Pugsley and his knees

This poor child of mine has not won the genetic sweepstakes. Luckily he has the sweetest nature.
And go get something to drink... I've written a book.

He suffers from very severe Luxating Patellashere's the Wikipedia explanation
His is due to bad genes. He also has very shallow shoulder sockets, that nothing can be done for, but his hips are good!

Background up to now: In mid January I noticed that his back legs looked very strange when he walked. So I started monitoring him as he's just a puppy and they do sometimes look odd only to outgrow it in a few days. After 2 weeks I booked him in at the vet as there was no change and Google had me worried. My worst suspicions were confirmed and he was diagnosed with Luxating patellas. My vet said he had never before seen a puppy with such bad knees.

The left leg was terrible. His knee cap was positioned above the knee on the outside of the leg and the ligaments were causing his femur to grow with a bend. It looked like a rubber bone on the x-rays.
The right leg was a bit better but the knee cap was slipping in and out to both sides without any effort. The only option was surgery. So the 13th of Feb I had his left leg fixed up and Wednesday now, he had the right knee fixed. I had him castrated as well so it's not another surgery in a few weeks. Poor dog!

To sum up: The difference with both legs was apparent immediately. Both legs are straight and not bending in impossible ways. We were not sure about the necessity of having the right knee done but as he is a crazy-ass jumper, and is allowed on the furniture and beds, it's better to do it before he injures himself.
He had allergic reactions to the antibiotics both times and was all swollen up and puffy when I visited after the ops.
Today he's here at work with me lounging in his crate, that has to be on a stool next to me. His separation anxiety issue has rocketed a bit with the operations and stay overs at hospital.

It amazes me what they can do for our furbabies (although it's cost me a deposit on a small car). With the right knee they had to cut and move ligaments, make grooves in the bones to fit the knee cap in and pin it, move the crest thingy and regraft it and did all sorts of magic to help the femur straighten.
Luckily for the femur Pugsley still young and growing. Now that the knee is fixed and the pressure from the ligaments have eased there's been a marked change already. It's not straight yet but much better.

Wednesday





This shows the difference a day and some hot/cold compress treatments can do





Looking like Pugsley and happy to be home

Oh, poor Pugsley...

Thankfully, you're right; vets can do wonders these days! I know people complain about their prices, but let's face it - you can't put a price of our pets' lives and comfort.

I'm really glad that Pugsley has found himself a responsible, caring, attentive owner who noticed the problem early so that it could be treated. Give him loads of snuggles from me! I wish him a very speedy recovery!

Having just gone through a knee replacement op myself, I particularly feel for little Pugsley. Bless him, he looks in better shape than me!

You did the right thing by your dog Theresa, it's horrible trying to get about with wonky knees.

As for the cost - these things are expensive. If it wasn't for good old NHS I couldn't have afforded it for myself!

Poor fella!

The before & after pics of the wound are amazing - what a difference.

Caryll wrote:
The before & after pics of the wound are amazing - what a difference.

I agree, you couldn't wish to see a more perfectly healing wound than the second pic.

Awwwwwww he is simply adorable. What a lucky dog to have found you

Poor little guy. My knees were aching reading that. The difference in one day to the wound is amazing x

How quickly dogs bounce back is amazing. He escaped my eagle eye yesterday and was running   in the garden! 5 days after surgery and he wants to run!

 

Naughty boy! But at least it shows he's feeling better!

Yes ... by giving his mum a heart attack. I told the vet we might have to lobotomize him   

Typical male!

"You can't do that!"

"Yes I caaaaaaaaaan!"