Hi everyone
took my staff back to the vets today after 2 operations for a luxating patella(both on same leg).I was quietly optimistic since he seemed a bit happier in himself.However the vet says the joint is swollen and unstable.He has given Archer(the staffs name-I just borrow it for the board) 3 weeks and then the only option is another operation!!The vet says there is a less than 50% chance of it sorting itself out.I'm so upset-the vet says he's still in pain but he's not showing it so thats why I thourght he was getting better.
My question is-would you put your dog through a third major operation if he needed it!! or do I face doing the unthinkable-he's only 3 years old.
Archer

If it was my dog I'd insist on seeing a specialist and getting their opinion. I wouldn't allow a general vet to operate for a third time when their previous two attempts had failed.

If this is a specialist vet that done the surgery then I'd be thinking about removing the leg, not attempting the surgery again. If amputation wasn't an option then I'd be seriously thinking about saying goodbye :(

It's a really awful situation but I wouldn't want to keep putting my dog under a GA in the hope that this time the surgery might be more successful. Do you know why the surgery has failed and what they'd be doing differently this time? There's no way I'd let them repeat exactly the same operation without making any changes.

I really hope it doesn't come to it, but it may well be that the kindest thing would be to say good bye and not put Archer through any more surgery.

Fingers crossed for the next three weeks,

Fiona
x x x

Hi Fiona
thanks for your reply.The first op was done by a specialist who seemed totally uninterested in Archer after he had my money and so I got a second opinion from another specialist .He operated and found the first op had caused a ulcer on the joint along with other problems.
He is a wonderful vet and I trust him 100%-he has offered to operate a third time and to not charge more than I have left on insurance(which isn't alot since its already cost over £2000) saying hes started the job and he'll see it through.
I don't think the amputation is an option since I was told that his other knee is not 100% but obviously I would have it checked before having him pts.
many thanks Archer

Archer,
What a terrible situation for you and poor Archer(dog), if you have real faith in present vet and he holds out any hope at all I think I would be inclined to go for it. I was in a similar situation a year ago with my neardie Braid but sadly I had to make the hard decision to have him pts as the vet an orhopaedic specialist said that he saw very little hope of a good result plus he felt that the restrictions that would be imposed during the recovery period would prossibly change his nature. I now have great faith in this man as I feel he could easily have advised me to try an operation as if it had gone wrong I would never have known it would have been unlikely to. I think if I he had given me any real hope of recovery I would have given Braid the chance.
Have a think, talk to people you trust and when you make decision you feel is right don't EVER feel what you did was wrong you obviously love your dog and want to do what is best
I will be thinking about you both,keep in touch
Anne

sorry can't offer any advice, only you can decide,what ever you decide my thoughts are with you both, regards tina

Hi Archer
I really feel for you, it's an awful situation to be in.

My dog also has patella luxation and, because the specialist told us at the outset that surgery would only offer a 50-60% chance of correcting it, we took the decision not to go ahead.

Although it seems that your second vet is much better than the first and I can understand his wish to want to 'see it through', it is still you and your dog who have to cope with the surgery and the rehabilitation. How did you both manage after the first two ops ? Do you think you could do it all a third time ?
There is a very good Yahoo group which offers support and advice for owners whose dogs have orthopaedic problems. Let me know if you'd like details.

Best wishes
Joyce

HI i am very sorry to hear about your poor staffie. i also have a staffie who was diognosed with slipping patella in dec 2001 at only 19 months old he was referred to a specialised where i was told on a scale of 1-4 it was only at one so an operation would not be needed although i had been told by my own vet he would need operating on i was told to rest him for 10 days and then see how he was. after ten 10days i started to exersise him again and he began to limp on his good leg i took him back again and was told he was transvering all his weight on his good leg which is why he was lame. he has never limped on the bad knee since it is only his good leg which i am told there is nothing wrong with. he was on cortiflex for a few months and this made a huge difference in him altough through all of this he never once showed he was in pain tipical staffie! does your dog have to have this 3rd operation? you are very brave going through all this which specialised did you go and see?

Hi Madstaff
yes he will have to have a third op if he is still lame in 3 weeks.He is in pain and as soon as he uses the leg the knee is threatening to dislocate(even at the walk).He was (pre surgery) a VERY fit and energetic dog and loved nothing more than to run for ages like a total loony.We have decided that if full fitness cannot be obtained by surgery then leaving him with restricted mobility is not an option.
My biggest problem is going to be telling my 9 year old daughter who is his constant companion.I came in from the kitchen last week to find she had unfolded his duvet and she and Archer were laying wrapped in it while she read him a story!!The sight of a 28Kg staff and my little girl(who weighs less than him) cuddled up together was a sight to see.She feeds him ,walks him ,gives him his medication and even watches TV with her.She is hearing impaired and her understanding of language is poor-she will not understand-it will break her heart.
Many thanks Archer

Archer, Just a question

You say your staff weighs 28kg. I would have thought that rather a lot for a staff.

My breed at around 20inches at the shoulder, are stockily built and weigh in at 20kg for a bitch and 23kg for a dog. usually less than this.

Keeping him on the lean side will greatly help with his mobility/recovery.

I do hope things turn out positively :D

Hi Archer
im afraid i have to agree with Brainless, that if your dog does weigh 28 kg thern he is immensly overweight and wouldnt be being helped by that at all
the standard states weight for a fully grown stafford is 39Ibs for a dog and 29Ibs for a bitch
and by my reckoning, 28kgs is just over 60Ibs

cut back his feeding seeing as he cant get the excercise he should have

not having to put that much weight on his leg will help a great deal

hope all goes well

Z

Hi Ziggar
Pls beleive me he is not overweight-that is one of my pet hates.I'm more than happy to E-mail privately a pic to anyone interested and I know this is his correct weight-we weighed him at the vets on wed.I also know what a typical staff should weigh-but he is not typical.
If you go to www.homerescue.org and look at the 'dog withthe waggiest tail' video you will see him-you can't miss him!!!

Hi Brainless
Hes very lean and fit(apart from leg)but is 20 in tall-not exactly show standard!!LOL.Theres not an ounce of spare flesh on him-he can eat well and doesn't put on weight(wish I could say the same).Hes a poorly bred dog but was a sob story(mother rejected him at birth).We think hes a bit'slow' mentally but is just the most wonderful pet pooch in the world!!!
Archer

hi my staffie weighs 20kg and he is not fat how tall is your staff? another thing that i belive has helped george as he was unable to be exercised for about 4 months is swimming at a hydrotherapy pool have you asked your vet about this? it has tightend the muscles round his knee which i belive if it wasnt for this he would of needed the op. i hope everything goes well when my dog was diognosed i was very upset as you know staffies love to run round and go mad it is alfull when they cant do this.

Hi Madstaff
following vets exercise instructions to the letter-have discussed Hydrotherapy for the future but he said not yet
Archer

please let us know how he gets on at his next visit to the vet. hope everything turns out well.