Tyson has luxating patellas....feeling a wee bit stressed :0(

Bizzymammabee

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Boy it's always something. Yesterday while I was at work both my son and daughter called me to tell me that Ty was limping and not putting down his right back leg. Nothing worse than hearing something like that. When I got home he was definitely off. Funny thing is about a month back he had hurt that same leg and the vet prescribed rimadyl and bed rest since nothing looks broken. He was right as rain the very next day. It's funny because when he hurt it that time he kept whining. This time not a peep but he was very off. Luckily I still had rimadyl because he never took more than the one dose that time. So I gave him some and crated him. This morning he would not get out of his crate. Just gave me puppy eyes. When I served breakfast he still wouldn't get up. I went so far as to put it two feet away and not a twitch.

Let me tell you I had to check and see if he was breathing. That boy doesn't miss a meal and hears/smells food a mile away. Can I tell you after arriving at the vet and carrying him a block he started to act like nothing. The vet was laughing because he knew that he was feigning being ok. At first we thought it was his hip because of the way he was holding his leg. A couple X-rays later and the vet said he has loose hips and both patellas are luxating, the right is the worst. Knee caps moves up/down and side to side. So he is on anti-Inflammatory meds, rimadyl and getting Cosequin. Doc wants to give him a couple days to see how he does and then I guess we will be seeing the Ortho. I kind of worry if the fact that he is still growing is also a part of him having loose knees.

Thoughts, suggestions and prayers are always welcome. By the time he is all fixed up I will need a hip replacement myself from carrying his big butt around.



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nycbullymama

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Wellie also has luxating patellas in both knees. I thought he would require surgery.

Took him to the AMC where we saw Dr. Pam Schwartz. I adore that woman, her specialty is soft tissue injury and she also performed the brachy surgery on both Blue and Wellie.
In our case, she said she doesn't think he requires surgery because neither knee is coming completely out of the socket. When the time comes, we'll manage it with meds. Best news I could have got. I really didn't want to put him through surgery.
If you're going to go see a specialist, I would absolutely recommend her.

We also saw Dr. Robert Hart when Wellie sprained his elbow. He's the director of orthopedic surgery and you can tell he's extremely knowledgeable about bulldogs.
I prefer her though- maybe cause she's a woman..lol..
But you really can't go wrong with either vet.

Either way, I can only suggest you see a specialist, and see one as soon as possible to know what the options are, or if he even requires anything more than rest and meds.

Good luck and keep us updated.
 
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Bizzymammabee

Bizzymammabee

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Thanks, our vet recommended a guy in NJ but that will be a bit harder to deal with getting to and from and AMC is a bit easier to deal with getting to. I am going to look her up and have the X-rays sent over for a consult. I just had to force him out of the crate and it about broke my back. He yelped so hard I almost started crying. I set him up outside of the crate next to the sofa. It's too hard getting him in and out of there. He will have to be in there tomorrow while we head out. No way I am going to leave him loose. He looks so sad. Hoping we can manage it with meds and joint supplements. I think things can go either way with him still growing.


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Libra926

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Orion has a luxated patella. She won't slow down though. She is almost 6 1/2 years old....and surgery would be risky at her age with her breathing. We thought getting her a playpen would help her chill, but she now gets into and our of it on her own.

She is crazy.

Orion doesn't require any meds yet. Only rest....which we've already failed miserable at.
 

izstigspunks

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Punkin also has luxating patellas in both knees. He's determined to be independent and loves walks. We have pain meds just in case. My bf also carries him back from his walks when it looks like he's struggling.
 

RiiSi

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I see you've got good advice allready, so all I have to offer is prayers and healing thoughts.
 

2BullyMama

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sending lots of positive thoughts you can manage through with supplements and meds.... let us know what the specialist has to say
 
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Bizzymammabee

Bizzymammabee

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Just praying that things kick in and give him a bit of ease. I swear it's amazing how nutty he is compared to Raven. So seeing him down and out is really heart breaking. This morning he stood up for his breakfast and then promptly hobbled over to his bed and bided his time to sink down into his space. I had hubby also give him a walk before he left for work and he called me frantic. When he went to pick him up he started screaming. My husband called me all freaked out and worried he had hurt him more. I told him no it was ok and to just go easy when he picks him up. I know he is hurting but I swear he is a bit of a drama queen too. I know damn good and well between the pain meds and the rimadyl he had to be feeling kind of nice. When I get home I will give him his joint supplements. I rolled over to petco last night and grabbed some Cosequin Double Strength Plus MSM Joint Health Dog Supplement. Hoping it helps and quickly. My doctor is very optimistic that with a bit of time and the supplements we have a good chance at just maintenance meds. Keeping my fingers crossed and praying! I have to go buy a baby gate this weekend because I think it's time to lock both of the stinkers on the first floor of the house. No more stairs for either of them other than the four little steps down the back to go potty. It's definitely going to be a challenge once he is feeling a bit better to keep his butt from jumping up and down on the sofa and wanting to run and play. Guess I better bring the doggie steps down from my son's bedroom too.

cosequin.jpg
 
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Bizzymammabee

Bizzymammabee

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Orion has a luxated patella. She won't slow down though. She is almost 6 1/2 years old....and surgery would be risky at her age with her breathing. We thought getting her a playpen would help her chill, but she now gets into and our of it on her own.

She is crazy.

Orion doesn't require any meds yet. Only rest....which we've already failed miserable at.

You were just asking for trouble getting her a playpen. It seems like nothing can keep these guys down. I can just imagine her scaling the side of that pen. Raven is a short stocky butterball and it's always amazing to me to see how she manages to get up and onto things.
 
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Bizzymammabee

Bizzymammabee

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Punkin also has luxating patellas in both knees. He's determined to be independent and loves walks. We have pain meds just in case. My bf also carries him back from his walks when it looks like he's struggling.

How old was Punkin when you found out he had the luxating patellas? Ty is way too heavy for me to be carrying back from one of our walks. I may have to buy one of those kiddie wagons so we can take walks and get our fresh air.
 

nycbullymama

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Cosequin DS is a great product, I give it to mine too. But it's going to take a bit of time kicking in.

If you decide to go with the vets we spoke about through pm's, you need to call them today to make an appointment. You never know if you'll wait a few days, a week, or a month to get an appointment with her.
 

izstigspunks

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How old was Punkin when you found out he had the luxating patellas? Ty is way too heavy for me to be carrying back from one of our walks. I may have to buy one of those kiddie wagons so we can take walks and get our fresh air.

We got him from a friend's friend when he was 4 years old and he already had the issue. He would compensate for them though, for instance, he would bunny hop when going up the stairs. He also can't sit with his knees bent, so he sits with his legs straight. Wagons are a great idea. Even those pet strollers.
 

Christie H

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I'm not sure if this could be a benefit for your bullys condition but our Abbott has knee issues and he has been getting Adequan injections for a few months and cold laser therapy and he has improved 100% it's crazy how good it's worked.
 

izstigspunks

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Oh, yes, cold laser therapy. Punkin gets those every couple of months. We also give him glucosamine daily.
 
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Bizzymammabee

Bizzymammabee

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Cold laser .....def going to ask about it. He moves around a little bit more but he still won't walk on that leg or bend it.


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