Quote Originally Posted by beeniesmom

The vet says that we can play the waiting game.
His knees may get stronger since he is still a growing boy.
He may also just rip a tendon and require immediate surgery.
She recommends we wait. I also want to wait.
She will re-evaluate him in August and said that unless it gets worse (popping out many times a day without being able to pop it back in) we should wait.

... she said he doesn't feel pain, just instability ...
Smokey has (or had) a Luxating Patella on his right hind knee - that bothered him quite
a bit during his second year here on the planet. Doc thinks it's possible his
abusive first owner might have kicked him in the knee and caused the damage.

Doc Mike watched it for a couple of months and also taught me how to *pop* it
back in if Smokey couldn't do it himself. It seemed to be getting worse so Doc
sent us to a Surgeon for an exam. The Surgeon said he could "fix it" - the
greatest problem would be restricting SmokeMutt for almost 6 months while
the knee healed.

We *waited* some more - and the ole Trick Knee actually seemed to get better!
I never really "restricted" his activities, but encouraged him to swim - which
he'll do till he's so tired he can hardly move. It's possible he "strengthened" the knee with
his activities and "reasonable" exercise.
By the time Smokey turned 3 - he almost never had a pop-out happen!
And when the knee did pop, he hardly ever cried in pain - he'd just stop and
give the leg/foot a *shake* - then continue on his way - all fixed!

He's just over 5 now; and it's been over two years since I've seen him have
a problem with the knee. Doc doesn't even give it much of a check at his
annual check-up - we're practicing "Leave well enough alone!"

He does "sit" a little bit oddly (with the bum knee leg angled out a bit) - but
he runs like a deer, jumps, and rough-houses like he never had a problem.

Did your Vet SHOW you how to "pop" the knee back into position?
I learned how and for almost I year I "helped" Smokey. If HE couldn't *pop* the
knee back into place - he knew that a lil *YIP* was all it took to bring ole Dad
on the run - and he'd stick the bum knee out for me to work on!
I got really *good* at "knee poppin"!

Hope Frankie's knee gets better on its own!

/s/ Phred