Luxating Patella

[closeg]

We just found out that our Pug, Pandora, has luxating patella. Does anyone have a dog with this aliment? She has grade I so they aren't suggesting surgery at this point and the vet has told us to just treat her like a "normal" dog and to let her run and play as usual. However, she looks so sad when she is limping that it breaks my heart. She never yelps or cries, so we don't think she is in any pain.

Any suggestions or advice?
Thanks,
Georgia

[lv4dogs]

Sorry I dont have any personal experience w/ it but would a support bandage help when she is getting excersize (like an ace bandage or something?)

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by closeg
We just found out that our Pug, Pandora,
has luxating patella.
Does anyone have a dog with this aliment?

Georgia

Oh You Betcha!!

By the way ~ WELCOME to Pet Talk, Georgia!!

Now, back to Pandora's Bum Knee...

Yes, LOTS of us have Dogs with Lunating Patella, also known as Trick Knee.

My Smokey has it, and several other Folks have Dogs who either suffer from it or have had Surgery to Correct it...
Laurie,
LizBud,
Albea,
Jack'sMom, and there are some others.

Hit the "Search" Button and look for the term
"Luxating Patella" (put the words Inside Quotes)
and then also search for Glucosamine.
Bot searches will bring up some previous posts on the subject.

The Glucosamine (either plain, or with "MSN" or with Chondroitin are
common treatments for L.P. (trick knee) and for Arthritis.

Read This Thread for a discussion of these drugs >
Thread "Glucosamine with MSN"

These drugs are available from your Vet - at somewhat of a "Pricey" cost;
OR at places like Wal-Mart at VERY reasonable prices.

My SmokeMutt goes form Running Like a Deer on ALL Fours;
to picking up his bum knee and going on just three...
with NO loss of Speed or Agility!

His knee is MUCH worse - his was called a Class 3 or 4 -
and it's usually OUT of Place.
With the daily 500 mg of plain Glucosamine (Wal-Mart "Spring Valley" generic flavor) - his knee usually doesn't bother him.
I have noticed that at certain gaits or speeds, he prefers to operate on 3 legs and hikes up the bad one so he doesn't put much weight on it.

Every once in a while he must "bump" it or make it *hurt* and he'll
*YIP* and stop immediately.
I learned how to *POP* his kneecap back into place and do so
whenever he complains. As soon as I'm done *popping it* -
he gives it an approving "shake" and scampers off on his merry way!

After a day of hard play with Cinder, or a swim, I'll give him a
single Adult Aspirin to help relieve any pain he might have.

And... if you use http://www.google.com and search for
[ "Luxating Patella" dog ]
you'll find dozens of articles on the Net.

/s/ Phred

[Pam]

I had a toy poodle with luxating patella and he would yelp when it would "go out." The vet showed me how to put it back in place when that happened but eventually he had to have surgery and a pin put in. After that he was just fine, and he lived to be 17. Hope your little puggily isn't in too much pain. Though we don't like our little ones to have to submit to any kind of surgery, sometimes that is the permanent answer. Good luck and welcome to Pet Talk! We'd love to hear more about Pandora and maybe you could post some pictures too! I just LOVE pugs!

[closeg]

Thanks so much everyone for the information. It's nice to know you have friends out there who are/have dealt with the same problem and that it will turn out okay.

I had no idea that you could use the same over the counter med's (glucomsamine) for a dog with arthritis. I knew that it was helpful for humans, but didn't realize the value for my furry little critter.

Thanks again everyone!
Georgia

[justusyorkies]

Our yorkie was diagnosed with this when he was just a small little guy. I have two questions.
How much glucosamine should I give him(he weighs 7 pounds)
and
Is this bum knee passed down from generation or just from being very active? Could he have aquired this from his parents?
He is 3 now and last night he scared the crap out of us.
He was walking on just the front feet almost as though he was doing a head stand. I gave him 1/2 of an 81mg baby aspirin and also put him on a heating pad. This breaks my heart he is too young... Please help.
Kathy

[justusyorkies]

[KYS]

Re: "Luxating Patella"
posted by justusyorkies: Our yorkie was diagnosed with this when he was just a small little guy. I have two questions.
How much glucosamine should I give him(he weighs 7 pounds)
and Is this bum knee passed down from generation or just from being very active? >>>>>>>>

I looked up Yorkies in my Manual of the Genetic Diseases
of Purebred dogs, by colledge of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia.

1. Patalla luxation problems do run in Yorkies and it can be genetic.

2. I would ask your vet how much glucosamine supplements
first. I was giving Sheba glusosamine, for her
arthritis, but she weighs 80 pounds
and I just followed the directions on the package.
She did not like taking the pills and I recently switched to
a product called Synovi Granules G3.
It has Glucosamine, MSM and other stuff in it.
I mix it in her food, and so far she seems to like it.
It is to soon for me to tell if it is works for her.

I hope the glucosamine works. I have heard good
things about it with humans too.

Karen


__________________

[justusyorkies]

Thank You Karen,
I am so p off, right now,because when we took Maleek to the vet at 13 wks old he told us he had Luxating Patella, however I did not believe, now WE DO.
I am so Mad,right now, I have to do the right thing and have the surgery done, in the mean time, We are going to try the glucosamine.
WHAT DO YA THINK??
Im so Mad.
kathy

[justusyorkies]

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[justusyorkies]

I still can not get a picture on here.............................