You Will Not Not Beleive This

[Double Lab Love]

So upset this morning......

Some of you may have read my reponses to the Pet Insurance thread of last week - I have two 18 mmth Labs and was weighing up insurance - mind you have been thinking of doing something for months just got lost in the fine print...

SO - last Friday I notice Tango limping slighty left hind leg at breakfast time - I have a good look at this leg/paw pad and everything seems fine and 5 min later he is walking soundly again... Friday night fine then and out of the blue he is holding his left leg up and hopping around - another thorough check of the leg / paw pad again all fine and again he is walking normally for the rest of the night... Fine all day Sat and he is hanging around with Tippi with no probs - so we think might take them to the local dog park for an hour to run of some steam.... two minutes into the park he is favouring his left hind leg again so we bundle them up take him home and he is 100% fine again when we get out of the car...

BUT early Sun morning he had vomited twice and looks a but shaky in the back legs - so we rush him to the vets thinking parylsis tick etc....

But after a thorough exam it turns out no tick but he has a luxating patella and will need to see a specialist

Not thinking it was something that happended to larger dogs and not knowing anything about it I am gobsmacked / feel sick that I didn't see it sooner and wracking my brains trying to think how the hell it happended.... he has regularly been seeing a chiro and there has been no evidence of it so i am thinging some kind of trauma ???

So we booked in for first available appointment this morning which unfortunately is next Tuesday He is booked in for a full consult / xrays and they have reserved a space for him for surgery that afternoon if required...

So I guess re insurance you really never know what is around the corner..... we will find the money for the operation and post care from somewhere as a priority and happy to go without something else - but I guess it would have been helpful if I had of been insured a couple of months ago or even had a slush fund set up .... which I think now will be our priority....

Not having even considered a luxating patella as potential Lab injury I haven't as yet ( or ever done any ) research and was wondering if anyonee has been thru it and what tips/advice you may have...

Also am I to keep him quiet for the next week before his consult / can I give him gentle walks bearing in mind he will be out of action for 6 weeks after surgery.... I really don't know what to do and I still have a week

He doesn't seem to be in pain but labs are very stoic so it always hard to tell...

Thanking in advance...

Sorry about grammer/spelling.... lack of...still but upset

[Dju]

Oh man, that's so unfortunate

I hope Tango gets better very soon.

[Double Lab Love]

Thank you DJU - I have attached a photo of the poor love..

AND it was his birthday yesterday too

[persephone]

Luxating patella isn't a disaster .. lots of dogs have a problem with this ... I had one many years ago - he had the surgery - his long recuperation, and was 100% for teh rest of his life as a very active dog!

I'm glad you will be seeing a specialist , too!!

(personally, the vomiting/shaky rear end concerns me more)

[divinemissmillie]

Been through the luxating patella thing, too - but with a Cavalier King Charles Spanel (who already had it when I got her as a 4 year old).

Vet told me a price for them to fix it (with a possiblility it may happen again) or told me the name of an excellent specialist at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hopsital in Werribee (Victoria) who does the operation differently (but at a greater cost) with a higher success rate. I took the expensive option (cost was about $2,000 and that was 5 years ago) as I didn't want to possibly go through the whole 3 months rehab again (what a pain that was trying to keep an otherwise healthy dog quiet !!!). Her leg was in bandages for a few weeks and then slowly started taking her for walks for a few minutes and then building up the time until her 3 months was up and she could run around as normal. No matter how we tried to confine her, we'd come home and she'd always managed to escape and join the other dogs. Despite this, her leg came out great and she has never looked back.

Good luck with your lovely lab - hope all goes as straightforward as ours did.

[rebelsquest]

Sorry to hear this . Hope everything goes well with the specialist and Tango is on the mend soon.

[W Sibs]

Bummer.

Luxating patella isn't a disaster .. lots of dogs have a problem with this ... I had one many years ago - he had the surgery - his long recuperation, and was 100% for teh rest of his life as a very active dog!

I'm glad you will be seeing a specialist , too!!

(personally, the vomiting/shaky rear end concerns me more)

Yeah, I agree with Perse.

Oh, Em has patella issues too... you wouldn't guess if you saw her.

ETA: I got quoted $1500 for surgery (that's not including meds and stuff) if Em was ever to get surgery. But, thankfully, she doesn't need it. But, she's also a Japanese Spitz, so I'm not sure if that's the same price for a Lab.

Edited July 11, 2011 by CW EW

[fuzzy82]

Most pet insurance doesn't cover luxating patella anyway.

Sorry about the LP though, my puppy developed LP at 9 months, so that was the end of his agility career before it even started.

[Keira&Phoenix]

Yep my dog Keira (Bullmastiff X Ridge X) had surgery at 10 months old because of a luxatting patella. Sadly I wasn't experienced enough (nor did my vet recommend) to go to a specialist so I am very glad you are going down that route. My dog has developed severe arthritis in that knee because of the operation, I am sure she would have been 100x better if I had taken her to a specialist. Mind you she got the shoddy end of the genetic stick and has severe hip displaxia as well.

