We got our questions answered from the vet... for those who were wondering about the severity, and whatnot.
Mia's right leg is at Grade III, and her left leg is a grade I.
I'll use a quote to explain to those who are wondering
It's been strongly recommended that Mia get the surgery done, at least on the right leg, by the end of the year to prevent it from becoming worse, and to relieve her from her pain. I'm pretty sure Amanda has decided that she'll have them both done at the same time instead of having to put her under and have it done twice. (we're getting funds together - waiting on tax refunds as well, may have to go with the payment plan)
on the bright side, she is doing better on the medication She seems happier, so we're very hopeful on what the surgery will do for her when we can get it done asap. She goes back in a couple of weeks to do bloodwork & such
Mia's right leg is at Grade III, and her left leg is a grade I.
I'll use a quote to explain to those who are wondering
Grade I - the patella can be manually luxated but is reduced (returns to the normal position) when released;
Grade II - the patella can be manually luxated or it can spontaneously luxate with flexion of the stifle joint. The patella remains luxated until it is manually reduced or when the animal extends the joint and derotates the tibia in the opposite direction of luxation;
Grade III - the patella remains luxated most of the time but can be manually reduced with the stifle joint in extension. Flexion and extension of the stifle results in reluxation of the patella;
Grade IV - the patella is permanently luxated and cannot be manually repositioned. There may be up to 90¼ of rotation of the proximal tibial plateau. The femoral trochlear groove is shallow or absent, and there is displacement of the quadriceps muscle group in the direction of luxation.
Grades II, III and IV require surgery to correct, if the animal has difficulty walking. The surgery required is governed by the type of abnormality present, but often involves a sulcoplasty, a deepening of the trochlear sulcus that the patella sits in, a re-alignment of the attachment of the patella tendon on the tibia, and tightening/releasing of the capsule either side of the patella, according to which side the patella is slipping. Some Grade IV conditions may require more involved surgery to realign the femur and/or tibia.
Grade II - the patella can be manually luxated or it can spontaneously luxate with flexion of the stifle joint. The patella remains luxated until it is manually reduced or when the animal extends the joint and derotates the tibia in the opposite direction of luxation;
Grade III - the patella remains luxated most of the time but can be manually reduced with the stifle joint in extension. Flexion and extension of the stifle results in reluxation of the patella;
Grade IV - the patella is permanently luxated and cannot be manually repositioned. There may be up to 90¼ of rotation of the proximal tibial plateau. The femoral trochlear groove is shallow or absent, and there is displacement of the quadriceps muscle group in the direction of luxation.
Grades II, III and IV require surgery to correct, if the animal has difficulty walking. The surgery required is governed by the type of abnormality present, but often involves a sulcoplasty, a deepening of the trochlear sulcus that the patella sits in, a re-alignment of the attachment of the patella tendon on the tibia, and tightening/releasing of the capsule either side of the patella, according to which side the patella is slipping. Some Grade IV conditions may require more involved surgery to realign the femur and/or tibia.
on the bright side, she is doing better on the medication She seems happier, so we're very hopeful on what the surgery will do for her when we can get it done asap. She goes back in a couple of weeks to do bloodwork & such