Thunderpants Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Hi, My 1yo frenchy has been diagnosed with a luxating patella I.e her knee cap shifts out of its groove. I usually see north Sydney vet located in st Leonard's, Sydney nsw and they are very good but expensive. I will pay if it means I get the best surgeon but I wanted to ask if anyone knows an especially good vet hospital and surgeon in Sydney that you would recommend to get it right Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2boxer Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 I'm not in Sydney but if it was my dog and you can afford it, I'd get a referral to a specialist surgeon. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 I'm not in Sydney but if it was my dog and you can afford it, I'd get a referral to a specialist surgeon. Good luck! X2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 David Lidbetter at Parramatter Veterinary Surgical Specialists is an amazing surgeon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 1366024327[/url]' post='6175856']Hi, My 1yo frenchy has been diagnosed with a luxating patella I.e her knee cap shifts out of its groove. I usually see north Sydney vet located in st Leonard's, Sydney nsw and they are very good but expensive. I will pay if it means I get the best surgeon but I wanted to ask if anyone knows an especially good vet hospital and surgeon in Sydney that you would recommend to get it right Thanks in advance Max Zuber at Gladesville Vet. If you google him his info should come up. He is awesome plus has great 'bedside manner'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 I really like Craig Bailey at North Shore Vet (I assume this is the vet you currently go to?)- really nice guy and very competent surgeon. Otherwise David Lidbetter is also very good and probably cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderpants Posted April 15, 2013 Author Share Posted April 15, 2013 (edited) Damn that was fast. Thanks so much for your feedback. @aussielover yes I meant north shore vet and Craig bailey looks good. May I ask your experience with him is or what you heard? I forgot to mention. Frenchies can be bad under anaesthesia, so it's important that the vet has experience with that. Actually everyone's recommendations looked good. So it might just come down to who's local in the end after all. Unless of course someone is a frenchy and knee surgeon specialist! :) Edited April 15, 2013 by Thunderpants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbreedlover Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 (edited) Karen Hedburg is a Specialist French Bulldog vet and French Bulldog breeder. Just cant remember the name of her clinic in Sydney. Someone else may be able to help with that. ETA North Richmond Veterinary Hospital Edited April 15, 2013 by Bullbreedlover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 (edited) Damn that was fast. Thanks so much for your feedback. @aussielover yes I meant north shore vet and Craig bailey looks good. May I ask your experience with him is or what you heard? I forgot to mention. Frenchies can be bad under anaesthesia, so it's important that the vet has experience with that. Actually everyone's recommendations looked good. So it might just come down to who's local in the end after all. Unless of course someone is a frenchy and knee surgeon specialist! :) I hope you have had a second opinion. Luxating patellas are the most over operated on "condition". A vet can just snap the knee caps out and in on small and young dogs and the owner is told: OH luxating patellas, the dog will be crippled, he needs an operation !!! Please don't operate unless it is absolutely needed ETA: Then of course if the operate IS needed, go to a specialist. I would recommend SASH at North Ryde or ARH at Homebush. Edited April 15, 2013 by Danny's Darling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Andrew Marchevsky at SASH in North Ryde. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappie Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 I would suggest starting with a second opinion with a specialist surgeon. I normally refer to David Lidbetter for orthopaedic cases but also have regular contact with SASH. There are also referral hospitals in Homebush (Animal Referral Hospital) and the North Shore. Depending on the grade of MLP surgery may or may not be required. If you are particularly concerned about the anaesthetic then SASH does have a consultant specialist anaesthetist on staff. I know that Karen Hedberg is a well respected vet but for the purposes of this conversation, while she is experienced with particular breeds she does not have a specialist qualification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poodle Mum Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 (edited) ARH at homebush. Specialist is best and a second opinion a must. Max Zuber must be getting long in the tooth!!....he was around when I was VNing 22yrs ago!!!...lol and he was old then! Edited April 16, 2013 by Poodle Mum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Karen Hedburg is a Specialist French Bulldog vet and French Bulldog breeder. Just cant remember the name of her clinic in Sydney. Someone else may be able to help with that. ETA North Richmond Veterinary Hospital I'd be starting with Karen and then whatever she suggests. She's been the one the FB owners and breeders have taken their dogs to for years, me included. I'd seek a second opinion from her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Damn that was fast. Thanks so much for your feedback. @aussielover yes I meant north shore vet and Craig bailey looks good. May I ask your experience with him is or what you heard? I forgot to mention. Frenchies can be bad under anaesthesia, so it's important that the vet has experience with that. Actually everyone's recommendations looked good. So it might just come down to who's local in the end after all. Unless of course someone is a frenchy and knee surgeon specialist! :) I hope you have had a second opinion. Luxating patellas are the most over operated on "condition". A vet can just snap the knee caps out and in on small and young dogs and the owner is told: OH luxating patellas, the dog will be crippled, he needs an operation !!! Please don't operate unless it is absolutely needed ETA: Then of course if the operate IS needed, go to a specialist. I would recommend SASH at North Ryde or ARH at Homebush. The insinuation that vets cause luxating patellas, quite frankly makes my blood boil. Where do people get these ridiculous ideas from? If the knee conformation is correct, it's not possible to 'just snap' the kneecap out of place. Spreading misinformation and scaremongering is not helping the OP to find a good surgeon for her dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 The insinuation that vets cause luxating patellas, quite frankly makes my blood boil. Where do people get these ridiculous ideas from? If the knee conformation is correct, it's not possible to 'just snap' the kneecap out of place. Spreading misinformation and scaremongering is not helping the OP to find a good surgeon for her dog. Oh for goodness sake. I am not insinuating anything. I am saying that the knee can be slipped in and out and some vets will tell you correctly that that is normal, but some will say that the dog has luxating patella, needs an operation immediately. I am telling you what I have seen with my own eyes. I have also suggested SASH at North Ryde if, in fact, the OP does need a surgeon. As has another poster. Boil away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Richard Naylor at Castle Hill Vet is an exceptional orthopedic surgeon... http://www.castlehillvets.com.au/staff.html T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 ARH at homebush. Specialist is best and a second opinion a must. Max Zuber must be getting long in the tooth!!....he was around when I was VNing 22yrs ago!!!...lol and he was old then! I nursed for him about 15yrs ago and wouldn't have said he was 'old' then. He's a veterinary magician IMO :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickasyoucan Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 We had a very good experience with Sydney Uni for my dog's ACL. They also have fully quallified anaesthetists rather than vet nurses (I am sure the other specialist centres do too but maybe not general practice) which gave me extra comfort. The orthopaedic surgeon was Professor Ken Johnson. I see Max Zuber is also listed there as a lecturer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderpants Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 Thanks for getting involved with your suggestions everyone. I went to north Richmond vet after speaking with Karen, although she said Michelle would be better for this. She was brilliant and noticed the leg was too straight and thus causing part of the problem with the patella, along with the groove being too narrow. She also suggested to speak with Craig or John form north shore vet as they are specialists. Craig bailey was just as good as some of you said. The leg is definitely too straight but will still be solved by deepening the groove and moving the bone that holds the ligament below the patella down and across (maybe). Usually the patella will clunk out of place easily but the groove seems so shallow that it slides across the edge each time she bends her leg. This is why she needs the surgery. There's a grinding each time we feel while she bends her leg. Surgery is booked for may and it will be a hard ten weeks recovery but worth it over time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Craig, John and the team at NSVH saved my dogs life when she had a bone stuck and go through her intestine, so I highly recommend them. I hope the surgery goes well. Do you know if she only needs deepening of the groove or does she need the tibial crest to be relocated as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now