03/04/26 15:58 Medical Final San José Animal Care & Services
Patient: 4-year-old spayed female Terrier/Chihuahua mix Eclair is a 4 year old FS
has severe bilateral medial patellar luxation (Grade 4/4), with the left hind limb more severely affected than the right. Both patellas are permanently displaced and cannot be returned to normal position. Secondary limb deformity with bowing of the proximal tibia is present. The dog ambulates with moderate hind limb lameness, inability to fully extend the rear legs, and a moderately kyphotic posture.
This represents advanced orthopedic disease associated with chronic discomfort and reduced mobility.
Recommendations
Corrective orthopedic surgery is strongly recommended to improve comfort, mobility, and long-term quality of life. Without surgical repair, progression of arthritis, chronic pain, and worsening mobility are expected.
The dog is currently being medically managed with:
Carprofen
Gabapentin
Adopters or rescue should plan for follow-up with a primary care veterinarian and referral to a veterinary orthopedic surgeon to discuss surgical correction and long-term joint management. Shelter will provide 14 days of pain medications. ************Needs rescue or committed adopter by 3/31/26************************************* 03/03/26 09:37 Eclair has made a complete turn around since arriving at our facility. When humans enter her kennel she gets wiggly, gives soft tail wags and approaches for pets and treats. She is a sweet, senior girl waiting for a permanent lap to sit on. Meet eclair today! MH 02/23/26 10:35 MH Since arriving at the shelter extremely fearful and shut down, Eclair has made meaningful progress in building trust with staff. Initially she hid, trembled, and froze when handled, but over time she has begun approaching caregivers on her own to sniff hands, take treats, and even gently solicit attention with a loose body and soft tail wags. While she still startles easily, may retreat when overwhelmed, and appears especially cautious around men, she is showing that with patience and a calm approach she can engage and relax. Her improvement demonstrates that in a quiet, low-stress home with consistent, gentle handling, Eclair has the ability to continue gaining confidence and forming trusting bonds. 02/04/26 16:05 Meet Eclair a ~3 year old F chihuahua mix who was found abandoned at a shopping center and taken into the shelter on 1/17/26 along with Donut A1401466. She was documented to have fear/anxiety/stress (4 out of 5 on FAS scale) on intake. She is very shut-down in kennel, hiding, shaking, avoidant of interaction. At times she is difficult to pick up but when staff have been able to pick her up and carry her outside to courtyard, she's maintained very stiff, low-to-the-ground body posture and urinates/defecates with handling due to extreme fear. She needs a lower-stimulation calming environment to decompress -- needs rescue urgent. Physical exam revealed mild dental calculus and an umbilical hernia. Eclair did bite concerned citizen who was trying to pick her up to bring her into shelter. She has since been released from quarantine. Eclair has severe medial patellar luxation in both knees (grade 4/4) and has a very bow legged gait due to this. She is on gabapentin. Surgical consult is recommended to see if there are surgical options available to improve anatomy of the kneecap and improve comfort long term. **Due to patellar disease and severe stress in shelter, despite trazodone, needs urgent rescue**
SCOOTER
Chihuahua, Mixed Breed
🇺🇸
San Jose, California
male, small, adult
Chihuahua, Mixed Breed
San Jose, California
