Unfortunately my sheltie puppy of 8mths has been diagnosed with Patellar luxation grade 2.At the moment she is on carprodyl for the next six weeks when she will be seen again by our vet.She will have to have an op when she reaches a year when she has stopped growing.Has anyone else been through this op with a young dog??At the moment her limping is quite bad and we cannot take her out for a walk because of this,Has anyone else been through this with a puppy and if so how apart from carrying did you take them out,(she gets too heavy to carry after a while).We want to take her out but apart from travelling in the car we cannot think of any other way to take her out,she is too heavy at 8kg for a doggy rucksak.an anyone advise us on the op and /or keeping her happy until she has the op?

I'm not an expert, but I do know two people who have been through this with a pups of a similar age.  One couple went down the surgical route, their pup had the op around 9/10 months on one knee, way too early in our opinion.  The second have completely controlled it by hard exercise and fortunate final growth.  As you are aware your pup is still growing, so although your pup appears to need an op now, it may not be the case at a year old, there is a possibility that it could be controlled by maintaining hard muscle condition.  (I haven't seen your dog obviously, it maybe that an op is unfortunately the only way forward.
For now unfortunately bed rest until the initial limp has gone, and a good 2 weeks after.  From then on no jumping (including on/off the sofa if allowed) and most importantly no fetch.  The act of running fast in one direction, suddenly stopping and tearing round the other way does alot of damage to the knee.  As the dog muscles up you can start to let them to do more regarding jumping and playing.  The second pup I mentioned is now a young adult and constantly demands fetch!  If the vet decides on your next check up that building up exercise is not the right route for your little one then please listen to them, they do know best.
For now to keep her happy I would get some thinking games going at home.  Hide things around the house and get her to find them, treats under cups if she picks the right one, kongs, shelties are clever little things see how many tricks she can pick up!
Best of luck

My boy had to have the op begining of this year, his was grade3 in left leg, unfortunatly excerise did nothing for him and nor did supplement and he was begining to spend a ever incresing amount of time unable to move about as as soon as he would stand the knee would pop and give him alot of pain, when the op was done at 8 months he already had advanced arthritis in the joint.
However since the op he has not looked back and can now run about with the best of them and even jumps up on our sofa, it was hard going for the first 4 weeks and i spent the first week sleeping with him downstairs then we moved back upstairs and ofc could not take him out with my other dogs for walks for a few months which he was none to pleased about but the end result was most definatly very worth it.

Sorry to hear about your puppy. 

My last dog had a patella problem which started when he was around the same age, but our vet wasn't sure what it was, so referred him to a specialist who then diagnosed the problem.  Like you, were were told to wait until our dog was fully grown and as he was a golden retriever that was 2 years old.

My advice for exercise would be hydrotherapy, this will help to build up the muscles in the leg and hopefully support the knee, some dogs with this problem can continue without the operation.

The operation itself is simple, but the recovery is difficult with a larger dog, I think with a sheltie it won't be too much of a problem, but you will need to make sure she doesn't use stairs, jump or run and play for approx 6 - 12 weeks, depending on how it is mending.  In fact don't let her on the stairs or jump on furniture now as it will make it worse.  You will need a vet that will talk you through the whole of the recovery period, the dos and don'ts.  Knee operations seem to be much more difficult to mend than say a hip replacement, so it is worth considering alternatives to the operation if at all possible.

My boy had 2 operations that didn't work and then the 3rd by a different specialist who put an external fixator on his leg for 12 weeks so that he was unable to bend it.

I would definitley get a referrel to an ortho vet for this if you haven't already.

Good luck with your girl.   

Have owned a dog that had both knees operated on before he was a year old and he made a complete recovery and did not suffer any more from joint pain in old age than any other dog I have owned and a good deal less than some.

Same as Nova.  I lost my girl last summer, shortly before her 17th birthday.  She had her first leg done at 11 months, and the second was done 6 weeks later. 

