Chihuahua has slipped knee joint!* UPDATE* Pictures

**Dorothy39** · 07-13-2006, 10:52 AM

Miura had her surgery this morning and we have since heard from my Son and Daughter-in-law.

Oh, poor little "Meer-Cat will have to stay over night there. The specialist told them that this is a genetic /breeding condition and was due to happen at any time. The tendon in front of her knee joint was mis-aligned , so, she eventually would have laxating patella, or, crocked joints , pain, etc. if this had not been done now. Her other knee joint appears to be fine according to his findings.

I told my Son about the dangers of Rimadyl, as that is the anti-inflammatory medication that was given to her since this trama occured. I was reasured that Miura will be taking it for a week or less. Still, given the fact that she had this abnormality, the chances of her having several more might be quite possible.

I'll just use the nick-name, Abby Normal , for her until she gets better. I have to rely on my sense of humor when I get overly worried.

Thank-you for your concerns and your replies.

Prayers for Miura!!!

**Daisy and Delilah** · 07-13-2006, 11:28 AM

Hi Dorothy, My Daisy has a luxated patella and she's had it since she was about one year old(she's 5 now). My vet doesn't recommend surgery for her right now but it could happen eventually. She gets around great with it but I do have to help her get on top of the sofa/chair/bed sometimes. I have foot stools and steps all over the house for her. Me and my vet don't think she's having alot of pain so she is ok for the time being. I understand that this condition is fairly common in Chihuahuas. One of my son's Aussie's has a luxated patella also and his vet has trained him on putting the knee back in place. He gets around great also and is like a rocket dog most of the time. I wish your son best of luck with his little Miura. I'll pray for a quick recovery for her.

**Cinder & Smoke** · 07-13-2006, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dorothy39

Miura had her surgery this morning ...

What did the Surgeon say about "restricting" her activities?

My SmokeMutt had (has) a Luxating Patella - right rear used to go out on him
several times a week when he was about 1.5 - 2.5 years old.

Specialist said he could "fix-zit" with surgery - BUT SmokeMutt would have to
be confined on a

LEASH for 2 to 4 months ... NO running of jumping at all!

Smokey decided to try learning to live with his bum knee ... which has turned out
to be an almost Total Success!!

* He got to where HE could *pop* it back into place whith a shake or a stretch.

* If he couldn't get it back into place, he'd *hop* over to me and hold out the knee
for me to work on. I got pretty good at "Knee Poppin"!

* And he learned how to "condition" the bum knee/leg ...
For a while he did his hard runnin on three legs - tuck up the bum one and
go like the wind on three!
Then I noticed he was "skip runnin" - sometimes on three, sometimes on all four ...
working on building up the bum knee and weak leg ...

At 6 years old - you have to look very closely to notice he had a problem.

Be sure to ask Miura's Vet just how active she can be.

/s/ Phred

**Dorothy39** · 07-13-2006, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Cinder & Smoke

What did the Surgeon say about "restricting" her activities?

My SmokeMutt had (has) a Luxating Patella - right rear used to go out on him
several times a week when he was about 1.5 - 2.5 years old.

Specialist said he could "fix-zit" with surgery - BUT SmokeMutt would have to
be confined on a

LEASH for 2 to 4 months ... NO running of jumping at all!

Smokey decided to try learning to live with his bum knee ... which has turned out
to be an almost Total Success!!

* He got to where HE could *pop* it back into place whith a shake or a stretch.

* If he couldn't get it back into place, he'd *hop* over to me and hold out the knee
for me to work on. I got pretty good at "Knee Poppin"!

* And he learned how to "condition" the bum knee/leg ...
For a while he did his hard runnin on three legs - tuck up the bum one and
go like the wind on three!
Then I noticed he was "skip runnin" - sometimes on three, sometimes on all four ...
working on building up the bum knee and weak leg ...

At 6 years old - you have to look very closely to notice he had a problem.

Be sure to ask Miura's Vet just how active she can be.

/s/ Phred

ha ha ha ,

Well, as you can see, I haven't learned how to quote just one sentence.

As for restrictions and activities, My son told me , (over the phone) that the specialist wasn't concerned about anything

Apparently, a specific tendon had completely slid over the knee joint, pulling onto the patella , and, preventing from being popped back into place by hand.

He encouraged my Son to allow Miura to use her back leg,

,

No splint either, so, this must have been an open and shut case and won't occur again.
They will ask more questons when they pick her up tomorrow.

I am taking Daisy and Delilah's advice and placing small foot stools near their bed., she wants to sleep with them at night. Otherwise, Miura uses her crate , and, since they bought a new leather/vinyl sofa and love seat, she isn't allowed on the couchs anymore.
(You ought to see what the little rascal did to their other couch!!!)

She is used to getting onto our furniture, so, I bought her a small bed with a pillow and high sides, just her wee little size. I don't want her to jump onto or off from anything at all. She wants to play , play, play when she comes to our house because she knows I adore her and give her so much of my attention, so, I suppose I've spoiled her there.

