Hi, missy is now 8 weeks on from her luxating patella op and can now run about and trot about fine but still limps and raises her leg when she first gets up.  she also won't jump up onto the bed and is very hesitant about going into the car.  According to the vet the healing time is 8 weeks so I would have expected her to be fine by now (I am very impatient!).  When she went to the vets in the first few weeks after the op he was extremely pleased with her progress but progress appears to have halted.  She also often sits at a funny angle when she goes for a pee, like she can't get into a comfy squat.  Does anyone have experience of post-op patella ops.  I am reluctant to go back to the vets as although he is lovely I do feel very neurotic when I go.

she also won't jump up onto the bed and is very hesitant about going into the car.  According to the vet the healing time is 8 weeks so I would have expected her to be fine by now (I am very impatient!).

If you want this to heal properly you have to be PATIENT for your dogs sake, don't even think about yourself here. Yes, 8 weeks is probaly the time it takes for the wound to heal externally, but for at least 3 months your dog should NOT be jumping onto the bed, (at least she knows) and jumping in and out of the car.  For this bone to mend it will take time.  Try to keep her on lead walks only, no stairs, and NO jumping.  Otherwise she will end up going back in for it to be redone.

I cannot stress how important the above is.  Been there, done it and got the t shirt!

Thanks for your response perry.  When I say jumping in the car I have the seats folded up so she only has to jump about 8-10" yet the sofa is higher and she goes on that no problems.  I am going to start her back at the hydrotherapy next week so hopefully that will strengthen her leg a bit and stop her relying on the good leg.  Your response is reassuring perry as I was wondering whether there was a problem with the healing as she wasn't fully recovered yet.

Sounds to me as if she has been doing too much and I would be very careful.  Has the vet suggested hydrotherapy yet?  If not you should ask as although it will build up her muscles it shouldn't be done too soon.

Don't let her jump on the sofa either, any jumping up or down can harm the bone before it is fully mended and it will not be mended yet there hasn't been enough time.  Did you see a specialist for the op?  Don't worry about asking all the questions you need to the vet that is what he/she is there for and remember you are paying them.

The operation itself is simple, it is the recovery that the problems seem to occur.  I cannot stress enough that you shouldn't allow her to jump on or off anything, no free running and only short lead walks, a few short lead walks a day is better than one long walk.

If you have any doubts about healing as only you will know if she has improved or not, if not then get her seen right away, and if you are not happy with what the vet says, then get a second opinion.

Good luck with her and if you need more info you can pm me.

Thanks, he said the last time I saw him (6 weeks ago) that he was really pleased how she was healing and that I had to start with 10min walks and build up from there.  I don't let her play with other dogs but she has been out for walks of about 40 mins now and is starting to go out with the dog walker again.  I will cut it back a bit now and will get a vet appt to check out my concerns.  thanks for the advice.

Totally agree with Perry. Even if the vet has said the recovery time is 8wks , that isnt a long time to be fully right after what is a major Operation.
Did your vet do the op or a specialist?

Must admit ive done a lot of research into Patella Op's and they are not always a success, my best friends pup had a grade 2 at 12months old and she was talked into having the Op by her vet, at the last minute she changed her mind and the pup is now 3 yrs old and is fine, no limping or anything.
I know it would depend on what grade the patella is but I still think vets are too quick to jump in before trying other conservative methods firstly.

Sure youre girl will be ok in time, just take things very slow and Hydrotherapy is excellent.
I would say after a patella Op you dont want them jumping AT ALL , not even well after the recovery period. Why tempt fate and in my opinion there will always be a weakness there.

By the way how is Stanyer getting on with Del on this board? Is he ok now ?

Leonie

Must say I gave my dog 4 months before I allowed totally free exercise, also seem to remember that it was about 12 months before you would be unaware that he had been lame and operated on. Mind you there are different types of op for this condition.

thanks, she had the groove deepened and a piece of the bone moved and pinned but it is reassuring that she shouldn't be back at full fitness in 8 weeks.

My girl wasn't allowed to jump on the sofa for well over 3 months, and her squatting has never been exactly square on, if that makes sense (she doesn't pee straight!)  But at 16 years old, her pins still show up extremely well on X-rays!  She can jump still, so safe to say I was pleased with the op, but I honestly feel that recuperation time is longer than they say.  Certainly don't agree that my girl was anywhere near full fitness in 8 weeks - gross exaggeration.

thanks Jean, that's very reassuring.  We are going to swimming tomorrow for an assessment but will be taking things slowly.

My flat coat retriever had his op age 10 months at a specialist centre following referral by local vet.- He had troc' deepening/insertion transfer and antirotation suture.  We were very careful post op - used halti type lead/strict 6 week crate rest then gradual exercise, no jumping and no play with other dogs. 3 months of coping but we did it.
oh we never had a dog before! Did our homework on the breed and checked for eye and hip genetics...no test or reporting of knee problems. First litter of bitch.- we were unlucky with puppy with diagnosis of patella luxation.... but we love him to bits! Interestingly I am a physio and noticed the problem with his patella subluxing in...and 'guided' the vet to diagnosis! It can be difficult to diagnose if it is intermittent.
He now 5 months on and is running very well, jumping and has discovered swimming and wants to grow gills. He is slightly one side dominant when gallops but he has good power. Just have to be careful with grooming over the wire..bit tender.
Training has been a big set back and we we had his 'crown jewels' done last month. He still loves the vet and nurses!!
Good luck with swimming- it will help get good quads strength back. Do you have a small dog?

Has anyone else got a flatty with this problem. Do you use a special 'joint ' diet?

I did the same - pup from hip and eye tested lines and ended up with a flattie with patellar luxation. :-(

Did you look for advice from the Flat coat society and were told you causes can be "overexercised, wrong diet, jumping up " etc We did all the right things with jasper as a puppy but felt let down by the whole breeding situation in this country. Surly someone down the female line knew that they had a inherited problem. I do not think it is the breeders fault at all. But we felt we needed to inform her to protect other potential puppy owners. I think the RSPCA has a point.
Hows your flatty doing?

I didn't ask advice from the FCRS - but what came back from the breeder was 'he must have been hit by a car'. And yes I am sure that he had not - and causes were not wrong diet etc. What lines is your pup from if you don't mind me asking? PM me if you prefer. :-)

My lad had 3 ops in the end - first 2 failed - and ended up with quite nasty arthritis :-( but copes fairly well on his meds. :-)

> Do you have a small dog?

I have a staffy and she did really well at the swimming and was using both legs but swimming from the hip rather than kicking from the knee on her left leg.  We are going to go once a week for a while and see if it helps.

Even though you say she is swimming from her hip it will be building up the muscles which in turn will help support her knee.
Just don't overdo other exercise and good luck to your girl.