now that school is over

I’m doing a different kind of homework.

A little over two years ago, Stephanie (then 16 months old) was diagnosed with a ‘luxating patella’ in her right hind leg. Basically, where the knee cap, or patella, should be sitting in the groove of the knee joint, her knee cap floats in and out of that groove. Her initial symptoms were limping and stiffness.

The prognosis from the vet was that her condition was likely congenital and, at some point, she might need surgery on her leg. Stephanie is blessed by the fact that she is barely bigger than a thimble, the tiniest of our cats, and less likely to have any weight-related complications with her joints. The vet’s advice was to watch and to wait.

Fastforward two years: Stephanie’s knee has been nearly perfect. After some disagreements with the vet regarding raw feeding (he thinks it’s “stupid” and “dangerous”) and vaccinations (his philosophy is “every vax, every year”, contradicting even current veterinary medical standards), we parted ways. Since switching to a raw diet, the cats have not had any health issues, and I admit I just haven’t taken the time to seek out a new veterinarian.

What does all of this have to do with little Stephanie? Her knee is bothering her again; or rather, her knees. Both legs this time, holding them stiffly and avoiding jumping or heights. If her kneecaps are regularly luxating, then her joints could suffer permanent damage. She’s only 3 years old, far too young to be hobbled for the rest of her life.

So now I am reading, and researching, and exploring every option before we start looking for a vet. My instinct is to avoid surgery at this point and see what can be done in a non-invasive manner. There’s a veterinary clinic twenty minutes away that specializes in ‘complementary’ medicine (both traditional and alternative), and I’m hoping to have Stephanie checked out shortly after the New Year.

In the meantime, enjoy her posing so ever-so-perfectly for the camera: