Luxating Patellas

[Kathy29]

Jemma is a 4 year old Chihuahua and has always had a little hint of luxating patellas even as a young pup. I used to feed her one of the Nutro formulas that contained glucosamine and chondroitin for joints.

Anyway, she's seen several vets about this health concern and they've all said that it's very minor, it's grade 1 and if it doesn't bug her, then surgery isn't needed. She does limp once in a while when walking really fast -- her back right leg lifts up, although it doesn't bug her and she isn't in pain.

Well, I've been wondering lately if there's anything I should be supplementing her diet with to prevent it from getting worse as she ages?

For a couple of years, she was on the raw diet but it didn't work out with us for several reasons and so now, due to allergies, she's on Natural Balance Venison + Brown Rice.

Any suggestions or advice?

Thanks for reading.

 

[Shalva]

My understanding is that you can do the glucosamine and chondroitan but that if they are going to get worse they will.... my understanding is that diet can not prevent them from getting worse or prevent them.

At four years old you can hope that if you can keep her from injuring it further that the ligaments won't stretch and allow it to luxate more easily. I would make sure she is in solid athletic condition as the muscle tone will help her keep the patellas in place and I would do my best to make sure she doesn't injure it further ....
good luck
luxating patellas suck.... a polygenic nasty that it is hard to clear for.....
good luck
s

 

[FoxyWench]

chihuahua? if its the dog in the siggy looks like a chi and unfortunatly the breed is highly prone.
id do a glucoasamine and chondroitin supliment to help the joints and avoid jumping.
Realy theres not much else you can do.

 

[Kathy29]

Thanks for your reply, Shalva!

chihuahua? if its the dog in the siggy looks like a chi and unfortunatly the breed is highly prone.
id do a glucoasamine and chondroitin supliment to help the joints and avoid jumping.
Realy theres not much else you can do.

Oops, should've indicated that she's a Chi. I just revised my original post to include that. Thanks!

Any recommendations as to which brand of supplements to use?

 

[Kathy29]

I was just reading up on this condition once again and came across this:

With advancing age, arthritic changes may take place in the joint resulting in pain for the dog.

If the surgery is performed before arthritis occurs, the prognosis is excellent. Your dog should regain full use of his leg. If arthritis has already occurred, your dog will experience pain in the joint, especially in cold weather.

Source: http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/kneecap.html

Like I mentioned, she isn't in any pain and vets have said that her luxating patellas are not that bad. But now I'm starting to worry because recently, a couple of my friends had to put their dogs down due to old age + bad arthritis.. and hearing that from them is just like a kick in the shins back to reality.

SHOULD surgery be considered an option at this point?

I'm worried.

PS - According to a chart I just saw, she should be considered grade 2 because she "occasionally carries a rear leg for two or three steps on occasion but then puts it back down as if nothing was wrong."

 

[showpug]

Find a glucosamine and chondroitan supplement that contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C is very important for joint health...

 

[Shalva]

my understanding is that the earlier you do the surgery the better with regard to ease of recovery and the odds of long term improvement while I don't have a toy breed we are seeing more of a problem with luxating patellas in flat coats and I know that a close friend of mine who is a flat coat breeder had a big problem with this in a litter she had a few years ago.... and my understanding was it was better to do the surgery than to wait ... but your best bet is to talk to an orthopaedic guy and get their opinion.

 

[Doberluv]

My little Chi, Jose has had the surgery in one knee. It came out of joint all the time and he was in pain. It hasn't held all that well. It was good for a year or two and then I could feel it wiggle out sometimes. It's not too bad now but occassionallywill slip. The other knee is minor. I agree that ample exercise is a good idea to keep the ligaments and muscles around the joint strong and supporting as long as he's not having a bad day. I think too, that it is a judgement call or a balancing act. You don't want it to get so bad that the joint becomes terribly inflamed or calcified, but on the other hand, surgery shouldn't be done if it's not bothering him too much. That's my feeling. But it would be good to go get a couple of opinions on it....maybe see an orthopedic vet. Hope things will work out OK and he won't have too much trouble. The surgery is NOT fun for the first day or two afterward...lots of pain for the poor babies.

Suppliments are fine and good for joints, but they won't change the shape of the cup-like part of the ball and socket.