Should I get a new puppy from the same breeder after health issues?

Hello, and thanks for your question. There is no single right answer to this question, and you may get different answers from different veterinarians. My own thoughts, without knowing all the details about Lola, is no - I probably would not recommend that you pursue the operation in this case. The surgery will help stabilize her knee, but it won't reverse the damage from arthritis. The recovery period can be really hard on dogs with other orthopedic issues, and older dogs heal slower. Also, her small size works in her favor, as small dogs definitely fare better than large dogs without surgical correction of a cruciate tear. All of these factors to me would add up to the benefits of surgery not outweighing the down sides. I do encourage you to have a frank conversation with Lola's primary vet who knows her best - or even request a consult with the surgeon. Most surgeons will be pretty frank about how much improvement you can expect. I have had patients pursue cruciate surgery in their older years - but typically it's my older patients who are still quite active, who I expect to do well through recovery. From your description, I'm not sure Lola would be in that category. I hope this helps! I know it's not an easy straightforward decision and I can tell you're trying to make the best choice for her!

I am so sorry for your loss. I know it's hard. I don't think you should worry yourself too much about this with your other dog. I know it's hard not to think about it but there is nothing you can do about it. There is no way to predict if she will get it or not. You will make yourself sick with worry and it is out of your control. The best thing you can do is be hypervigilant with clinical signs. If you notice any, then have her examined right away. If you can diagnose it early there will be a better chance at survival. The first noticeable signs are exercise intolerance, increased respiratory rate, coughing and wheezing. Often the slight change in exercise tolerance is not recognized by the owner and it is usually attributed to aging. There was a study done where it was found that some owners noticed mild clinical signs up to a year before respiratory distress was seen. They just attributed it to aging and didn't have their vet examine the dog. The key is early intervention. I would recommend yearly chest x-rays for her if you are really worried, especially as she gets older. Once she is over 8 years old, I would say to do the x-rays every 6 months. There are no statistics as to how many Westies may be afflicted. The genetic component of the disease is still being worked out. I can tell you that the average age of onset of this disease is 9 years of age. Life expectancy after diagnosis (if caught early) is about 18 months after diagnosis. I know it is difficult but please try not to worry too much. I have been a vet for 15 years and have been in the veterinary field a total of 20 years and I have only seen this once in a Westie.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Sansa. I have to agree that a cruciate ligament injury at this age would be highly unlikely. You should take her to a veterinarian in your area to have her leg evaluated. There are many causes for lameness in puppies including injury to soft tissue or bone, nutritional bone disease, among other causes. Your vet can get a detailed history, perform a physical exam, perform an orthopedic exam of the leg and then advise a diagnostic and/or treatment plan based on their findings. They may advise some x-rays to evaluate the leg and get a better idea of what is going on. Good luck with Sansa

The answer to your question really comes down to her examination and your goals. It is possible for a cruciate ligament to be partially torn or fully torn. If it is fully torn, the knee is unstable and surgery is the best option to stabilize the knee and slow down the development of arthritis in the joint. If the cruciate ligament is only partially torn, you can see signs like you have in Hambro where she seems pretty normal unless she injures the cruciate ligament again with high activity. For a large dog who is young, partial cruciate ligament injures are often problematic because they inhibit dogs from being able to play normally without being painful, but it sounds like Hambro has done well for 6 months. Another consideration is that if she has a partial tear, she may completely tear the cruciate ligament in the future which will necessitate surgery. There is also a potential complication of cruciate injuries that involve a tear in the meniscus. If that happens, she will be consistently lame and will need surgery. Unfortunately, only you can decide on the right answer for Hambro. Surgery provides the best possibility for return to normal activity without lameness, but certainly isn't without potential risks and complications. I have attached a handout on cruciate ligament injuries below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1975 Finally, if this is a partial cruciate injury and you would like to avoid surgery, I would recommend trying to find a rehabilitation veterinarian to help you with physical therapy exercises to strengthen Hambro. They will also be able to give you a second opinion. Hopefully you can find a vet in the UK at this site. http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/Find_A_Therapist.html http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/action.lasso Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I think it would be worth a surgical consult if you're able. That doesn't mean you have to do the surgery but can help you make an informed decision. They may also have a physical therapy option that could be helpful with or without surgery.

I would not recommend purchasing such a puppy prior to repair and full recovery. I would be concerned not only about surgical repair and recovery but where one external birth defect is present, additional internal defects are often detected as a pup matures also

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Karma! She is very cute! The most common reason for a hind leg lameness is an ACL (cruciate ligament) tear. They can tear the ligament in both legs which could be why Karma is having such a hard time getting around. Other causes for more than one leg to be lame are: lyme disease or other tick borne disease or immune joint conditions. Karma is still a young dog and it sounds like her quality of life is affected by her hind leg issues. I would be sure she has been lyme tested, have her rechecked by your Vet or seek an orthopedic specialists opinion to see if both her ACLs are torn and to discuss surgical correction. If surgery is not an option then she should be on an anti-inflammatory and a joint supplement. I hope this helps and I wish you and Karma the best!