Tilly has been diagnosed with a luxating patella. It is popping in and out all the time, literally 10/20 times a day, causing a yelp followed by a three legged walk to bed where she stays for a time then it seems ok after a while.
The vet has given anti inflammatories and we are monitoring it but as it's happening quite a lot surgery has been mentioned.
Are there any other options apart from surgery? It's a long shot but I just thought I'd ask. Thank you x
Luxating patellas are graded 1/4, 4 being the worse. Grades 3 and 4 always need surgery, grade 2 can sometimes be debateable as it can cause arthiritic changes and problems later so is often advised.
Grade one pops in and out itself and this type you can often get away without surgery, and its not often needed. Did he say what grade it is they usually can tell when they manipulate the knee out of place and depending on what it does when they let go, although the worse grades if I remember rightly are out of place all the time.
It sounds like if its popping in and out it may be a lower grade but if its doing it so frequently and is obviously painful if she yelps and limps its sounds like she could be bordering on a grade 2 if not one already. As its a malformation with the knee joint then the only way is im afraid corrective surgery as far as I know. It does sound likely it is possibly going to get worse and do it more and more and if there is going to be pain and arthritis setting in later it does need doing.
If you have any doubts and especially if insured and you havent already you could ask for a refferal to an orthopaedic specialist for a second opinion.
