Need your thoughts on a few surgeries

This forum is for dog lovers seeking everyday advice and suggestions on health-related issues. Remember, however, that advice on a public forum simply can't be a substitute for proper medical attention. Only your vet can say assuredly what is best for your dog.

Lexi Hope

Mamma\'s little- attitude girl

Barked: Sun Jan 27, '13 9:22am PST


	I have a 9 month old Maltese with terrible tear stains, the cause the vet says is inverted eyelashes. He is slated for surgery Wed. a.m. but I'd like to hear from any Dogster who has any advice about this proceedure. Also our Lexi is 4 1/2 yrs old..she has had a dew claw that has plaqued her (IMO) all her life...we got her at 8 weeks....our fairly new vet says she can have surgery to correct that. Our previous vet kind of blew it off, a more relaxed attitude and said that is a risky surgery and not to do it, that they have to go up into the leg etc. etc...any thoughts on this?? By "plagueing her" I mean that she is and has constantly licked and chewed at it all her life..we keep them very short, dosen't seem to matter...she is also VERY touchy about her feet and will offer to bite if we try to even trim the hair on her feet. Also the new vet has talked about surgery for Lexi's slipped knees....would appreciate any and all help. Currently and for some time now Lexi hasn't actually limped from the slipped knees but she waddles when she walks and dosen't like to get up and around as much as we think she should. She does have arthritis and we have been instructed to give her 1/2 baby aspirin 2times a day which we do. I wonder how much of her difficulty is arthritis and how much is slipped knees. If it were you would you do these surgeries?? Thanks.

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Shadow- *CGC*CL2*

Is it time for- agility yet?

Barked: Sun Jan 27, '13 2:36pm PST


	Inverted eyelashes definitely need to be fixed. If they are left too long they can cause permanent damage to the eye(s). I know several dogs that have had it done and they do really well and seem to feel much better(Imagine having an eyelash in your eye all day long and you can't do anything about it). As for the dew claw it would depend on how bad the chewing/licking gets. It's not a risky surgery and I don't know why they would have to go up the leg. We had it done on our dog when she was spayed because they were constantly getting torn. She's just fine and is much better off. And finally the luxating patellas(slipping knee caps). I would not fix those unless she was limping a lot or having a really hard time getting around. I would put her on a glucosamine supplement to keep those joints protected though. Again I know several dogs that have luxating patellas and are just fine without surgery. I(human) had one for the longest time and it didn't bother me until I actually really injured that knee.

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MIKA&KAI

Akita Pals- Always.

Barked: Mon Jan 28, '13 12:07pm PST


	Lexi Hope Nice to see you. I agree with the previous poster. The surgery for inverted eyelashes would be a priority. the dew claw aside from licking and chewing it,if she isn't getting sores and isn't injuring it,I would leave alone. The luxating patella's if they aren't slipping often and aren't causing her pain also would not be worth the risk for me. My parents had a poodle mix that had to have the surgery and rehab was long and difficult for her probably compounded by the fact that she was much older when it was done,I however had a cocker spaniel that had a problem only on a few rare occasions and she lived her entire life without an issue and never had the surgery. The choice is really up to you in the case of the dew claw and the patella's. For the knees you might want to have one done,see how it goes and if it helps,then make the decision on the other from there.

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Lexi Hope

Mamma\'s little- attitude girl

Barked: Tue Jan 29, '13 9:10am PST


	THANKYOU Shadow, Mika, and Kia, Ok well....I guess I am not too far off base in my thoughts then...we have an appointment Friday a.m. for a second opinion on Tiny and his inverted eye lashes....if thats what this vet says it is, then we will go ahead with the surgery. I have read online that at least one person thinks you should have an eye specialist dawgy Dr. do that type of surgery...what do you guys think?? We live in a small rural area and that choice would be a couple hours away but would do it if it is really needed. Do you think it is THAT touchy of a surgery? As for Lexi...the knees will definately WAIT! The dew claw..I'll let the vets tell me if they think she has torn it on something...or how bad it looks to them and go from there. Again..thanks so much for your input....it does help put my mind at ease.

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MIKA&KAI

Akita Pals- Always.

Barked: Tue Jan 29, '13 10:54am PST


	By all means if at all possible I would go with the specialist for the eye surgery. Eyes can be a very touchy thing and I would certainly want someone with a lot of experience in that specific surgery to hopefully reduce the potential risk and ensure the best possible outcome. If the dew claw really isn't an issue,I don't see the need to take the risk and put the pup through what could be a very painful proceedure and healing. I feel the same about the knees,if they aren't causing pain,restricting movement or activity and aren't a chronic issue,why take the risk? on your upcoming appointment and we hope whatever you decide all goes well for each of your little ones,we know how important they are to you and how much a part of your family they are.

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Lexi Hope

Mamma\'s little- attitude girl

Barked: Wed Jan 30, '13 6:04pm PST


	Thanks again Mika and Kia!! Miss you guys!!! Miss alot of the Dogsters but I have to spend most of my time with the furkidz so.....I don't get on alot. Talk soon.

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Lexi Hope

Mamma\'s little- attitude girl

Barked: Mon Feb 4, '13 8:16am PST


	I am elated to say that Tiny had his eyes examined just about every way you could and he does NOT have inverted eye lashes....or anything wrong with his eyes, they are healthy, the cornea is clear and shiny..everything checked out great! They kept him an hour and 15 minutes after the appt. and let me go for awhile while they did more looking for an issue and they were going to see if his tear ducts were plugged...well Tiny stands still for no man or woman so when I got back they had decided IF we have to do that he will need to be sedated..that his tear ducts are so small they can hardly see them...mean time...and I know I'll explain this wrong...but he dosen't have excessive tearing but the ...what ever they called it in the tears hits the white hair and turns it brown so they have put him on an antibiotic to "bind up those chemicals" or whatever they called it...then if it continues to be a problem we will opt to sedate him so they can check for plugged tear ducts. But for now all is well and Lexi is just going to be left alone until and if things get worse. Thanks all for your help!