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Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Reply to this Message

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Angel Kisses and Jeanne
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Member PageMember Page May 19, 2006 at 02:07
Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post

Have you ever had a pup who needed knee surgery? Angel once hurt her knee, then it was doing much better for a while, but now she has had problems a couple more times.

We made a decision to do the knee surgery now while she is two. The best age to do it by.

If you've had it done, what is the post-op care? I know she will be laid-up for a while, but what else?

Thanks,
Love
Jeanne and Angel


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Lynda and the Minkies
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 07:51
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Many here have had it, Jeanne, and it's a slow recovery but they need to be kept quiet....are you sure she'll need it ? The Minkies have always had the "clicky knees" but many really don't need operating on....they haven't been.
XXX.

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Janie
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 09:35
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Last July, Mulligan took out for a run, rounded a sharp right corner and snap went his ACL in his back right leg. It was actually dangling!! Thus he HAD to have the surgery. It was a long 8 week recovery and I still do not let him bolt out the door with the other 2. I had to keep him confined to his small pet carrier for 3 weeks. Then I ordered a larger wire crate which he graduated to for the next 4 weeks. It had to be some larger but not so tall that he could stand on his hind legs in. When we had Kali we elected to let her leg rest and then used supplements but she was older. Whatever you decide, let us know...

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Janie
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 09:36
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Jeanne, how are you feeling? When is your surgery???

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Angel Kisses
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Member PageMember Page May 23, 2006 at 00:13
Re: PS Vote for this post Reply to this Message

See separate post.

Thanks Janie,
Love
Jeanne

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The Oregon Girlies..
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 10:47
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Jeanie, If you're talking about surgery to correct her Luxated Patella you should reconsider. Two of my girls have it, one in both knees. At seven and five thay have done very well without the surgery. If the surgery would guarantee that they would not get Arthritis then maybe it might be a good idea, but it doesn't. Ruth Faherty says in her book, Westies From Head to Tail, that Westies don't have a problem living with Luxated Patella.
I would suggest a good Glucosamine-Chondroitin supplement instead..It really works. The surgery if needed at a later date is just as effective then.
Ask your vet if the surgery is absolutely necessary...
xxxxBetty and the Girlies...

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The LWMDs
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 14:57
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Jeanne and Betty

Betty I'am sure you will recall that Bonnie has luxated patella in both hind legs. We had a secound opinion by a orthopedic surgeon and he agrees with our vet. She is two and a half years old Jeanne
and has a stage 3 condition. The surgeon thinks she my end up crippled in a few years. Stage 4 is where surgery is the only hope left. Our vet (and the surgeon agrees) is trying Adequan injections. There has been a great improvement in her mobility and we have seen no side effects yet. She may still reguire surgery but this drug shows great promise. My wife is an RN so we are giving the injections (she showed me how to give them) at home. We are going to wait on the surgery. I never even saw this coming, see never cried, or gave any indication that there was a problem. Now that I know what to look for I can plainly see it. She is now jumping down off the bed, out of the truck, and into my chair. All of which she could not do before, (she is not suppose to do any of this but hey she is a Westie) I thought she did not want to not that see couldn't.
I would do some research before surgery if she is not bad off. If her leg pops out of joint just pop it back in!!

Good Luck.... Hope all works out well. You may want to check the link.
Sincerely
Carey

Adequan Canine

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Lynda and the Minkies
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Member PageMember Page May 21, 2006 at 08:56
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

I'd perhaps get her some steps like ours, Carey, so she doesn't make it worse. It seems pointless for the treatment to work only for her to jump off stuff and counteract it.
XXX.

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The Oregon Girlies..
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 15:57
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Carey, We must all do what we think is best for our pet. One of my girls has a four and a three, the other a four. I firmly believe that some vets will tell you it is needed, because it is a fairly easy procedure and it pays well. Besides researching at length, II did discuss this very completly with our vet, He told me it doesn't really matter when the surgery is done, as long as it isn't bothering them it is fine to wait. Now, this surgery does not protect against Arthritis that usually sets in these joints when the dog is older. That will cause them much pain not the Luxated Patella.
If you do your research you will find that small dogs do very well without the surgery, Large dogs do not. I feel I need not put the girls through being laid up, and really in pain unless I absolutely have to. This condition absolutely does not slow my girls down a bit. They do take a joint supplement every day and will continue to do so. And that is my opinion
xxxxBetty and the Girlies

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Lynda and the Minkies
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Member PageMember Page May 21, 2006 at 08:58
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Same here, Betty. It's never slowed the Minkies down and they're both affected, yet they'll still chase a ball.
XXX.

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The LWMDs
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 17:40
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Betty
Sound thinking on your part, I hope Jeanne reads this. Now
the pups are getting a daily supplement even Joey. This drug is supposed to be legal in Europe for human use, but not yet here. Jeanne you might what to get a secound opinion.

Carey

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john / irene Maxwell
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 16:17
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Toby had this To and he always skipped when walking but it never was a problem


john / irene Maxwell

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Belinda & Tenn. Terriers
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Member PageMember Page May 20, 2006 at 18:49
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

Jeannie going thru the same thing here with my toy poodle Norman he has a patellar luxation on his left hind leg and he has either completly or partly torn his ACL. The vet said that if they weighted 20lbs (the internet said 35lbs) or less they usually didn't do surgery. Norman weights 21lbs. Mama chubby little poodle. Anyway he is borderline so we had opted to wait. He is on anti inflammatorys and seems to be doing well. He said that scar tissue would form and stablize the joint. Like Betty said the only real reason to do the surgery is if your dog is very athletic or having alot of trouble or pain. Surgery isn't a guarantee that they won't develop arthritis. I have also started mine on the glucosamine supplements.

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Diana
Member PageMember Page May 21, 2006 at 22:50
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

If you haven't already get a second opinion. I did with Kelsi the first Vet said she will need surgery soon (she was 7 months old at the time) but my regular Vet said no. She's nearly 7 now and she's doing well, her luxating patellas don't stop her from running, walking or even jumping.

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Charleen and Chester
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Member PageMember Page May 23, 2006 at 21:35
Re: Have you ever had a baby who needed knee surgery Vote for this post Reply to this Message

The Poodle I used to have jumped off the bed and tore a ligament in her knee. The Vet wanted to do surgery but said the decision was mine. I didn't have it done and she did fine and lived for another 6 years. She never jumped up on the bed after that but she did run and play and go with us for our daily walks. An operated on knee is never as good as a normal knee. I'd give a lot of thought to having the surgey done.

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