She could do a standing jump to my shoulder well into old age.  This was a Toy Poodle.

My 9 month old Flattie had one in his left knee that happened very suddenly and severly on the beach. he was referred to the surgeon who wanted to operate there and then but due to his age he hadn't enough cartilege inplace so they left him for another month until x-rays showed he did. It took weeks of post op rest and gradual easing back into exercise but we got there.
He now tears around the woods like he never had a thing wrong with him. Only downside is that we cannot show him now as this is classed as a surgery that has altered his natural confirmation and he is effectively banned by the KC.
I would recomend the surgery, from a specialist if you are insured or can afford it. The recuperation is slow and at times a trial with a pup but take it easy and hopefully things will work out.
Good Luck

Post op is so very important particularly if the tibial crest has been moved - 12 weeks cage and care with no sudden movement then a gradual return to normal exercise.

Hi  I know nothing about the knee but everyone else has covered that.

for transport you could get a doogie pushchair or look round charity shops for the old fashioned childs pushchair.

The id also the doggie ride pushchair/transporter.  they are cheap compaired to most and can be turned in a pushalong or attached to a bike.  They are comfy and airconditioned.  hope it helps.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who replied,it's nice to hear from other dog owners who have been through the same thing that I am going through at the moment,as you tend to feel you are unlucky and are on your own.Thank you all-what a brilliant forum this is!

My poor puppies  leg seems to be getting worse ,and the carprodyl do not seem to be working now so we will be taking her back to the vets tonight for another consultation!!I would have prefferred her to be a bit older if they say the op has got to be done soon,but it is awful to see her ,it breaks my heart to see her like this,please wish us luck!

thinking of you lolly, hoping your poor girl improves soon x

If you have to have it done now then do not worry too much, it does require application on your part working out how to keep the little lady quite and calm for a few weeks but the chances of it being successful is high. If the required operation is just to make the groove deeper then recovery will be simple but if they move the tibia crest then care is needed for about 12 weeks because it is just a sliver of bone that is moved and wired in place so care has to be taken not to dislodge it whilst it is bonding with the tibia at its new sight.

Good Luck. Mine had the full works and after his 6 week check up I was allowed to start gradually exercising him again. It seems a long slog but time does pass.
Just keep a close eye when someone comes to the door! Otis took advantage when friends called round about three weeks post op, he whizzed out the door and went tearing around the garden. We were lucky no damage was done but they do need watching!!

One of my Bulldogs had this op at 9 months old. It was a nightmare trying to keep her calm and still during her recovery but we managed it and have never looked back.

Hope your puppies doing better.  Please dont worry, the operation is simple.  A pain for the recovery after the op, but afterwards there is no stopping them!

How did the appointment go yesterday - any news.

Thanks everyone for your replies.We went to see the vet on monday -but we saw a locum vet who said she definately felt she would need surgery sooner than later.Our own vet is back next week so we will be seeing him and go from there as he will do the operation.i will send an update as things progress.At the moment unfortunately she is  lame,which is dreadful as we cannot take her for a walk,or play in the garden with balls etc,and she is too heavy to carry too far.We will have to think up some good mind/indoor games when she has it done.So even though i am dreading it I just want monday to come so we know whats what and when!

Hello -just an update,Ellie has definately got to have the op for patellar luxation and is booked in to have it done on 6th sept!-so please wish her luck!

lolly, our two legs and fours are wishing Ellie and all of you luck for the surgery and the time needed to heal up afterwards. Having come through six weeks of strict rest for one of mine (who was a model patient really), and keeping the other two calm so that he didn't open up his wound again bouncing about, I am just so thankful we're finally able to let everyone off lead for 'soft' runs. Hope it all goes well x

Thank you-i must say I am both wishing it was over and done with but dreading it all rolled into one,but thanks for the reply!!

