Shiba Knee Surgery

Keydapup

Ever since we got our puppy she has had a limp. We took Keyda to the vet and they told us her knee was swollen. The problem is when you touch the knee and hip she does not whine or act annoyed at all. She runs on it and never wimpers, but after a while she does not put weight on it. The vet told us she needs surgery, and gave us very hard pain medicine even though she does act like she is in pain.

After looking up recommendations online we noticed a lot of shiba owners passionately suggesting not to go through with the surgery due to future problems. We found information on different supplements to give her for the swelling and they said it should fix itself since she is so young. We rescued her from a family who seemed to neglect her. They told us they had stepped on the leg and not to worry about it, now i belive rhey did not want to fix it and just sold her.

What do you guys suggest???

INU RYUU

What was the diagnosis? Hard to comment without knowing what type of surgery was recommended.

犬竜

Keydapup

The diagnosis was a swollen joint and a misplaced knee cap.

notoriousscrat

So are we talking surgery for luxating patella here? Because, if so, I would do it as soon as your vet thinks it's a good idea. Time without that surgery causes arthritis later in life. The longer you wait, the more arthritis you see. In the meantime, try and keep her from taking too many sharp turns, etc, as that can aggravate it.

If your vet is already recommending surgery and she's still a puppy, then there's no way the knee cap will fix itself. True luxating patella (where the knee cap actually slips out, not where it's "loose" and wobbles in the socket a bit while they're still a puppy) never fixes itself.

Here are some other threads on luxating patella and the surgery:
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/3096
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/3401
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/5798
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/6999
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/7161
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/7185

http://obeytheshiba.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/OBEYZIM
http://packlove.com/zim

lindsayt

I would take your Vet advice (a second opinion with another Vet is always a good idea).

"Common sense isn't so common"

photo c5d87957-61b6-48af-a440-4187cbfc861b_zps88ccdf88.jpg

shibamistress · Post edited by shibamistress at 2013-05-16 13:32:38

If it's luxating patella (check the links above) you're going to have to do the surgery sooner or later or you'll have worse problems--a torn anterior cruciate ligament or a torn medial cruciate ligament caused by the stress on the ligament from the knee slipping back and forth. Then you simply have a more expensive surgery with an even longer recovery time.

Been there, done that. I'm NOT doing the surgery on one of my Shibas (mill dog) because we already did it on one leg, and because she has too many other serious health issues to justify yet another several thousand dollar surgery. I am quite aware, though, that this means she will likely be euthanized early that normal because of the leg. (Her medial cruciate has already gone out). We're only not doing it because I don't expect that she will live a normal life span anyway given her other issues (epilepsy, kidney and liver problems, etc).

But otherwise? I'd do it. (you can get away with not doing the surgery for a cruciate tear sometimes, but not if it is is coupled with lp).

Get another vet opinion.

Lisa and Toby (Shiba), Oskar and Zora (American Akitas) and Leo (Kai Ken)
From the House of the Fox Dogs blog
Why it's Not About Dominance
Bel's thread: the story of a puppy mill Shiba's life

Keydapup

Wow! thank you everyone :) this is very helpful. Much Appreciated!

Calia

When it comes to surgeries, young pups have a way better recover rate than older dogs. Often, pups will recover fully and not show any lasting side effects of the surgery. the older the dog. the greater the chances that there would be surgical side effects such as loss of mobility and still a potential for arthritis. Getting a second opinion could resolve any fears you may have, but if surgery winds up being a must, better to get it done sooner than later.

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