much said we should never let her play fetching games due to the sudden twisting movements dogs do, but apart from that she should be running and jumping again, living a normal life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asal Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 PA - on the whole its suppose to be a highly successful surgery with low risk of complication. Follow the post-surgery guidelines properly and you should really not encounter to many issues. I know of others who had had the procedure with no complications. Even Kenz coped ok with all the crating and rehab and I am sure Scooter will be fine. They are given enough pain relief so I wouldn't be to stressed about the dog feeling much pain - Kenz didn't appear to at any point. Kenz had the surgery because I was hopeful she would compete again. The specialist didn't see any reason why she shouldn't post-surgery (if it had been hassle free). Luxating patellas are seldom due to injury so its highly unlikely Scooter did it jumping off the bed. think it might be an idea to phone the specalists if your in nsw. I bred two girls that lucky for me he was their normal vet. they were both fine until they were 7 and and 6 . years old that is , not months. they began limping within a few weeks of each other, taken to him, he diagnosed patella and gave the quote for the op. their darling owner told him to send me the bill direct. it was something around 3,000 dollars and that was over 6 years ago maybe more anyway he told her forget that one, they have had nothing wrong every check until now. what have you changed at home. new bed twice the height .. successful op pillows placed as a ladder so no more jumping and no more probems. fortunately in each only one leg had been injoured, the other leg remained ok after the jumping stopped. one is now 16 so she has remained sound for 10 years the other unfortunately died in an accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Panzer Attack! Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Thank you so much everyone. He goes under the knife at 10am tomorrow :) ... !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Best of luck with his recovery PA. Fingers crossed for a smooth and successful surgery and recovery period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panto Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 thinking of you and Scooter today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Panzer Attack! Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 He's awake!!!! It was HORRIBLE having to leave him behind, and he had some major breathing difficulties at the start but soldiered on like a champ :) Barely took anything to knock him out! Surgery went fine. Now it's all a waiting game I guess. Thanks ness and Panto xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 (edited) Hope Scooter's surgery goes really well, fingers crossed for a trouble free recovery :) ETA - just read surgery went fine - great news :) Edited October 16, 2012 by amypie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Good news PA - do you know what they did? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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