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Post by zahada on Aug 7, 2018 18:55:09 GMT
Hi everybody. Sorry I’ve been so long coming back.
I had a min pin, who at the age of 2 was diagnosed with luxating patellas. I was surprised as he’d not shown any symptoms. The vet said that reason probably was that he was so fit, the muscles kept them from slipping. However, as he got older and arthritis crept in, his right patella would sometimes pop out and couldn’t get back in so an operation was decided upon.
The vet deepened the trochlear groove. The little dog’s knee looked horrific after the op, but the swelling went down very quickly. He returned to normal activities quite soon and never had any problems. The op was, I think when he was about 10, he lived to about 13 1/4.
There is now an alternative method, whereby a little block is fixed to the side of the trochlear groove to stop the patella slipping out. Possibly less traumatic than having to deepen the groove. Of course, the best person to advise is your vet.
It seems that mostly very small dogs suffer from this condition. Nowadays, responsible breeders can test their stock and choose not to breed from affected stock.
Good luck with Panda. The op is quite routine, so no need to be alarmed. My dogs are insured, so I have no idea of cost, but shouldn’t be exorbitant.
It see
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Post by zahada on Aug 7, 2018 18:57:04 GMT
I should have read the whole thread before posting LOL. Anyway, I promised my experience and I delivered. Better late than never.
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jassycat1
Settling in well!
Posts: 99 
Animals I love: Cats, dogs, birds, all wildlife with possible exception of larger sharks
Pets I own: Cat Hugo, Russian Blue
Dog Panda, Poodle / King Charles Cross
Also resident: possums, wallabies, kookaburras and magpies, and many other small marsupials and birds.
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Post by jassycat1 on Aug 14, 2018 4:06:16 GMT
4 weeks now and walking on it ok most of the time. She tends to do a three legged walk in the morning. It must be most sore when she has been off it overnight. It is such a difficult thing to stop her from jumping. She is having two short walks on a lead a day. Of course she immediately starts leaping about the second she sees another dog, even if it's 50 metres away!
World's friendliest dog.
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jassycat1
Settling in well!
Posts: 99
Animals I love: Cats, dogs, birds, all wildlife with possible exception of larger sharks
Pets I own: Cat Hugo, Russian Blue
Dog Panda, Poodle / King Charles Cross
Also resident: possums, wallabies, kookaburras and magpies, and many other small marsupials and birds.
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Post by jassycat1 on Aug 14, 2018 4:15:13 GMT
zahada Thanks for your post. I thought the block idea was a great one, too. I saw it online. British ingenuity I believe. Unfortunately it hasn't become popular yet in Australia. I could only find one vet who is using them and that one was a long way away. I think she would have had to be older to have that anyway. Since it is screwed in two places to the bone, her bone would have to be full grown. Anyway, she has had quite a complicated op - not only deepening the trochlear groove but also transposing the part of the tibia with the patella tendon attached and tightening of the ligaments and capsule on one side. Because she is so young I had it done by an specialist orthopaedic vet. AUD $5,400 in all including the anaesthetic she'll need to have the pins removed at 8 weeks when the bone is healed. So pretty expensive but she's worth it. At 11 months old I didn't think I would risk having it done by a local vet who only does 10 a year.
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Post by tonib on Aug 15, 2018 9:04:49 GMT
Glad to hear Panda is doing well, jassycat1. As you say that bill is definitely an ouch moment but worth it. I'd have chosen the specialist as well.  |
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Post by lotsofcats on Aug 15, 2018 9:22:22 GMT
So pleased that Panda is improving every day - she will soon be back to normal.
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Post by chantel on Aug 17, 2018 10:56:52 GMT
zahada Thanks for your post. I thought the block idea was a great one, too. I saw it online. British ingenuity I believe. Unfortunately it hasn't become popular yet in Australia. I could only find one vet who is using them and that one was a long way away. I think she would have had to be older to have that anyway. Since it is screwed in two places to the bone, her bone would have to be full grown. Anyway, she has had quite a complicated op - not only deepening the trochlear groove but also transposing the part of the tibia with the patella tendon attached and tightening of the ligaments and capsule on one side. Because she is so young I had it done by an specialist orthopaedic vet. AUD $5,400 in all including the anaesthetic she'll need to have the pins removed at 8 weeks when the bone is healed. So pretty expensive but she's worth it. At 11 months old I didn't think I would risk having it done by a local vet who only does 10 a year. So glad jassycat1 that panda is recovering really well 😊I totally know where u r coming from when u say it is hard to stop panda jumping ☹️It’s hard enough when u have a older dog but a puppy is even worse, it’s just so natural for them to want to be so active 😊 I’v had a similar problem with Elsa recently after getting her spayed, it’s been a nightmare trying to keep her calm and not to do zoomies around the living room . I think panda is worth every penny spent i’m sure u will agree 😊keep up with the good recovery panda 😊 |
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Post by scallywag on Feb 3, 2019 8:08:10 GMT
Hi jassycat1 I thought we had lost you to the forum , nice to see you stop by again  so how is Panda doing ? Is her leg all healed and fully back to normal now ? Oh and is she any better at weei g in the rain  |
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so how is Panda doing ? Is her leg all healed and fully back to normal now ? Oh and is she any better at weei g in the rain 
