Boy that is a gut call for sure. I have known people who's dogs have done well with the surgery and some that have had a nightmare with it. Two of mine have knee issues. Paco the larger one his back leg also that he occasionally bunny hopped on but it never got any worse and he is now ten. Bino has lousy knees that pop in and out but he is so tiny with little stick legs that the Vet does not want to even consider the surgery for him. Unless he races around like an idiot he seems to do ok. Bino ran into the intersecting wall in the hall a couple of years ago and tore one up pretty good. He wouldn't bear weight on it either. I gave him drugs and crated him for six weeks and he healed up well. Unless one of mine was crippled with it, I would be leary of the whole thing.
________________________________ From: Rebecca Bate <[email protected]> To: Chi <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 9:01 PM Subject: [Chihuahuas] Diego.....UGH So here is the story of why I was asking about luxating patella. Yesterday Diego jumped off of something "wrong" and hurt his back leg. He always bunny hopped a bit on that leg anyways but now won't hardly bear weight on it. I could feel his patella moving out of place this evening :( took him to the vet and sure enough its a grade 3 now. Vet said wait two weeks, keep him on pain meds and anti-inflam meds. Maybe its soft tissue swelling thats pushing it out worse. So wait and see. I am sick over the thought of this surgery. The 1200 price tag and the recovery time. I also have read some that the surgery doesn't have a great success rate. So I don't know what to think right now. I feel really sorry for the poor little guy. We will do whatever is needed, just don't know what that may be right now! Any thoughts or input would be great! Rebecca