They will no doubt keep her home for a few days ---lucky that this happened while they were on vacation from work.

**bckrazy** · 07-13-2006, 03:22 PM

I'm so happy she's ok, now her Grandma who loves her so much won't have to worry! =) It's definitely commendable that her Mom & Dad acted so quickly on her pain, it does sound like it was severe, and it's definitely better that it is done while she's young and can still heal quickly.

If I were in their position, I would've done the same, because a severe knee problem is not something to take lightly - it is painful as heck. If one of my pups had a severe knee issue (and, with Fozzie being a Corgi and from God-only-knows what kind of breeder, bad knees are a possibility), I would rather keep them calm for a few weeks & endure the sugery than allow that pain to continue.

Also, if you haven't already told them, they NEED to let the breeder "friend" know! She should NOT be breeding Chihuahua's that are so structurally unsound. Even if the breeder won't recompensate them (guessing she won't...) for the surgery, maybe telling her to stop breeding will save many more innocent puppies from the pain that your little girl had to go through.

**DrKym** · 07-13-2006, 03:25 PM

I am so glad all is well with her! big hugs to all and of course you can call her Abby Normal just don't use the same jar that her brain was found in (I love that version of the movie!)

**beeniesmom** · 07-13-2006, 03:31 PM

The same thing happened to my Frankie.
He too was diagnosed with stage 3/4 patellar luxation and the vets wanted to operate.
I waited and am glad that I did. He ended up not needing it. He grew into his legs and not a knee has popped out since.... I don't rememeber... which is a good thing.

**Dorothy39** · 07-13-2006, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Dr.Goodnow

I am so glad all is well with her! big hugs to all and of course you can call her Abby Normal just don't use the same jar that her brain was found in (I love that version of the movie!)

Thank You, I sure do need to laugh today!!!!

**Dorothy39** · 07-13-2006, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by beeniesmom

The same thing happened to my Frankie.
He too was diagnosed with stage 3/4 patellar luxation and the vets wanted to operate.
I waited and am glad that I did. He ended up not needing it. He grew into his legs and not a knee has popped out since.... I don't rememeber... which is a good thing.

I'm so glad Frankie did not need that horrid surgery. He , by the way, is soooo cute!!!!

Miura was doing the tripod shuffle for about a week. We had to resort to that surgery. I sure do hope she never has any more trouble with it.

**Dorothy39** · 07-13-2006, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by bckrazy

I'm so happy she's ok, now her Grandma who loves her so much won't have to worry! =) It's definitely commendable that her Mom & Dad acted so quickly on her pain, it does sound like it was severe, and it's definitely better that it is done while she's young and can still heal quickly.

If I were in their position, I would've done the same, because a severe knee problem is not something to take lightly - it is painful as heck. If one of my pups had a severe knee issue (and, with Fozzie being a Corgi and from God-only-knows what kind of breeder, bad knees are a possibility), I would rather keep them calm for a few weeks & endure the sugery than allow that pain to continue.

Also, if you haven't already told them, they NEED to let the breeder "friend" know! She should NOT be breeding Chihuahua's that are so structurally unsound. Even if the breeder won't recompensate them (guessing she won't...) for the surgery, maybe telling her to stop breeding will save many more innocent puppies from the pain that your little girl had to go through.

Oh Yes, I told my daughter-in-law on the phone this morning., about the mentioned contract. Her friend from work is still breeding and selling Chihuahua dogs . While I am not one to stir up a stink, I feel obligated to speak up on behalf of her future buyers. My daughter-in-law was slient, on the other end of the line, when I told her about Proper Breeding and Professional Exchanges. Her friend from work needs to educate herself in this area. , I am inclined to think that she is only after the $$$$$$.

**Dorothy39** · 07-14-2006, 02:25 PM

Miura is back home now and I will be going to visit her later today.

The Specialist from Grand Rapids advised them to assist Miura when she needs to go outside to do her duty along with keeping her safely away from rigorous activity for 10 weeks!!!!

No jumping and no stair ways!!!

I hope I can get a decent picture of her to share with you.

**Daisy and Delilah** · 07-14-2006, 04:20 PM

Our prayers are still going out for little Miura, Dorothy. Can't wait to see a pic of her

**zoey** · 07-14-2006, 11:25 PM

**prayers** coming your way from me, too.
It's so much for such a young puppy to go through.
But hopefully after the recovery period and some physical therapy she will be jammin'.

It makes me so sad that these recessive genes are running rampant. *tear*

**Dorothy39** · 07-15-2006, 09:34 AM

Here are two pictures taken yesterday of Miura. Just look at that Poor Babys' Leg. The incision was made on the front/side of her knee is is nearly 3 inches long. She received a good report on the ridges that support her patella, so that comforts me a great deal.

And, look at the cute bed I bought for her!!!!

(Doesn't she look like she is pulling her skirt up?)

A bit of my "zany" humor added