Canine Luxating Patella Symptoms and Treatments

This is a condition of the stifle, or knee joint, where the cartilage keeping the patella, or knee cap, in place over the knee joint, is damaged or weakened and results in the cartilage anchor slipping out of the patellar groove. Occasionally there is a congenital problem in that the patellar groove in which the cartilage sits is not deep enough. Slipping of the cartilage causes lameness and deformity in the affected leg, although in most cases it is entirely treatable. In some cases it can also cause damage to the anterior (front) cruciate ligament which is part of the tight cartilaginous tension support between the ends of the tibia and fibula (thigh bone and the large shin bone).

Some cases of patellar luxation are caused by the dog being overweight which will put a lot of strain on the joints and make it likely that a joint will be twisted if the dog attempts something at the wrong angle. If your dog is somewhat portly you should discuss the optimum weights for your dog's breed with your vet so that you can reduce the risk of your dog developing a knee weakness.

The most common cause of damage to the cartilage is the knee being pulled awkwardly or the dog catching its leg and twisting so as to force the cartilage out of place. You will see the dog limping or running with the affected leg held off the ground, and he will often stretch it out behind him in an effort to click the cartilage back into place. It is also likely to be painful particularly if the kneecap is out of joint.

There are four grades of luxation, ranging from a simple Grade I luxation where it is easy to slip the cartilage back into the groove to a Grade IV luxation where surgical intervention is necessary to anchor the cartilage back into place. However, even if the luxation is Grade I, repeated luxation will eventually lead to joint problems and possibly arthritis, so discuss this with your vet if you dog frequently clicks the cartilage out of place.

Surgery involves deepening the patellar groove so that the cartilage does not slip out. Recovery and a return to full mobility usually takes about six weeks, during which your vet will prescribe pain medication and physiotherapy so that your dog will regain the use of the joint under supervised conditions and doesn't let it stiffen up after surgery. He should not use this leg for walking on if at all possible and he will need to be lifted up and down stairs. He will have a bandage on the knee and you will need to keep a close eye on this and check for any bleeding or fluid discharge.

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