Well, dang it! off to the vet....

[Knucklehead]

K.O. all by himself, going down the stairs, hurt his right rear paw. He yelped real loud and then whimpered. He was holding his right leg up in the air with his toes curled into a closed position when I got to him. I checked it out really well and the only thing I can see is the second digit in from the right is not straight, when I compare it to the left side. No blood, no swelling that I can detect. Broken toe? popped out of joint? I don't know.... He can walk tenderly on it but clearly favors that paw. Anyone seen this before?

[SuzyQsmom]

I've not had it happen to me, but I suppose it could be a broken toe. If so, I don't imagine there is much they can do, just like a person breaking a toe. You just have to tough it out. Hopefully maybe he just pulled something.

[sasasola]

Yes hopefully he just pulled or dislocated something! Poor K.O.!

[boxerlove84]

Poor K.O.! I hope it's nothing too serious. Keep us updated!

Smooches from Maggie, Gabby, and Benjamin!


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[Laneysmom]

Poor guy, I hope it is nothing serious! Keep us posted...

[Knucklehead]

Well, not a great outcome. Dr. Lewis saw him and after focusing on his toes and paw, found nothing out of place. She then expanded the search and found the problem....

It's a medial luxating patella of the right leg. Basically his right kneecap can too easily pop out of position to the inside (medial) and it is very painful. Dr. Lewis explained that she should not been able to move it in the position she did, if everything was normal. There are four grades of this problem.... 0 is normal, then grade 1, 2 & 3. K.O.'s is grade 1 right now. His left patella is fine, so he is not bilateral.

They gave K.O. a shot of Vetalog (triamcinolone acetonide) anti-inflammatory and suggested rest and no running or jumping for a week. I also got a bottle of Glyco-Flex III joint supplement from them. They want to see how he does in the short term. Dr. Lewis said that this is unusual problem for a dog his size, they see it frequently in small dogs. If K.O. gets better on his own, that is the best outcome. He will dictate what needs to be done. If it does get worse, even with rest and supplements, he will need surgery to fix it. The surgery adjusts some bone and includes relocating a ligament or ligaments to prevent the displacement of the patella. Estimated surgery cost is between $1500 and $2000.

By the way, his heart, lungs, ears and everything else, look and sound great! Dr. Lewis also commented on what fine physical condition he is in and that for a Boxer, he is more muscular than all the other Boxers they see at this clinic. K.O.'s weight today was between 84 and 85 lbs.

[Gypsiemouse]

Hope K.O. heals up with rest

[boxerlove84]

Poor guy! I hope it gets better and stays under control without him needing surgery.


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[Georgiapeach]

Poor guy! My minipoodle (he'll be 5 soon) has luxating patellas in both hind legs; grade 3.5 in one, and grade 4 in the other (my vet said that it's graded from 0-4). This should make him quite lame and needing surgery, but so far, so good. I keep him lean (excess weight aggravates it a lot), he gets a fish oil capsule daily, and I also give him a Cosequin DS plus MSM supplement daily (it has gloucosamine, controitin, and MSM in it; I get it at Vitamin Shoppe). He also gets extra virgin organic unfiltered coconut oil daily. My vet told me to keep doing what I'm doing, b/c it's obviously working. I do the same for Dempsey, as a preventative measure.

Your puppy only has a grade 1, which isn't too bad. After the medicine is done, and the inflammation is under control, I'd make sure you keep him on a regular supplement regimen.

[af_wx_wife]

Awwww...poor KO. Hope he heals up & there is no lasting effects.