We've had our new cocker spaniel pup for 3 weeks and just took him to his first vet visit. We were told Freckles will need surgery to fix patella luxation at approximately $3,000. Not knowing anything about this ailment, I researched online to learn about it. We want to get a second opinion before agreeing to do the surgery. He doesn't seem to show any symptoms outright. When I take him for a walk, we run together and his knees have never locked up or anything like that. The only thing we suspect is that he lays around alot because he is in pain, but how would we know for sure? I feel like he's already part of the family. I think my wife and I are more attached than our two kids. Has anyone been at this crossroads before?

[mightymite]

I am not a vet nor have I any vet training. I can tell you having raised, trained and lived with toy dogs all my life that this is a very common problem and does not always require surgery. Patella luxation is a fancy way of saying your dog's knee caps slip - i.e. he has a trick knee or knees. It's a very common problem among small dogs because along with the small size, the knee caps don't have a deep grove so the cap doesn't sit properly and slips. Luxation is graded on a scale from 1 to 3. 1 meaning a mild form of it and 3 being a knee that easily pops out of place and does so on a regular basis. Did your vet tell you what grade of luxation your dog has? Keep in mind, also, that the surgery does not always work. The reason surgery is often recommended for more serious forms of the problem is that over time the knees constant slipping causes inflamation in the joint which leads to arthritic changes. You can help your dog in the long run by putting him on a joint supplement with glocousamine and condroitan as well as MSM.

Thanks for the info. We got better news at our 2nd opinion visit. We were much more happier with this vet, not just because he didn't recommend the surgery, but just the way he interacted with Freckles. He got right down on the floor where the dog was more comfortable to examine him. He said his body is already compensating for the problem because his knee bones are thicker than normal. I told him that the dog hasn't shown any signs of the knees coming out of joint. The vet said he's seen dogs live their whole lives with the condition and not be negatively affected. He said we have a great dog with a good temperament. I don't understand why the other vet wanted to push surgery so fast.