Here's a small article I found on luxating patellas. Did your vet happen to tell you what grade it was? http://www.pawfectchihuahuas.com/LuxatingPatella.html
Luxating Patella
Puck has a slipping kneecap in his right hind leg. The vet said that as he gets a little older, he might develop more muscle "laterally" that would decrease the severity of the condition--or the fact that he favors his left leg might cause the muscles to atrophy and worsen the condition.
He said that if it caused a lot of problems, he might suggest a surgery to deepen the groove in the knee to discourage the slipping.
I asked him if there were any exercises Puck could do to help develop more muscle 'laterally' in his leg to help. Basically, he said not really. I thought about lunging Puck, kinda like a horse. I do it when I walk him sometimes, to wear him out, and he goes along with it for a little while. The vet didn't suggest anything, really.
Ever since I found out for sure, I've been watching his right leg constantly. He hardly ever puts his full weight on it. It seems to always slip out when he stands up on his hind legs. I don't want him to stand up like that any more, and I feel like I should be really careful not to put pressure on or move his right leg.
Well, I'm a big worrier, so I was wondering how many other Chi owners have experienced it--and what have you done for your dogs?
He said that if it caused a lot of problems, he might suggest a surgery to deepen the groove in the knee to discourage the slipping.
I asked him if there were any exercises Puck could do to help develop more muscle 'laterally' in his leg to help. Basically, he said not really. I thought about lunging Puck, kinda like a horse. I do it when I walk him sometimes, to wear him out, and he goes along with it for a little while. The vet didn't suggest anything, really.
Ever since I found out for sure, I've been watching his right leg constantly. He hardly ever puts his full weight on it. It seems to always slip out when he stands up on his hind legs. I don't want him to stand up like that any more, and I feel like I should be really careful not to put pressure on or move his right leg.
Well, I'm a big worrier, so I was wondering how many other Chi owners have experienced it--and what have you done for your dogs?
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Ask your vet about supplementing his diet w/ Glucosamine (MSM at the GNC store). I've used this on arthritic dogs and have had good luck. I did some reading about with lux. pat. and many owners are using it and having positive results.
Someone suggested glucosamine to me for my knee, too. It was expensive, as I recall...but we could both use it, hehe. I'll give the vet a call next week and see what they say.
As to the grade, he said it was a "mid-grade borderline median slip". Not entirely sure which part of that phrase refers to the grade. Basically, however, it slips in and out with equal ease, with or without the vet's encouragement.
Wow! For example, Puck's is nowhere near as severe as the luxation described in that particular article. His foot kinda turns outward if he's standing, or he'll give a little hitch in his step if he's running--but it doesn't hurt him (well, it doesn't seem to). But he's careful of it.
As to the grade, he said it was a "mid-grade borderline median slip". Not entirely sure which part of that phrase refers to the grade. Basically, however, it slips in and out with equal ease, with or without the vet's encouragement.
Wow! For example, Puck's is nowhere near as severe as the luxation described in that particular article. His foot kinda turns outward if he's standing, or he'll give a little hitch in his step if he's running--but it doesn't hurt him (well, it doesn't seem to). But he's careful of it.
My chihuahua first had a grade 2 luxating patella in her right knee which never bothered her so I put her on Synovi MSM (glucosamine and chondrointin), but I did not feel that it bothered her enough to surgically repair it. She was able to run and play with my other dog without any problem. However, this week her left patella began to luxate and is causing her extreme pain. She cries out and won't eat or come out of her bed. She is on metacam for inflammation and pain which seems to help, but now I am planning to have it surgically corrected because this one is causing her pain. I am going to have them both done, because the surgery is hard on the dogs and the owners because well Chihuahuas aren't the bravest and its painful so I figure get it done with one shot!
Royal Canin dog food for Chihuahuas has Glucosomine in it. That's what I feed my 3.
Are you saying that you're going to have both knees done on one Chi at the same time? I am a bit confused maybe. Our vet has said that they never do both knees at once. Or are you talking about 2 different Chis having surgery on one knee each, but at the same time?lbutle4 said:My chihuahua first had a grade 2 luxating patella in her right knee which never bothered her so I put her on Synovi MSM (glucosamine and chondrointin), but I did not feel that it bothered her enough to surgically repair it. She was able to run and play with my other dog without any problem. However, this week her left patella began to luxate and is causing her extreme pain. She cries out and won't eat or come out of her bed. She is on metacam for inflammation and pain which seems to help, but now I am planning to have it surgically corrected because this one is causing her pain. I am going to have them both done, because the surgery is hard on the dogs and the owners because well Chihuahuas aren't the bravest and its painful so I figure get it done with one shot!
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