Luxated Patella and What This Means to Your Dog and You

Scenario: Let’s say that your child is playing fetch with your one year old Chihuahua when all of a sudden, he cries in pain. You notice that he starts to limp with his lower back leg. Then suddenly, he skips on the other three legs for about 2 to 5 strides and then starts to run normal again as if nothing happened.

Now, let’s say that this incident occurred 3 to 4 more times within the past couple of months, but is becoming more frequent. Should you bring your dog to the vet? The answer is yes, right away! Your dog could be suffering from luxated patella.

Luxated Patella – Is It Necessary To Take Your Dog To The Vet Just For An Occasional Limp?

Luxated patella, also called as “trick knee” or “slipped kneecap”. This painful condition is hereditary in which the kneecap regularly dislocates or moves out of position, especially toward the inside. This condition usually occurs in both legs, but usually to a different extent.

The patella is found in the center of a dog’s knee joint. In a regular knee, the kneecap rests in a rather deep groove where it slides up and down in a usual, controlled way. So, when the groove is too shallow or out of shape, the patella pops out of the groove and shift to the sides, usually toward the inside of the patella. This may cause the leg lock up while the foot is held off the ground, causing your dog to cry out in pain and limp.

Luxated patella is known to occur in smaller breed of dogs, although it can affect medium and larger sized breeds. When it hits, this condition can cause lameness and pain for your dog. In slight cases, the patella slides out of the groove and then slides back without any lasting discomfort or lameness. Your dog will yelp in pain, hold his leg up for a few seconds, and then feel fine again when the knee moves back into place.

Then sometimes, the patella will actually pop out for longer periods or more often, causing injury to the knee capsule. The pain lasts longer and the dog usually appears bowlegged.

Luxated Patella – More Scoop on The Inherited Disorder

As mentioned before, luxated patella is an inherited disorder, meaning that the condition is present at birth. The presence of this problem, however, does not make your dog crippled. So, don’t worry; your dog can still live normal and happy, with the ability to do all of the activities he loves engage in, and for the rest of his life.

Don’t forget, without any treatment or if treated the wrong way can actually cause your dog’s knee to become subject to worse injuries, such as a torn ligament.

A slipped kneecap in an older is the leading cause to diseases of joints and bones. This can actually cause in arthritis in dogs. This is why we recommend that you take care of this problem immediately.

Luxated Patella – Taking Care of Your Dog During

Even thought luxated patella is not considered a condition that needs to be treated in the emergency room, getting your dog tested for this disorder stops it from progressing.

Every dog owner should be tested their dog for this because a slipped kneecap can affect dogs of all breeds and sizes. On the other hand, if you own a small or a toy dog breed, you should have him tested for luxated patella immediately.

Reputable dog breeders should know that this condition is hereditary, so, they should know the importance of having their puppies tested at around 6 weeks old, preferable before sending them to their new homes.

Important Treatment Options For A Dog’s Slipped Kneecap

Physical tests are essential, along with the length of time that the dog is showing symptoms such as limping, skipping, and carrying his leg, will decide your dog’s diagnosis. To point out the severity of the condition, an X-ray of the thigh bone and the knee will be administered.

Keep in mind that treatment is not necessary for Grade I, although you should check your pet just in case the problem gets worse. For example, Grades II, III, and IV, surgery can be done in order to repair the malformation.

Also, surgery is done by an Orthopedic surgeon and includes fixing the dog’s bone alignment, tightening his joint capsule, and/or deepening the groove where the kneecap rides.

On estimate, the total cost for this kind of surgery is between $1,500 to $3,000. This depends on the severity of the case.

Although this may not be a dire emergency, we recommend that you consult your vet as soon as possible if your dog is suffering from a slipped kneecap. If surgery is needed, your vet will refer you to an orthopedic specialist who will perform the operation.

Never wait till the last minute. If your dog has a condition of Grade II, Grade III, or Grade IV, it is recommended that you give him the surgery now before the condition worsens. Further damage of the bone and joint may make the outcome of the surgery less successful.

How to Care For Your Dog After The Surgery

Immediately following surgery, your dog’s vet will prescribe medications for your dog’s pain as well as anti-inflammation to be taken for an average of seven days. Your pet will need plenty of rest during this time period. So, he should be involved in very little activity for at least 1½ weeks.

Your dog should be kept on the leash when outside of the home. It is important to be aware that he should be placed in a small and comfortable room to avoid jumping, running around, or other types of activities that can put pressure on his knee.

Your dog will need physical therapy will begin around 7 days after the surgery. Take your dog for a slow walk for about five minutes. If all possible, take your dog swimming – this is good exercise for him. Eventually, your dog should be able to handle longer walks on the leash 6 weeks following the surgery. He will eventually be able to have complete recovery and normal use of his knee around 15 weeks following the surgery.