When they do Xrays maybe get them to check hips as well just in case. Especially as you describe hind end weakness. My dog was limping (no weight on left leg at all) for a week and had no hind end weakness.

Best of luck, I am sure your dog will come out great after surgery and recuperation.

[Double Lab Love]

Keira & Phoenix - thank you for the suggestion re the hip check as well... I hadn't thought that through... makes sense..

We are seeing David Lidbetter at Paramatta and from what I have heard he is very good ? We couldn't see our normal vet - too early on Sunday morning - so we saw another vet elsewhere - but she was brilliant with the presenting symtpons and checked him thotoughly... Like some of you have mentioned I was so worried about the vomits/shakiness.....thank dog that was all OK...

We were told us we could go and see out vet today for a second opinion but we just wanted to get it looked at asap with a specialist so we know what we are dealing with.... His chiro has said he thinks his hips are OK a few weeks ago but as Keira & Phoenix has suggested - bearing in mind the specialist's expertise and he is getting sedated anyway for Xrays - we may as well get it all done at once....

Thank you for all your good wishes.... I hope it may not need surgery but I guess I will know next Tuesday... If so I hope it is all straightforward.... I shudder at the thought of keeping an 18 mnth Lab quiet for 6 weeks

But you know it just goes to show how quickly things change... here is me last Friday chatting away on DOL about insurance blah blah and here I am Monday dealing with this...

I didn't realise that insurance didn't cover a luxating patella... I am definitley leaning towards now putting money aside monthly into a "slush "fund for emergencies - esp if the return re claims is now only 80% and so many things are ruled out re cover ?

[Double Lab Love]

Most pet insurance doesn't cover luxating patella anyway.

Sorry about the LP though, my puppy developed LP at 9 months, so that was the end of his agility career before it even started.

So sorry fuzzy82 - that just doesn't seem fair....

Tango was never going to be more than my boy but still - sure as hell didn't see this coming...

[Double Lab Love]

Bummer.

Luxating patella isn't a disaster .. lots of dogs have a problem with this ... I had one many years ago - he had the surgery - his long recuperation, and was 100% for teh rest of his life as a very active dog!

I'm glad you will be seeing a specialist , too!!

(personally, the vomiting/shaky rear end concerns me more)

Yeah, I agree with Perse.

Oh, Em has patella issues too... you wouldn't guess if you saw her.

ETA: I got quoted $1500 for surgery (that's not including meds and stuff) if Em was ever to get surgery. But, thankfully, she doesn't need it. But, she's also a Japanese Spitz, so I'm not sure if that's the same price for a Lab.

Poor Em

Knowing my luck it is probably 1% increase in $$$$ per kg - good lord and he weighs 36kg

My aunt has a Japenense Spitz they are just gorgeous.....

[persephone]

he's a gorgeous boy ----- Right now might be a really good time to cut back on his food! ;) if he needs surgery,and has to be kept quiet - he will not be burning off the food - plus, lean dogs give their joints a bit of a rest ...

Edited July 11, 2011 by persephone

[Edenblue]

David is great! Your in the best possible hands.

[mumtoshelley]

so sorry to hear Tango has luxating patella. I hope he gets better soon.

I often wander if my Shelley has luxating patella cause every so often she has a limp in her right back leg. Everytime I ask the vet about it they ask to she her walk and run and she happens to walk/run normally at that time.

[RiverStar-Aura]

We are seeing David Lidbetter at Paramatta and from what I have heard he is very good ?

David's an excellent specialist surgeon. He looked after Poochie's massive uterine tumour when she was 15 and a half and he was wonderfully kind and the whole family appreciated his honesty. He told us straight up that he was confident he could remove the huge tumour and he did and Poochie recovered better than we could've hoped.

Tango's in good hands and I'm sorry he got such a crappy birthday present. Hopefully things go well and he'll be back running around like a nutter before you know it!

[newco]

Hi. Thought I would share our luxating patella experience. It may help. Last December CoCo had tibial crest transpositioning (TCT) surgery for a grade 4 luxated patella. Her patella had luxated medially and became lodged there. The following is from the Specialists report after surgery. "CoCo had bony and soft tissue alterations such that the patella is now located in a more correct anatomical position. Two pins have been used to pin the tibial crest (knee cap insertion site) in a more appropriate position. The groove the patella lies in has been deepened and the joint structures on the lateral (outside of the joint) have been tightened." It was quite a big operation and CoCo stayed overnight. It also wasnt cheap $2900.00 and we had only just joined pet health insurance so werent covered. I dont know if pet insurance companies consider this to be a "bi-lateral" condition or not. Post op CoCo had to be crated/playpen for 6 weeks. No running, jumping, stairs etc AT ALL. She had to be ON LEAD when we took her out to the toilet. She could put weight on her leg after the 2nd day but we carried her outside for a few days, then would let her walk (on lead) to the toilet herself....extremely slowly. We had to lift her up/down the back step. As far as medication goes she was on Cephalexin, Metacam and had a Fentanyl patch. After the all clear from the specialist after 6 weeks we slowly re-introduced exercise/length of walks. She is fine now (other than HD) and runs stupid. As her knee structure has been altered, it has affected her gait. Her knee tends to turn out when she walks. Good luck, I hope it all goes well.