My staff had the op 2 years ago and is having problems with her leg again. She is now on painkillers again and it is possible that the metal pin has either worked loose or buried deeper into the bone and this is what is causing her the pain.  The other option is arthritis but as her leg joint doesn't feel swollen it doesn't look like that just now.  There is definitely an increased risk of arthritis after surgery but as long as you stick to the advice given by your vet you should be able to minimise this to some extent.

The recovery time from the patella op I found quite difficult although my dog didn't want to move around much and she was happy lying on her bed with visitors trooping in to give her treats and cuddles.  the wound looked terrible but it didn't seem to bother her much and she never paid it any attention.  Once the stitches were out and the wound was beginning to heal I took her to the hydrotherapy pool to build her up again and this was done with the knowledge of the vets. 

Despite the op being a success and my girl being out of pain for a couple of years I found that she never put full weight on the leg that was operated on.  I have to cut the toenails on that foot a lot more than any of the others.

Good luck with the op and remember that dogs are very resilient and cope with more than we give them credit for.

Thank you -sorry to hear that your staffie is having problems again though!-will she have to have another op to rectifyy the problem?

I don't know yet.  We are due back at the vets next week to see how the painkillers are working and I have put her on cortaflex too but she will probably need an x-ray to see what the problem is and what treatment will be required.

I have got everything xed for your pup and I am sure everything will be fine.  It is amazing how quickly they get used to crate rest and chilling out.

Well-my poor girl had her op and came home yesterday-everything went fine ,so now its the recovery period of,6-12 weeks.Has anyone any ideas of how to keep her amused in this critical period?,especially now as she is bandaged completely up her thigh?

My girl didn't need to be kept amused as it must have been really sore for her so she just wanted to be left alone.  I would often sit with her but not touching her.  when visitors came in she just wanted left alone and after the initial pain wore off she was happy pottering about the garden.  Once the wound healed I took her swimming twice a week and that exhausted her.

Something like this?

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/dog-brick-interactive-dog-treats-game-by-nina-ottosson-13477

As I had other dogs I had to resort to caging my patient but as often as possible I would let him out and take him into a room on our own where I would encourage him to lay at my feet and I would sit and groom and stroke him for an hour. He spent the nights on our bedroom floor but that was because there were no stairs involved.

After about 4 weeks he was allowed into the company of my old boy who was gentle and they were accustomed to laying head to head  hitting one another round the head with their front feet - I always watched this interaction to make sure it did not get out of hand.

He was given stuffed kongs and thick hide chews and taken out into the yard on his own at least 8 times a day, accompanied. After 4 weeks I gradually increased the free periods and allowed him to be with me in the kitchen and anywhere else where I could exclude the others.

If he is your only dog then it is easier as you will only have to watch he does not try climbing or running, if he is like mine he will realise that it is more comfortable to take it easy for at least a couple of weeks and most dogs will relax if you spend time combing or stroking them - if you know how try the Tellington Touch.

thank you all for the replies -I will look up the Nina otteson toy.
Nova what is the tellington touch,is it a type of massage you can do yourself??

Yes, it is light movement to small circles and seems to relax the dog I would think you would find information on line so will look for you it does help in a situation like yours as not only do the dogs seem to derive benefit so do you it makes for a relaxing time together.

EDIT: unfortunately I can't find any description of how to do the actual system but would have thought that just doing gentle circular movements would help calm and relax anyway so give it a try. Make small circular movements with the tip of you middle finger, no more that 2 to 3 inches and move to a new area when you feel you should, most dogs will lay back and enjoy very quickly - to after the stitches are out avoid the leg that has been worked on but once it is healed you could work on the leg in the areas that are unshaven.

my Newfy pup had it diagnosed at 4 months and had the surgery straight away as he was 37 kilo's at 4 months which made him unable to walk - and us unable to carry.The specialist told us that the longer we waited the more muscle he would lose from not walking properly.Even today,5 and a half years on,his front legs are like a body builders and his back legs are not half as muscly

Well-It will be six weeks on Friday that Ellie will have had her op,and she will be having her check up to make sure everything has gone to plan-please keep your fingers crossed for her.