Who did not have to go thru surgery? (knee) - YorkieTalk.com Forums

GIZMO121 · 12-30-2008, 04:02 PM

Hi Everyone,
My baby Simba, has recently be diagnosed with Luxating Patella. I've been worried to death about him. I've been reading up on previous posts, about all the successful surgeries. Luckily, for now, Simba only has stage one. The doctor said he does not need surgery yet. Simba is 1 yr and 2 months old and is 3 lbs.

My question is if anyone's furbaby was diagnosed with this condition, and never had to have surgery? Is this controllable, or does LP always get worst without having surgery? The doctor gave me some pain meds and supplements for his leg. Simba's limping is on and off. I don't think he's going through much pain. He's acting normal, and playful as ever. If anybody has any stories to share, please do.

Thanks in advance!

chloeandj · 12-30-2008, 04:19 PM

I have a friend who's dog was diagnosed at 1 year and she is now 6. She has not had surgery and the vet doesn't recommend it yet either, he just wants her to to have a yearly check on it. Her only symptom is an occasional bunny hop. She is a very active girl too and she does not take any special supplements that I am aware of.

Mitzis Mom · 12-30-2008, 04:26 PM

Our Mitzi had LP and didn't need surgery (she passed at 11 y.o.), Maggie (3 1/2 years old) has LP stage one on her left knee and stage 2 on her right knee. The vet says if we keep her weight down she won't need surgery. Maximus (about 6 to 7 y.o.) has stage 2 LP on both knees and 'skips' sometimes. I don't have a prognosis for him but we hope he'll never need surgery either...

Oh... and both 'babies' Mikki (8 months) and Minnie (13 months) are LP free!!! YAY!!!!

LIL MIS' MAGIC · 12-30-2008, 04:48 PM

Both Magic and Sailor have LP in both knees. Magic's LP is worse, but Sailor shows more signs and has trouble more often. But were found to have LP between 6 months and a year......and are now 4 years.....and so far no surgery.
Our vets biggest suggestions to prevent surgery was to keep their weight down, exercise/walk (but start slowly) and no jumping on/off anything.

I hope you can avoid surgery for little Simba!

Karrie · 12-30-2008, 05:42 PM

Bailey is a level 1 - both knees. She had trouble last Nov - when she was 8 mos old. I noticed her limping around a few times. I rushed to the vet - worried about legg-perthes (just because I'm a worrier - and it typically diagnosed about that age). Doc confirmed it was LP and that she was still a level 1 - but if she continued to have trouble then we should do surgery.

Oddly, after that very vet visit - Bailey has never has limped again!!!! She's now almost 2 years.

The vet said keep her weight down and she should be okay (very hard to do!!!). Also, according to my vet - a lot of people think that jumping off furniture will trigger a limp (and it seems very logical to me) - but the vet explained that running the fence line (run/stop/run/stop)and taking the stairs is more problematic for LP than jumping off the furniture. Its the knee action that causes the slip more than the impact of jumping off things. Bailey has never ran a fence line - but she goes up and down stairs several times a day - and (knock on wood) no problems!!!!

Good luck!!!!

12-30-2008, 04:02 PM	#1
GIZMO121 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CaLi Posts: 85	Who did not have to go thru surgery? (knee) Hi Everyone, My baby Simba, has recently be diagnosed with Luxating Patella. I've been worried to death about him. I've been reading up on previous posts, about all the successful surgeries. Luckily, for now, Simba only has stage one. The doctor said he does not need surgery yet. Simba is 1 yr and 2 months old and is 3 lbs. My question is if anyone's furbaby was diagnosed with this condition, and never had to have surgery? Is this controllable, or does LP always get worst without having surgery? The doctor gave me some pain meds and supplements for his leg. Simba's limping is on and off. I don't think he's going through much pain. He's acting normal, and playful as ever. If anybody has any stories to share, please do. Thanks in advance!

12-30-2008, 04:48 PM	#4
LIL MIS' MAGIC Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlothian, Texas Posts: 4,377 Blog Entries: 3	Both Magic and Sailor have LP in both knees. Magic's LP is worse, but Sailor shows more signs and has trouble more often. But were found to have LP between 6 months and a year......and are now 4 years.....and so far no surgery. Our vets biggest suggestions to prevent surgery was to keep their weight down, exercise/walk (but start slowly) and no jumping on/off anything. I hope you can avoid surgery for little Simba! __________________ Kristin, Mom to: Lil Mis Magic, Sailor and Captain

12-30-2008, 05:42 PM	#5
Karrie Donating YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 903	Bailey is a level 1 - both knees. She had trouble last Nov - when she was 8 mos old. I noticed her limping around a few times. I rushed to the vet - worried about legg-perthes (just because I'm a worrier - and it typically diagnosed about that age). Doc confirmed it was LP and that she was still a level 1 - but if she continued to have trouble then we should do surgery. Oddly, after that very vet visit - Bailey has never has limped again!!!! She's now almost 2 years. The vet said keep her weight down and she should be okay (very hard to do!!!). Also, according to my vet - a lot of people think that jumping off furniture will trigger a limp (and it seems very logical to me) - but the vet explained that running the fence line (run/stop/run/stop)and taking the stairs is more problematic for LP than jumping off the furniture. Its the knee action that causes the slip more than the impact of jumping off things. Bailey has never ran a fence line - but she goes up and down stairs several times a day - and (knock on wood) no problems!!!! Good luck!!!! __________________ This is Bailey's world and we just live in it!

12-30-2008, 04:19 PM	#2
chloeandj Tinkerbell, My Little Flutterpup Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful California! Posts: 6,112	I have a friend who's dog was diagnosed at 1 year and she is now 6. She has not had surgery and the vet doesn't recommend it yet either, he just wants her to to have a yearly check on it. Her only symptom is an occasional bunny hop. She is a very active girl too and she does not take any special supplements that I am aware of.

12-30-2008, 04:26 PM	#3
Mitzis Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,837	Our Mitzi had LP and didn't need surgery (she passed at 11 y.o.), Maggie (3 1/2 years old) has LP stage one on her left knee and stage 2 on her right knee. The vet says if we keep her weight down she won't need surgery. Maximus (about 6 to 7 y.o.) has stage 2 LP on both knees and 'skips' sometimes. I don't have a prognosis for him but we hope he'll never need surgery either... Oh... and both 'babies' Mikki (8 months) and Minnie (13 months) are LP free!!! YAY!!!!