we know what is wrong with Katara's leg.. any experience with it?

acarabias

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As some of you may know Katara has been limping for about a week, quite a bit and not getting better. I took her to her vet this morning. She was diagnosed with a grade3 luxating patella. I was afraid this was a neurological damage, so I guess I am somewhat relieved. However, this condition will not correct itself, and she will have to learn to live with it. The only thing we can do for her right now is pain medication. She said they grade the condition Grade 1-mild to grade4 severe, Kataras is grade 3 now because the patella goes back to its socket, but she says it will eventually become grade 4 when the socket has completely eroded and the patella will slide from one side of the knee to the other continuously. The vet said there is surgery for it, but it is a last resort thing, when the quality of life is very diminished. Katara can run play and keep up with Aldo, just looks funny doing it, so right now it is not an option. She told me her pug has this same thing and she decided to do surgery since he wouldn't even lower the leg at all and was in so much pain. She said it took him about 10 weeks to recover but now is fine and the leg much improved. She also told me that Katara will develop early arthritis to that knee and that at 18 months we will start her on joint supplements. She is not even 9 months so she believes it is congenital and told me it's a good thing I am not intending to breed her. The other thing is that I need to keep Katara slightly underweight her whole life to prevent extra damage to her knee.. She said about 43-45 pounds fully grown.. So she is 41 lbs now.. when she turns one I will lower her food intake from 2.5 cups to 2.. maybe less if she starts gaining.. Does anybody have any experience with this?
The vet did say this is not breed related, but more common in small breeds, but any breed can get it, even humans.. my poor baby :cry:
 

NigelsMom

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i'm so sorry to hear that poor Katara - I hope she's not in pain. Sending hugs and prayers!
 

LynnA

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I'm so sorry for you and your baby. I hope the pain medication gives her some comfort and can ease Mom's mind too!
 

Twice

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I just responded to [MENTION=3952]TheLost[/MENTION] about luxating patellas in his thread on Molly. I don't have experience with patellas but I do with hips and elbows. Abby's holistic nuVet swears chiropractic and supplements can help her.
 
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acarabias

acarabias

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thank you [MENTION=4225]Twice[/MENTION] I'm going to try to find the thread, do you have a link to it?
 

ChanelnBrutus

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TheLost

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Molly was limping for a second (maybe like literally 5 seconds) yesterday so my wife took her to the vet today.. she was diagnosed with 'Medial Luxating Patella' (along with Hip Dysplasia.. it hasn't been a good day).

We are waiting to talk with a specialist about both problems.. Any information i learn about the knee problems i'll be sure to share.

Right now, other then yesterday, Molly (7 months old) hasn't shown any signs of it bothering her.


My :heart: goes out to you and Katara... Hopefully she'll be back to her bully self soon!
 
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acarabias

acarabias

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[MENTION=3952]TheLost[/MENTION] I'm sorry you are going through this too, how old is Molly? Katara limps all the time, sometimes more pronounced than others but it is something that developed suddenly other than one episode at 5 months, but that was possibly unrelated. Katara's Patellar lunation is pretty severe, the vet said it spends more time outside the socket than in it, but still did not recommend surgery, she said a lot of dogs have it and learn to live with it. Not sure about the hip dysplasia, Katara's hip checked out fine, at least for now.. I will be following you to see what the specialist says about your sweet baby.. As of now, I am just taking it one day at a time with my pups, these dogs have been full of challenges from day one, but I <3 them regardless..
 
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acarabias

acarabias

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[MENTION=860]sheshistory[/MENTION] and experience with knee problems? the vet was not concerned about her hip at this time, but has a moderate patellar degeneration
 
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acarabias

acarabias

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[MENTION=2071]Davidh[/MENTION] how bad was your dog's patellar problem, the vet told me she did not recommend surgery at this point for her, but she also said her case was pretty severe and it is a high possibility for the future... I read on another thread your bully got surgery?
 

sheshistory

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[MENTION=860]sheshistory[/MENTION] and experience with knee problems? the vet was not concerned about her hip at this time, but has a moderate patellar degeneration

My oldest bully, Bentley, tore both of his ACLs and had to get TPLO surgery on each knee. The knee issues were likely from loose hips as dogs with undiagnosed hip dysplasia often overcompensate on other joints (knees) to make up for bad hips. I don't have any experience with the luxating patella though!
 

Alice Kable

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[MENTION=3247]acarabias[/MENTION] you have had your share of issues with both Aldo and Katara. You have had to handle enough already!!! It is your time for everything to go right! I am sorry Katara has this problem.
 

JAKEISGREAT

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Ana..:hug: I'm so sorry Katara and you have to deal with this. I know people that have had his. My daughter played club soccer and a couple of the girls had this..one had surgery, the other didn't. Now..they both used braces..wonder if there is any type of support appliance for dogs. :hug:
 

2BullyMama

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hey Ana ---- Nitschke had this issue... never stopped him from doing anyting. He did eventually have surgery on the knee but it was due to ACL tear, which sometimes one causes the other. We put him on supplements at 1 year and continued for his life. He was a very active and we kept him at 55-58 lbs.
 

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