| Have you noticed your Yorkie Terrier limping? If your | | | | for someone who actually loves animals and shows |
| Yorkie just recently jumped from a chair or maybe off | | | | caring and compassion. Finally, I found one in January |
| of the bed, that could be the reason for the limp. | | | | 2007, when my Yorkie had an emergency on a |
| Hopefully, the injury is not severe. Check carefully that | | | | Sunday. The point here is that all vets are not created |
| there is nothing stuck between his toes or onto his | | | | equal. If your Yorkie seems to be bothered by any |
| pads--you should be able to quickly tell if you need to | | | | conditions that need veterinary help, please be sure |
| seek a veterinarians assistance. | | | | you listen carefully and observe how the vet and the |
| If none of the above seem to be the problem, does | | | | assistants treat your pet. If you are the least bit |
| your Yorkie have a condition known as Luxating | | | | uncomfortable with anything regarding the care of |
| Patella--meaning his back leg kneecaps dislocate or | | | | your Yorkie, keep looking for another vet. |
| slip? This happens because the groove in the femur | | | | It is commonly thought that luxating patella can lead to |
| needs to be deeper. The treatment for this condition is | | | | arthritis if not surgically repaired. That may be true, as |
| surgery to deepen the grove. | | | | in the last 2 months of his life, my Yorkie would lose his |
| This condition is usually hereditary. A Yorkie can have | | | | balance, as his back leg did not really support him |
| badly slipping kneecaps and not show any signs of | | | | anymore and then he would fall over, which would |
| pain or discomfort when he is jumping, walking, playing | | | | eventually lead to him screaming in pain. He would be |
| or running. My first Yorkie had this condition when I got | | | | on his side, very stiff, when I would rush to pick him up. |
| him. My vet said to wait and see how he got along | | | | Then the pain would subside and he was "normal" |
| before having surgery. He was four months old then | | | | again. This happened a couple of times during the |
| and did not seem to be troubled by it or uncomfortable. | | | | night--you can imagine the heart stopping panic that I |
| He ran, jumped and played all the time. He could jump | | | | felt as I was awakened by his screaming. I was so |
| straight up, about 3 feet, and land on his back legs. I | | | | scared for him and did not know how to help him. Of |
| always wondered how he could do that and have | | | | course, I asked the vet about this and she said it was |
| slipping kneecaps, as his legs always supported him | | | | arthritis and there was nothing she could do. At his age |
| when he was jumping. | | | | she felt surgery was out of the question. |
| Periodically, his knee would slip out and he would be | | | | If your Yorkie or any other dog is dealing with this |
| able to straighten it out himself, if not, I could gently | | | | condition, you have to consider what the best course |
| move it back into place. As the years went by, he | | | | of action is for your pet. Educate yourself about |
| seemed to be troubled by it less and less. He was 13 1 | | | | Yorkie health problems. Search the Internet, go to |
| 2 years old by now. Then one day he got up and | | | | bookstores and find the veterinary books on dogs. |
| continued to hold his back leg up--he was lame. I | | | | This way you will understand some of the things your |
| watched him carefully. He couldn't come up the stairs | | | | dog may be facing. You need to clearly understand |
| anymore. Otherwise, he continued on as normal. | | | | what your vet is saying to you about treatments. So |
| Eventually, he was able to put his leg down and | | | | many health problems today in our pets are genetic. |
| support himself again. But, there was no more running | | | | Breeders need to pay close attention to how they are |
| and jumping. | | | | breeding and stop over breeding. Maybe someday |
| During his lifetime, he had 6 different veterinarians and | | | | these wonderful little dogs will not be troubled anymore |
| none of them ever suggested surgery to treat his | | | | by slipping kneecaps. |
| slipping kneecap. I took him to different vets, searching | | | | |