Luxating Patella

[lululove]

My 14 month frenchie is in need of surgery on her back right leg due to a luxating patella. The surgery is needed to straighten the ligaments so they all align cause At the moment it isnt straight causing her knee cap to pop out. The surgeon said that her other leg (back left leg) is also not straight and eventually will need surgery too but it isn't poppy out like the back right leg. The surgeon also said that the surgery is a permenant fix so it will only ever need one surgery.

Do I decide to operate on both legs at once? Or the back right now as it is popping out and the other leg later when it starts to pop out (this could happen anytime. Could be a couple of months or years). At the moment I am leaning towards doing both legs in the same surgery so there is only one surgery and recovery time.

Has anyone come gone through this process? Any advice will be highly appreciated. Thanks

[ness]

There are few members who have gone through surgery for a MPL repair. I will be honest and say not all have been as successful as they should have been - my girl included who is now 12 months post-op and still battling. I would be a little cautious doing both legs at once and especially one which isn't currently symptomatic. No surgery is without risk of complication.

[kelpiecuddles]

I'm inclined to think that having one good leg during recovery atleast allows her to maintain mobility and fitness which are both imortant in healing. Even human specialists generally won't do anything major on two legs/shoulders/eyes at once incase of complications.

[megan_]

Is the vet a specialist?

[Cosmolo]

I wouldn't think a vet would do both at once?

[ness]

It does appear some specialists in the US will offer to do both repairs at the same time in smaller dogs (at least from what I have seen from my research into things). The other somewhat common approach is 6-8 weeks apart depending on bone healing time.

[lululove]

Yes it's from a specialist. And we will be getting her a doggy wheelchair to help with her recovery if both legs are done to keep her mobile without hindering the recovery and keep both pup and the family sane.

[Loving my Oldies]

Please get a second opinion before doing anything.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Danny's Darling

[OSoSwift]

I would do one then the other if and when I needs it and not before

[Rascalmyshadow]

If it were me there would be no way I would do both at the same time. It is quite a recovery and the dog needs to build strength back up in the leg, how is that supposed to happen if both legs are sore and weak.

If you are seeing a specialist and he has advised to do both at the same time even though one isn't popping out on its own, I would be going else where.

[minxy]

I definitely wouldn't do both at once. Kyojin had luxating patella's in both legs, but his left was definitely worse than the other. So we operated on that one first. We had to confine him for 6 months afterwards, much longer than expected. His leg is great now though and since having the surgery, his other one has never popped out once. We think that having the surgery on one leg meant that he had to rely on his other one more and that this probably strengthened it, because both of his knees would pop out several times a day, but then since the day of the surgery, his right leg has been perfect as well. I wouldn't do two at once as it may not be necessary and it's a really awful process for the dog to go through.

[coogie]

Our girl has had the surgery as well, I wouldn't do both at once. We were also told she would need the other leg done at some point ,her recovery was also longer than expected and I don't think she would have coped with both. It took her longer to weight bear after her knee op than when she had her hip done. I don't think she would have been able to toilet. She is bigger than your girl ( Shar Pei) so maybe this would not be as much of an issue for you. Issy flatly refused to toilet on a pee or grass pad even immediately after the surgery and so had to be carried outside multiple times a day. We ended up building a ramp once she was a bit better.

One thing I would say is if you go ahead with both sides at once and intend to use wheels, I would get the wheels well before the surgery so she can use them and get used to them whilst she is well, Issy was quite distressed post surgery and I don't think it would have been a good time to try and teach her to use a cart. It is now 2 years since the knee surgery and she has not needed the other side done, although this may be due to the fact she is having Physio and goes to hydrotherapy for maintenance so her muscles etc are much stronger now.

Good luck with your girl whichever way you choose to go, I hope she is back to full health soon.

[persephone]

I think it would be horrible for the poor dog to have both legs done at once ..... it would make recovery very awkward ..she would be unable even to toilet properly .....

Think I will also suggest another specialist if possible .... and look at this from your dog's aspect .....

the total immobilisation ... the abilty to even turn over and get comfortable will be gone

A risk of infection in one leg is a worry ..two .. shouldn't have to be a consideration

Toileting problems may lead to urine dribbling into wounds /dressings , constipation ... loss of toilet training

[Loving my Oldies]

I would do one then the other if and when I needs it and not before

"If" is the word here. Please see another vet or specialist. This is a much OVER diagnosed condition. One of my vets who ran his own practice and employed several vets called it "tantamount to mutilation". Sorry to be so dramatic, but just telling you the experience of a vet who practiced in England and Australia and went to Seminars all around the world over his 30+ years of having his own hospital.