My 8 month old Yorkie bitch, Summer, fell off my mum's window sill (only about 2 ft.) and her back right leg went limp. At first we thought she had broken her leg, but the vet said she has a luxating patella and would have suffered from this anyway, even without the fall. Apparently it is quite common in Yorkshire Terriers. We have had a quote for over £400 to operate on it (we are insured so the money isn't an issue), but I don't want her operated on unnecessarily. I just wondered if anyone elses dog has had a luxating patella and if the operation was successful. She doesn't limp all the time, in fact she runs about as normal most of the time, it's just now and again it will go and she'll limp about until we rub her knee, then it's OK again!

At only 8 months old I wondered if we should wait for her bones and muscles to stop growing, or would we be doing more harm than good by waiting? We have asked the vet all these questions, but I would rather hear from anyone who has had experience themselves with this condition.

Thank you in advance.

I have never owned 1 but do no people who have had it done and dogs where great, also peoople have left it without any major probs other than when the dog runs sometimes its a hop skip n jump action till it pops back into place.
Its very common in mini short legged breeds, I would probs wait till she is 12 months then reassess as long as there is no sign of muscle wastage or obvious discomfort. She probs wont grow much bigger now but u never know that extra milimeter might make a difference

Thanks for that advice, gesic

Today she hasn't limped at all, but then she hasn't jumped off the furniture today so that is probably why!

She doesn't seem to be in any pain with it, even when it goes out and is all floppy she doesn't cry or anything. I just don't want to leave it and she goes lame, but the vet more or less just left us to decide, which doesn't really help us to make a decision. This is the first time we've owned a dog and we love her dearly, we just want to do what is best for her and don't want her to undergo an operation unnecessarily if the condition is going to right itself without surgery.

If anyone has anything further they could add about this, I would be very interested to hear your views.

Thanking you in advance

one point would be that you will have to have it done before your insurance renewal comes up as it will be excluded at that time.
I would take the vets advice, he knows the success rate and also what happens if you leave the dog as it is. There are plenty of dogs that hop around with luxating patellas without it affecting them but it does sound like your dog is quite severe.