Luxating Patella in cats - operation

gettingready

Thanks - just came back from the vet, George had blood and urine test, they will call me with the results later on today - hope there is nothing wrong with his kidneys

rising_from_the_ashes

Just catching up on George's progress - he actually looks pretty contented in the crate (much better than Mia was), poor soul.

It's funny as I got my vet to post me medical histories for both my cats last week (insurances due for renewal and want to have a hunt around - don't want to risk missing something in case it invalidates the policy) and when reading back through Mia's "knee incident" it was put down as luxating patella but thankfully seems to have healed fine (though she is a bit limited in movement).

Fingers crossed for the blood tests - just wondering if he's maybe holding it in and then going for one very big wee (rather than several shorter ones) if it's a bit uncomfortable for him to "get into position".

gettingready

Rising - did Mia have an op?

rising_from_the_ashes

No - they suggested cage rest for 6 weeks and thankfully it seemed to have healed enough for her not to need one.

She did "aggrivate" it about 6 months later - and another 6 weeks in the cage:eek: and they did talk about an op maybe being needed but again luckily the cage rest seemed to do the trick.

I'm not sure if it was because she was so young (only around 3 months when she 1st did it).

She's not "supposed" to climb or jump from heights (how on earth you're supposed to enforce that I've no idea;)).

I've got a field at the back of my garden and they were always climbing over the fence to get into it (6 ft) so I've cut a "cat flap" through which they both use. However, she is still a bit of a nightmare for climbing up the other side of the fence, and getting stuck on the garage roof so I have to rescue her a lot (rather do this than have her jump down).

She's a bit light on brain cells often gets tangled in the ivy/clematis up the fence (silly mare) so does need rescuing fairly often:) (Archie's much more intelligent and never gets stuck anywhere) so she's not allowed to stay out when I'm not home - just in case:D.

Luckily it doesn't seem to bother her on a day to day basis and she tends to wander out for about 1/2 an hour in the morning and comes in herself before I head off to work.

There are some lasting effects though she can't run for very long so doesn't get a huge amount of exercise (compared to Archie) so she's def on the podgy side. It's really hard to get it off as she can't exercise more or the knee does start to bother her - I can tell if she's done too much as she limps a bit ...:(

gettingready

I do feel I may have been pushed into George having the op really as he is just over a year old - but it is done now, hopefully this wil be sorted for good.

George is like Mia - he is a climber and generally likes to be out all day so to see him in the cage for so long is heart breaking but he seems to be ok.

Zara needs a similar op too and I am dreading it - I am on the first floor, she will need hip op on both back legs and how on earth am I going to deal with that? Can not get Zara to use a cat litter box.....

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhh flip - that's going to be really difficult to manage. I know a few people who's dogs have needed it and it's a case of a short walk to the garden (with a towel supporting the back end) for "business" .....

gettingready

yup - provided someone is on a ground floor and has a garden

Waterfalls

Luxating patellas do not heal on there own. the only answer is surgery. it will all be worth it when its over. keep up the good work

gettingready

Thanks - he will ned an op for his other leg too but want to give him a break between... he misses going out poor thing

gettingready

Just spoke to George's vet, his blood/urine results were back, no kidney issues ufffff what a relief.

So now just waiting for his poor leg to heal...