Edited July 11, 2011 by newco

[Keira&Phoenix]

Keira & Phoenix - thank you for the suggestion re the hip check as well... I hadn't thought that through... makes sense..

We are seeing David Lidbetter at Paramatta and from what I have heard he is very good ? We couldn't see our normal vet - too early on Sunday morning - so we saw another vet elsewhere - but she was brilliant with the presenting symtpons and checked him thotoughly... Like some of you have mentioned I was so worried about the vomits/shakiness.....thank dog that was all OK...

We were told us we could go and see out vet today for a second opinion but we just wanted to get it looked at asap with a specialist so we know what we are dealing with.... His chiro has said he thinks his hips are OK a few weeks ago but as Keira & Phoenix has suggested - bearing in mind the specialist's expertise and he is getting sedated anyway for Xrays - we may as well get it all done at once....

Thank you for all your good wishes.... I hope it may not need surgery but I guess I will know next Tuesday... If so I hope it is all straightforward.... I shudder at the thought of keeping an 18 mnth Lab quiet for 6 weeks

But you know it just goes to show how quickly things change... here is me last Friday chatting away on DOL about insurance blah blah and here I am Monday dealing with this...

I didn't realise that insurance didn't cover a luxating patella... I am definitley leaning towards now putting money aside monthly into a "slush "fund for emergencies - esp if the return re claims is now only 80% and so many things are ruled out re cover ?

No problems Like you said if he is already under for xrays may as well get hips checked as well.

It may be a case that his knee doesn't even need an op. Keira who had her left knee done also had issues with her right knee as well but over time by keeping her lean, controlled exercise etc as she grew up the patella stopped moving out of position and although if that knee is manipulated the patella will pop out, it will only do it with manual manipulation and hasn't popped out on its own in years.

[Double Lab Love]

so sorry to hear Tango has luxating patella. I hope he gets better soon.

I often wander if my Shelley has luxating patella cause every so often she has a limp in her right back leg. Everytime I ask the vet about it they ask to she her walk and run and she happens to walk/run normally at that time.

mumtoshelley - she might well have.... Tango hasn't limped since Sunday and to look at him you would think he was fine...I took him for a gentle walk with a friend last night and he looked 100% I am sure she thought i was telling porkies.... BUT when the vet actually manipulated his patella you could feel it sliding around and popping out so perhaps that is what your vet needs to do ?

[Double Lab Love]

Keira & Phoenix - thank you for the suggestion re the hip check as well... I hadn't thought that through... makes sense..

We are seeing David Lidbetter at Paramatta and from what I have heard he is very good ? We couldn't see our normal vet - too early on Sunday morning - so we saw another vet elsewhere - but she was brilliant with the presenting symtpons and checked him thotoughly... Like some of you have mentioned I was so worried about the vomits/shakiness.....thank dog that was all OK...

We were told us we could go and see out vet today for a second opinion but we just wanted to get it looked at asap with a specialist so we know what we are dealing with.... His chiro has said he thinks his hips are OK a few weeks ago but as Keira & Phoenix has suggested - bearing in mind the specialist's expertise and he is getting sedated anyway for Xrays - we may as well get it all done at once....

Thank you for all your good wishes.... I hope it may not need surgery but I guess I will know next Tuesday... If so I hope it is all straightforward.... I shudder at the thought of keeping an 18 mnth Lab quiet for 6 weeks

But you know it just goes to show how quickly things change... here is me last Friday chatting away on DOL about insurance blah blah and here I am Monday dealing with this...

I didn't realise that insurance didn't cover a luxating patella... I am definitley leaning towards now putting money aside monthly into a "slush "fund for emergencies - esp if the return re claims is now only 80% and so many things are ruled out re cover ?

No problems Like you said if he is already under for xrays may as well get hips checked as well.

It may be a case that his knee doesn't even need an op. Keira who had her left knee done also had issues with her right knee as well but over time by keeping her lean, controlled exercise etc as she grew up the patella stopped moving out of position and although if that knee is manipulated the patella will pop out, it will only do it with manual manipulation and hasn't popped out on its own in years.

I am crossing my fingers he doesn't need an op....Keira gives me hope !!

But my other thought is to get it done when he is young so it heals 100% and doesn't develop into arthritis down the track ?

I guesss I will know more next Tuesday...

The chiro had told me two weeks ago that I need to take a couple of kg's off him to keep him lean in case of potential joint issues and I have been very strict with his new diet and when he was weighed last Saunday he had already lost over a kg He is big for a Lab and very large framed so I think another 2 kg's should do the trick.... definitley will be watching that post op ( if it comes to that ) and cutting him right back....